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Take That with Total Fabs
“The more anyone says to Kim, you’ll never do that. The more he’ll do it.” Lighting designer Simon Tutchener confirming the fearless influence of Take That’s producer Kim Gavin.
The show for Take That’s triumphant return to the stage is nothing if not spectacular; a huge descending walkway transports the band 30 metres out into the heart of the audience; a custom built circular truss – the so called Halo – dominates the stage; and while the stage set itself appears muted, it’s anything but.
“Everything and everyone gets soaked at the end,” said Tutchener, in reference to the rainfall system that showers the front apron. “We’ve had some funny comments from Health & Safety,” confirmed production manager Chris Vaughan, “but between us and Total Fabrications who built all the set, we’ve made a comprehensive risk assessment. Besides, as I said to H&S, what’s the difference between this and a stadium show in the rain?” In truth the indoor drainage system is probably more efficient than that usually experienced in the outdoor situation.
The stage set is designed and conceived by Bill Lazlett with inevitably some input from Gavin, not least the giant LED screen. “Although Kim is very much the driving force, a lot of ideas came from the Boys as well,” added Tutchener, “some ideas fully formed, from Jason Orange especially.
Chris Vaughan explained the set design more thoroughly. “The final set design concept is 100% what Bill came up with – it has gone through the process to make it practical to tour. We had a lot of discussions – this design is really pushing things to the edge; It’s a very complex stage, huge towers at the back; hydraulic lifts everywhere, it even houses much of the pyro. It looks simple but there are lots of gags.”
“To work through making it all logical and efficient to rig I communicated directly with Chris Cronin at Total Fabrications which worked perfectly. That short line of communication was essential when you consider we didn’t get the go ahead until the Boys returned from Las Vegas at the end of January. We loaded into production rehearsals on the 8th April – just nine weeks later. Chris and his team did a fantastic job. We also had some parts made by Fineline, the LED balls for example, all of which has been neatly integrated into the touring package by Total Fabs.”
Gags aside, the Boys perform with a maturity that was lacking in their earlier incarnation, a classic example being when the Halo descends. A substantial piece of bespoke circular trussing from Total Fabrications, the Halo not only fulfils its structural role as a support for an impressive array of lights, but also transforms into a dance platform when lowered to the horizontal. Unexpected by the audience, it works perfectly and looks stunning.
Vaughan summed up nicely: “It was a big quandary coming up with a show that is more spectacular than last time, but we’ve done in an affordable way.” That’s quite an endorsement, and no one Takes That for granted.
http://www.totalsolutions-group.co.uk
24th May 2006
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