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DPL Production Lighting at IFOS
Admiral Nelson’s famous Victory was lit initially for the Trafalgar 200 bicentennial celebrations, for a high ranking military function aboard the ship that also involved the Band of The Royal Marines ‘Beating the Retreat’ in the courtyard beside Britain’s most famous warship. DPL also lit a life size model of the X-35 Joint Strike Fighter airplane that was located there for the same event, juxtaposed for a contrast between old and new military technology.
The Victory illuminations then continued all week into the Festival of The Sea which started a few days after Trafalgar 200 ended.
The Victory lighting scheme was designed by Darren Parker. It was uplit with a series of green and blue 400 Watt metal halide fixtures located down in the dry dock below the hull – creating a surreal, dreamy aqua effect.
Its vast bulk was also lit with six Studio Due City Colors located on the dock side, and from the rear, with two Space Flowers on the upper deck, crossing and beaming through the rigging. This proved highly atmospheric, especially on slightly misty days.
Around the site, on the World Stage, a 15 metre Orbit adjacent to the Victory, DPL supplied Martin MAC 500 and 600 moving lights plus conventionals including PARs and Molefeys, trussing and motors, and an Avolites Pearl 2004 console for control.
The lighting was run by DPL’s Andy Higgins and Jake Sullivan.
On the Run Ashore Stage, located at the end of a 20 metre wide jetty, sandwiched between two warships – the Admiral Levchenko from Russia and the South African RSA Drakensberg - Darren Parker and Tony Beeton took the helm. The stage and the entertainment was open each night to the many working sailors visiting the event, who enjoyed a varied programme of bands form rock ‘n’ roll to blues, jive and 1980s favourites.
Lighting equipment here included PAR’s, MACs and Molefeys. DPL again also supplied trussing and motors and a Jands desk. “It was a real cultural experience,” says Darren Parker. “I never thought I would see the day when I would be rubbing shoulders simultaneously with the Russian and South African Navy in the same place – there was a great vibe.”
Over on the Shanty Stage in front of the food courts, DPL supplied PAR lamps to this smaller area that featured traditional seafaring music and song.
DPL additionally architecturally lit the food court areas with a series of strategically placed 300 Watt ‘wet’ lights and 400 Watt MBIs. They were carefully located to highlight the interior of the saddle span roof. It was a simple but highly effective idea which really worked. “Simple is so often the best,” comments Parker.
The fabulous Russian tall ship Dar Mlodziezy was the picturesque backdrop for a stunning performance by silk acrobatic troupe Scarabus. Their breathtaking show took place down the side of the ship, with the silks attached to the yard arm mast.
DPL up lit the whole vessel with six City Colors luminaires, located on the shore side, and focused on the masts and rigging. The vessel disappeared on the Saturday and was replaced by her sister ship, the equally beguiling STS Mir.
Darren Parker comments: “The schedule was really punishing, but IFOS was a fantastic event to be involved in and an eye-opening experience all round.”
In picture: Silk acrobats Scarabus perform; HMS Victory lit for the occasion; Darren Parher (left) and Tony Beeton at the helm on the Run Ashore stage.
18th July 2005
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