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Monkey Business for MA
A grandMA full-size lighting console is in action on "Monkey Journey To The West", Damon Albarn and Gorillaz partner Jamie Hewlett's innovative new performance work fusing the acrobatic daring and precision of Chinese opera and circus with animated video cartoons, music and live performance. The show is currently playing in a 2,000 capacity Kayam tent at London's O2 Arena. Lighting is designed by Nick Richings, the show was programmed by Jim Beagley.
The grandMA was specified by Beagley, who is a big fan of the console. He also used a grandMA when the show originally debuted at Manchester International Festival in 2006. From there it went to the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris and then to the Spoleto Festival, Charleston, for its US premier in May 2008. It was the first external commercial show to play London's Royal Opera House just before moving into the tent at the O2 in November.
Inside the tent is a large ground support structure with a mother truss above, below which the five over-stage production lighting trusses are hung, with one advance truss over the audience. There are also twelve side stage ladders providing boom positions, an additional flood bar and a short flown centre truss.
The current lighting rig consists of 12 Vari*Lite VL3000 Spots and six VL6 DLCs (Digital Light Curtains) all overhead and Martin moving lights. The grandMA is also controlling 56 Rainbow PRO2 scrollers, 30 fitted to overhead PARs, 20 to front truss PARS, with a further six on the front of Source Four Profiles in the ‘shin' position on the floor. Additionally a selection of 140 other generic lightsources, primarily PARs and Source Four profiles round up the rig.
There are also 24 ChromaQ ColorBlock dB4 LED battens. Half are contained in a halo surrounding a large set piece Buddha, and the other half are up-lighting the Peace Banquet table - another major show set piece - through its Perspex top. All of this totals six DMX universes, distributed throughout the rig and stage via three MA NSPs.
Beagley now has two versions of the show programmed into the console - theatre and arena - which have evolved from the different venues they've played since its launch. Information from one show has been cloned to the other as necessary, using one of the many functions that Beagley enthuses: "The MA is very good at".
He also likes its networking capabilities, easy configurability and the fact that he can plug in his laptop and run the grandMA on PC software, have a real-time backup of the show and edit as required. The show is also using an grandMA light for backup.
Keith Johnson was production electrician for the installation, and the console is being operated by Rich Mence and Anthony (TJ) Kerr whilst at the O2. All lighting equipment is supplied by White Light.
Photo: Louise Stickland
19th March 2009
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