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Another Special Year for Specialz
Specialz* has built on a phenomenal 2005 with a blistering 2006. The year began in style with three projects commissioned by Total Fabrications: Moving Out, El Divo and Take That.
Moving Out is the stage show based on Billy Joel’s life and music. For a four-tonne horizontal traversing stage moving system, moving the band and back line 3.5 metres downstage, Specialz* supplied the motors and track system, with the control end supplied by Kinesys. For El Divo, four roll-drop screens provided a fabulous dual purpose alternative look by providing a doorway and projection surface between four archways. Lighting designer mark Cunniffe commented: “It was a simple solution that resulted in a great effect that worked faultlessly every time. A great product from Specialz which I’ll definitely use again given the opportunity.” For Take That Specialz supplied two four-metre lifts for the main entrance area and three 750kg lifts for a 2000kg moving ground supported video screen. The movement of all five lifts provided a dramatic opening for the show.
Some of this year’s other highlights include the design and build of 430 linear lights for Robbie Williams, commissioned by Brilliant Stages. Fourteen flown panels loaded with LED nodes were made for Radiohead, which provided lighting designer Andy Watson with both a very different projection surface and a multi coloured back light effect. Four large four-by-four metre multi-functional cubes were provided for the European tour of Pet Shop Boys, with an identical system for the forthcoming U.S.A. tour. For Iron Maiden, Specialz were commissioned through Hangman to provide two by 850kg Specialz*lifts with a universal power supply to operate worldwide. The lifts will be used on the forthcoming tour.
Specialz managing director Dave Smith said: “It just confirms our original suspicions that there is a very real need in the marketplace for someone to provide innovative solutions for lighting design and staging problems.”
3rd October 2006
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