direct from: www.etnow.com Regulars Contents this month Jobs and Careers Web Directory Features Issue: 343 Thomas Gerdon with GLP Creative Light 1 Plus page 22 September 2021 Vintage Martin Audio modular stacks have helped support an experimental work at the acclaimed Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA). Adding greater impact to “Big Ben Lying Down With Political Books.” are 36 Chauvet Professional COLORado Panel Q40 fixtures. Kinesys Makes Some Moves for American Idiot page: 12page: 21 page: 2 page: 31 pages: 28 to 31 A Kinesys Apex automation system is at the heart of delivering millimetre-perfect movement control and advanced safety requirements. Hawthorn has transformed into Encore! Visit our new hire website hire.encore-emea.com w: encore-emea.com t: 01664 821 111 e: hire-uk@encoreglobal.com Astera Launches AX9 PowerPAR Wireless LED lighting specialist Astera has launched another new product, the AX9 PowerPAR. As the name implies, the AX9 is a high-intensity, rock-solid, all-purpose everyday LED lighting fixture with all the advantages of Astera, including battery operation, wireless control and quality engineering. AX9 is the ‘big brother’ of Astera’s hugely successful AX5 TriplePAR which became an industry- standard LED PAR. AX9 is bigger, brighter and benefits from all Astera’s latest innovations, like the Titan LED engine, an optimised bracket with Airline Track, a Titan-style keypad for fast and easy local control and direct control via the versatile AsteraApp. More on page 4 Keyteq Live Events with Chauvet Professional page: 24 Classic Martin Audio Modular Rig at the ICAcontents this month September 2021 page no. Features page : 6 page : 7 page : 10 page : 9 TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT Revised in July 2020 Available now from www.etbooks.co.uk 24 Kinesys Makes Some Moves for American Idiot Production Copenhagen’s fabulous Østre Gasværk Theatre is staging a revival of the hugely successful 2017 Danish production of Green Day’s iconic American Idiot sung-through drama directed and choreographed by Tim Zimmerman, which is proving to be every bit as popular as the original show. Once again, the technical discipline of automation is crucial to Benjamin la Cour’s dramatic, stark scenography and production design and a Kinesys Apex automation system: a combination of 1250kg and 500kg Apex motors with Vector control is at the heart of delivering the elegant millimetre-perfect movement control, advanced safety requirements plus other cool features like silent braking that are essential for the delivery of this captivating show. 26 RoboSpots for Cruising Odyssey Robe ESPRITE luminaires and RoboSpot remote followspotting systems – the first installed on an ocean-going liner – are providing a neat and flexible solution for the Two70 Theatre space aboard the brand-new 1,138 foot long, 169 gross tonne Odyssey of the Seas, the latest Ultra Quantum-class ship launched by Royal Caribbean International. Built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the technical specifications for the various on-board entertainment spaces were co-ordinated by Christopher Vlassopulos, Royal Caribbean’s sound, light and AV systems manager for new build projects. The installation was completed by media technology specialists and integrators, Amptown System Company (ASC). 27 The Award-winning Leeds Playhouse upgrades its sound system with Shure Axient Digital Shure, a leading manufacturer of microphones and audio electronics, works with Autograph Sound, to install Axient Digital as a sound system upgrade for Leeds Playhouse. 12 Classic Martin Audio Modular Rig Supports The Misery Portal at the ICA Vintage Martin Audio modular stacks have helped support an experimental work at the acclaimed Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in central London. It is fitting that as the manufacturer celebrates its 50th year, Alex Czechowski of Ace Vintage Systems should be commissioned to provide a classic Martin Audio rig from yesteryear, exemplifying its formidable history. Created and performed by influential dance and performance artist, Samir Kennedy, it was show designer, Simon Vincenzi, who came up with the idea of using speakers to create a ‘portal’ or proscenium for The Misery Portal. 13 ETP Catalogue The Entertainment Technology Press Book Catalogue 21 Keyteq Live Events Accents Imagery of Manchester Art Exhibit with Chauvet Professional There is a liberation that arises when reality is turned on its head and the familiar is cast in new forms to become something strange and uncertain. Great artists like Picasso and Dali tapped into this powerful force, upending convention to give rise to bold, new takes on ‘reality’. So too has Marta Minujín with her provocative work “Big Ben Lying Down With Political Books.” A centrepiece of the renowned Manchester International Festival, her work takes the iconic London landmark and turns it on its side in Piccadilly Gardens. Stretching 42 metres and reaching as high as eight metres in some places, the structure commands immediate attention. Adding greater impact to the tower are 36 Chauvet Professional COLORado Panel Q40 fixtures supplied and installed by Keyteq Live Events. 22 Thomas Gerdon designs TV Productions with GLP Creative Light 1 Plus Lighting designer Thomas Gerdon, from GERDON design, has recently taken several opportunities to use the new creative LED system Creative Light 1 Plus from GLP in various German TV productions and has been extremely enthusiastic about its versatile application.from the editor direct from: www.etnow.com Entertainment Technology is published 12 times a year in conjunction with the leading industry portal www.etnow.com Editor: John Offord Technical Editor: Jackie Staines Published by: Entertainment Technology Press Ltd The Studio, High Green Great Shelford Cambridge CB22 5EG Telephone: +44 (0)1223 550805 Fax: +44 (0)1223 550806 Website: www.etnow.com email: editor@etnow.com © Entertainment Technology Press Ltd. Subscription Rates: Annual Subscription for 12 issues (UK): £27.50 Annual Subscription (overseas): £50.00 Subject to acceptance, subscription is free to UK based industry professionals. Subscribe online at: www.etnow.com/etmag/ Opinions expressed in Entertainment Technology are not necessarily those of the publishers. All rights are reserved and reproduction of any part in whatever form is prohibited without the prior permission of the publishers. etnow.com (entertainment technology news on web) is the industry portal site with news from around the world added daily under various sector headings coupled to an extensive archive. The site also features a books section where titles from Entertainment Technology Press can be ordered online via our secure Sage Pay credit card services. Issue: 343 ALD members vote to become the Association of Lighting Production and Design (ALPD) The ALD has announced that following the association’s Extraordinary General Meeting, held on 17th July, 2021, a year that also happens to commemorate the ALD’s 60 full years of pulling together as a collective of lighting professionals, the membership has voted in favour of a name change that demonstrates both the association’s breadth of membership and its appreciation of every lighting role in the design and production process. Effective immediately, the organisation known as the Association of Lighting Designers will represent its members with its new title, the Association for Lighting Production and Design (The ALPD). Chair of the association, Johanna Town, explains the importance of this change of name to the association. “While the ALD, which was founded 60 years ago for lighting designers, has for some time included production electricians, programmers, lighting managers, assistant electricians, associate designers, lighting educators and students, hire companies and manufacturers, we never acknowledged it in our name. It’s a real celebration of the association’s 60th year that our name now fully respects those we represent. “Recent years have shown us the strength we can pull on as an association. Whilst Saving Stage Lighting or working to offer support to the whole lighting industry through the Covid-19 pandemic, we have played an integral role in mobilising everyone. We know we are stronger together as an association to support everyone in the lighting team and now we have a name that says that.” The association president and founder member no. 1, Richard Pilbrow, says: “The ALD has had an amazingly successful run, in large part thanks to some brilliant leadership and passionate support. When we started the Association 60 years ago, we had no idea what it would become; I’m delighted it now represents the entire lighting team. Our young profession has been vastly enriched and strengthened by it. Adding the ‘P’ will dramatically increase its brightness.” The timing of the ALD’s name change to the new inclusive, ALPD, is an indicator of how far the lighting industry has developed and matured. The ALD was brought into being in 1961 as a space where a new brand of freelancer, ‘the lighting designer’ could come together with peers for discussion and consultation about the new career path. Previously, this role had been carried out in-house by the chief electrician. As early as 2009, the ALD opened its ‘professional’ category of membership to all lighting practitioners. The move recognised the importance of the full team around the lighting designer, giving those roles a voice and voting rights so they could have a say in their association and their industry. Since 2018 however, when the ALD created more working groups but didn’t hear from the full range of voices, the association has worked hard to redress the balance and feeling of many that the association’s name reflected them. The campaign to ‘Include the ‘P’’ was the last vital step to demonstrate that the association is open to everyone in lighting, giving every role a voice and full support.September 2021 news 4 sunDial quad www.ArtisticLicence.com Dims LED close to zero! For the smoothest fades with dimmable replacement LED Trailing edge DMX512/RDM mains dimmer Astera Launches AX9 PowerPAR Wireless LED lighting specialist Astera has launched another new product, the AX9 PowerPAR. As the name implies, the AX9 is a high-intensity, rock-solid, all-purpose everyday LED lighting fixture with all the advantages of Astera, including battery operation, wireless control and quality engineering. AX9 is the ‘big brother’ of Astera’s hugely successful AX5 TriplePAR which became an industry-standard LED PAR. AX9 is bigger, brighter and benefits from all Astera’s latest innovations, like the Titan LED engine, an optimised bracket with Airline Track, a Titan-style keypad for fast and easy local control and direct control via the versatile AsteraApp. Effectively it is a three-in-one solution. Offering a wireless PAR light source that can also be run as a wired PAR for longer-term installations and an elegant up-lighter, with the fixture’s 105W output offering over 3000 lumens of beautifully homogenised light. Being wireless, AX9 can be used anywhere: on set, onstage, in the studio or on location and at short notice, quickly deployed as and when needed. In situ as a wired PAR it is just like any standard PAR, it is perfect scenarios requiring the lighting to be on for sustained periods of time. AX9 is an excellent wall or surface washing up-lighter without a flex cover and with the bracket removed, which can produce a sleek, streamlined effect to transform any space. The AX9 is overall a fantastic multi-purpose lighting fixture that is hugely efficient and can be used on the widest range of jobs as a cost-and-carbon-efficient quick ROI solution offering extreme brightness in a compact, stylish housing. The benefits of Astera’s outstanding Titan LED engine include its high CRI and the wide range of tuneable colour temperature whites, plus that rich and diverse gamut of colours encompassing the whole spectrum. The built-in battery offers up to 20 hours of reliable runtime which can be programmed to maintain optimal output over the designated period. Direct control via the AsteraApp removes the need for an AsteraBox, further optimising and making setup simpler. The keypad on the rear has a logical and easily navigable menu resembling the Titan Tube layout with dedicated buttons for quickly adjust colour and brightness. Wireless DMX is available utilising LumenRadio’s CRMX technology, and for wired options, there is a choice of Powercon and XLR connectors on the rear. The AX9 unit can connect to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth and can then act as a transmitter, sending the radio signal to other Astera fixtures. The standard 13-degree beam angle can be modified with the addition of two filters, a 32-degree flood filter and a 17 x 46-degree elliptical wall-wash filter. The AX9 comes with practical and handy mounting or rigging brackets that can easily be slid on and off (a feature of the original Astera AX5 PixelPAR), and importantly, this bracket contains an Airline Track to hold a selection of rigging accessories like Astera’s TrackPin. A 3/8-inch thread is also integrated into the bracket, with a 14mm hole for attaching clamps. The AX9 legs can be folded for transportation and the same legs used for truss hanging, also like the AX5. A spring-loaded quick-release kickstand is available for the fixture, a neat tool that pops out with a button press and is perfect for angling an AX9 without a bracket. The AX9 is IP65 rated for outdoor use and combines beautifully with all other Astera products. AX9 accessories include flexible covers available in white and mirrored finishes in addition to black for blending into different environments, which can be wrapped around the light to suit the set, room or other visual elements. Glare reduction can be enhanced by using an egg-crate which also produces sharper beam definition. Like the AX5, a charging plate allows for AX9s to be placed upside down into the flightcase and start charging even without the units needing to be plugged into electricity. Once again, Astera has used a mix of experience and imagination to think of virtually all scenarios in which this luminaire might be used. The main applications will be for film and television productions, stages and concerts and all indoor and outdoor events. Astera sales and marketing director Sebastian Bückle states: “The AX9 is Astera’s best value for money light right now with twice the output of the AX5 and only 1.5 times its price, featuring cinema-grade light output and tons of premium features to make daily lives and usage even easier! We are expecting this to be very popular!” Michael T. Strickland Honoured with “Heroes of Live” at Pollstar Live Awards Those in the entertainment industry know the adage, “the show must go on,” and even in the face of virtually no tours in 2020 due to the pandemic, the 2021 Pollstar Awards pivoted to honour artists, venues and events of the decade, as well as pay tribute to individuals who “went far and above their traditional day/ night jobs to help the larger live industry and our communities in crucial ways that include altruism, advocacy, diversity and inclusivity and more.” Michael T. Strickland, owner and chair of Bandit Lites, was the first “Heroes of Live” recipient of the night due to his activism on behalf of the live events industry. “I’ve spent the last 15 months split between entertainment and politics, working 18- hour days, making phone calls, on Zoom meetings, and doing television interviews,” said Strickland, who was hailed “The Congress Whisperer” in Pollstar 2021 Impact 50, which named the 50 most impactful people in Live Entertainment. “Testifying before the Senate in December allowed our voice to be heard directly.” The result of his and others work was the passage of the CARES Act, enhanced unemployment and PPP funding, Save Our Stages, and the Shuttered Venue Operator Grants. By uniting the industry’s efforts, Strickland shared live events professionals are powerful due to their strength in numbers. “Everything we have done and achieved thus far is because of the millions of people that have taken action,” he said. “You’ve sent letters, you’ve sent emails, you’ve done tweets, and on September 1, we lit 2,500 buildings nationwide. Our strength is in our numbers, and you did it. It was not me; it was you: the millions of people who stood up and spoke out over and over and over. Our voice was heard. We stood up COV-AID and helped the White House and the medical industry deliver the vaccine nationwide. Noting how the disparity in an industry comprised of 12 million people who have little to no voice in Washington, Strickland shared the next step in his activism: forming The Entertainment Association. “Our biggest job is still in front of us,” he said. “The airline and restaurant industries went to congress in battleships, and we went in a thousand canoes … We must come together as an industry and we must form the Entertainment Association so that we have a voice on the Hill, and we are never again left out of the big show.”Issue: 343 news 5 Les Misérables revived into West End staged concert with disguise at the heart When the newly refurbished Sondheim Theatre reopened its doors in December 2019 to welcome back the West End’s longest-running musical, Les Misérables, the excitement was unfortunately cut short following the swift and unexpected impact of the pandemic. But hope was once again restored when a staged concert version of the musical opened at the same theatre, first for only ten shows in December 2020, and now for a limited season until 5 September. Award-winning video designers Finn Ross of FRAY Studio and Jonathon Lyle were brought on to adapt the original show’s video design to its new concert format through the help of disguise’s pre- visualisation software that is powered by a disguise solo server. Despite being thwarted twice by Covid-19 restrictions (in the initial opening and then by a UK lockdown ahead of Christmas), the show has enjoyed critical acclaim as theatre-lovers gather every day to “hear the people sing”. “What we’re doing with video is containing the space and tuning into the emotional temperature of the scene,” explains Finn Ross. “We chose disguise because of the excellent support and the solo specifically for its suitability for smaller theatre shows from a form and cost perspective, while still offering power, flexibility and the full disguise experience.” The new design is much more simplified in comparison to the musical production as it removes scenography and choreography, while lighting plays a much bigger role, tuning viewers in with the emotions of the performers. “A subtle hand was taken to create this unique concert experience. The connection with the performer and the stage is very intense, as we tried to find a sensitive way to support the atmosphere and the work of the performer without overwhelming them.” Unlike the musical which uses projection mapped images that bind to the action and movement on stage, the concert relies on an LED wall to playback subtle elements of the original images, designed by Matt Kinley, inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. Ross adds: “we were able to take the original show file in disguise pre-vis and edit it down to condense it to the shorter duration of the concert. Luckily we were operating within the same system and in the same building as the musical, so it was so easy to reconfigure things in the background. disguise certainly made the shift very painless.” The team was also working with the LED screen brightness extensively, adapting it for very dark or very bright scenes. With disguise at the core of the production, integrating lighting and video, the team was also able to use the software as an LED screen control solution to streamline their workflow. “We always feel reassured when working with disguise. It’s a reliable piece of software that doesn’t get in your way and lets you create without having to fight with it,” Ross concludes. Malthouse Theatre at The King’s School Canterbury Wins Prestigious Title in RIBA South East Awards The Malthouse Theatre in the heart of the City of Canterbury, an impressive and magnificent converted Victorian building belonging to the oldest school in Europe: The King’s School, has been named ‘South East Building of the Year 2021’ by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). As well as this coveted title, the state-of-the-art venue which includes a 334-seat auditorium also won the South East Conservation Award and the adjacent King’s School, Canterbury International College was awarded a regional RIBA South East Award. The RIBA awards recognise London-based Tim Ronalds Architects’ £28million sensitive conversion of the semi-derelict brewery malting building, into extensive drama and dance facility for students of The King’s School, a modern theatre used by professional touring companies and local community groups and a unique wedding venue. The strategy was to preserve the inherent dramatic character and atmosphere and make the Malthouse a place for creativity. Theatricality is now at the heart of this building, but this does not come at the expense of the building’s identity. The Malthouse officially opened in November 2019. The judges unanimously agreed that the industrial Malthouse is an exemplar of how to repurpose an existing building for a range of uses and users, in an imaginative, honest and sensitive way and described the conversion as combining ‘a freshness of approach while sensitively retaining the character of the existing building’. Mark Taylor, bursar at The King’s School, Canterbury said: “I am so delighted with the result from the RIBA it represents having a very clear vision and years of careful planning. We are so lucky to have benefited from such incredible design and co-ordination skill from two outstanding firms of Architects (Walters and Cohen and Tim Ronald Associates) as well as such great work and support from the wider professional team. Not only is this such a critically important School facility but I am so pleased that it benefits Canterbury and the wider community as well.” Lucy Thomas, architect at Tim Ronalds Architects Limited said: “Creating this theatre and drama department for The King’s School, Canterbury was a hugely rewarding experience. We feel privileged to have been part of the team that brought thus historic building back into use and are delighted that our enthusiasm for the project was shared by the RIBA South East jury.” As Regional Award winners, The Malthouse and International College, designed by Walters & Cohen Architects, will now also be considered for a highly coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence.September 2021 news 6 Collaborative Creations announces three new appointments as business expands Collaborative Creations, a provider of creative business development and PR services for the events industry, has made a series of new appointments as it enters a period of expansion. Stuart Wood (pictured left) joins as the company’s new content manager, and will be overseeing its PR and editorial output. Stuart joins from event industry publisher Mash Media, where he was deputy editor. Mash Media is the publisher of a wide portfolio of magazines and websites dedicated to events, including Access All Areas, Exhibition News and Conference News. Stuart will be applying his experience from the world of journalism to help Collaborative Creations’ clients tell their stories in a fresh and exciting way. Also joining the team is Ian Saunders (pictured centre), who is the company’s new business delivery manager. Ian will be helping the team manage its increased workload after a series of new client signings. Ian previously served for 15 years as executive director of the Association of Lighting Designers (ALD), recently renamed to the Association for Lighting Production and Design (ALPD). He will be bringing this depth of experience to the role alongside a wide range of contacts from 30 years working in the theatre lighting industry. Finally, Luke Edwards (pictured right) joins the company as its new marketing manager. Luke is a familiar face on the lighting circuit who has toured with artists including Gary Numan, Jacob Collier and Kelis. Luke is making a return to work after undergoing surgery for a brain tumour. He will be helping to plan and deliver comprehensive social media packages for CC clients, and create event-specific marketing strategies. Tom Wilkes, managing director of Collaborative Creations, said: “This is a really exciting time for us at CC. After a difficult 16 months for us and the events industry as a whole, we’re now at a point where demand is pent up and we can expand once again. The new people joining our team are at the top of their game and I’m really pleased we managed to secure such an impressive roster.” JPS gives new HDL 30-A line array a colourful festival outing Having given their new RCF HDL 30-A rig an auspicious debut at Rutland Water recently for the Frankie Valli tribute act, Frankie’s Guys, JPS Sound & Light was in action again at the Colesdale Farm festival site near Potters Bar for the now firmly established Zimfest Live, a colourful celebration of Zimbabwean music. Working alongside Gareth Wildman’s Stage Tec as they frequently do, John Southee’s Peterborough-based company populated the 12 by ten metre Alidome stage with two hangs of eight HDL 30-A active two-way line array modules. These were underpinned with powerful 2x18 RCF SUB 9006-AS on the ground in front of the stage, while across the stage lip were RCF’s NX 15-SMA reference monitors. Wildman, who has known John Southee for the past 20 years, has increasingly turned to the sound system specialist for his deployment of RCF’s unique control tool, RDNet. This is a robust management network for RCF devices and an advanced a line-array design tool. With site management, environmental health and sound containment now hot tickets on every council agenda, this is now vital. “This site for example,” notes Wildman, “faces potential issues with high-end houses surrounding it, but RDNet will take care of that. It’s a good selling point for us as we work a lot in stately homes.” John Southee agrees. “The ability to control the line array is paramount. Our audience zone is set at 75 metres; you input where you want to fire the PA and RDNet provides a visualisation readout, which is why we have a steep arc. Councils will be requesting this type of assurance more and more.” His investment in RCF systems began with the smaller HDL 20-A before moving up. “We were looking for something more powerful but still compact and with the same degree of control. It was a natural progression, and the HDL20-A is now generally used as side fills.” But his RCF inventory is still not complete, as he has placed an order for a further four RCF (two 21in) SUB 9007-AS supercharged subwoofers. The rig comfortably satisfied the auditory requirements of both the audience and the council, meeting the 58dB threshold at the perimeter fence. And despite being out of practice after such as long lay-off (and having to build up the infrastructure in gale-force winds on the Friday), the technical crew were equally pleased, as a succession of Zimbabwe’s finest, including Jah Prayzah, Poptain, Tamy Moyo, Trevor Dongo and Shasha amongst others took to the stage. dLive CTi1500 Named as a Finalist for NAMM TEC Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement Allen & Heath has been announced as a finalist for the 37th Annual NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards in the category of Outstanding Technical Achievement in Small Format Technology. Presented at The NAMM Show, The NAMM TEC Awards are bestowed annually in celebration of the pro audio community by recognising the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind today’s sound recordings, live performances, films, television, video games and other media. “We are totally honoured and humbled to be a finalist in the Small Format category, especially given wins in this highly competitive space for the last three years running,” said Jeff Hawley, marketing director, at Allen & Heath USA. The announcement follows a four-month call for entries of standout technical and creative products and projects that have made a significant impact on modern sound and music. A panel of respected industry voters from pro audio publications as well as members of professional music, technical and creative organisations, along with select NAMM members carefully evaluated each entry before selecting Allen & Heath dLive CTi1500 as a finalist. Engineered with Titanium side panels, new alloy metalwork and a‘superleggera’-inspired chassis, the CTi1500 weighs only 25.4lbs – well under the critical 50lbs luggage threshold – even in a flightcase. Engineered across the board to ruthlessly strip out as much weight as possible while ensuring tour-grade structural integrity and a first-class user experience, CTi1500 packs in 12 faders / 6 layers, built-in audio I/O, an audio networking port, a 12″ capacitive touchscreen and the innovative Harmony UI for a fast and flexible workflow. “The response to the console has been amazing and this TEC Finalist nod is especially cool,” adds Hawley. “From quick fly dates at Newport Jazz Festival with Khruangbin and Cory Wong, shows with Andra Day, Finneas, Lawrence and Thrice, to special streaming events with Billie Eilish as live shows start to come back, we’re proud to have the small CTi1500 in the mix in a big way.” The NAMM TEC Awards will be held on 22 January, 2022 in Anaheim, California at The NAMM Show, the global online gathering which unites the musical instrument, pro audio and entertainment technology industry.Issue: 343 news 7 Industry professionals join forces to launch Event Crew Training Event Crew Training, formed by a group of experienced industry professionals, has released its first training course: Event Crew Essentials. Identifying that post-pandemic there would be a need to recruit a large volume of new and inexperienced crew and sharing a view that the existing training was not fit for purpose, the collective saw the period of stagnation created by Covid-19 as an opportunity to create an online portal that not only provides the required training but gives trainees knowledge that will enable them to feel comfortable in their new working environment. The Event Crew Training portal is designed to be a new benchmark for entry level crew and technicians looking to start a career in the events industry. Its initial offering, online course Event Crew Essentials, covers a range of topics, including understanding stages, live event jargon, departmental load in and load outs, health and safety and manual handling, providing participants with the practical knowledge they require. This new-found awareness ensures essential elements are addressed, thus elevating the standard of health and safety in the workplace and enabling crew companies to meet legal compliance. Event Crew Essentials takes approximately 90 minutes to complete and costs crewing companies £20 per access token. One token provides training for one member of crew. The Event Crew Training team believes this vital training will establish an important foundation for the live events industry and hope that others recognise this too. For it to become a universal standard, the course has to be as accessible as possible and to help sustain that Event Crew Training is looking for financial support from industry peers. With plans for further expansion and additional courses in the coming months, all donations will go directly into developing training and resources. Event Crew Training is a not-for-profit limited company founded by Base Crew Ltd, DNG Production & Event Crew Ltd, The Music Consortium, Outsource Staffing Solutions, Rule Out Load Management, and Safe Show. To find out more and to access the training course, visit www.eventcrewtraining.com Stage Electrics Begins Installation at The Shakespeare North Playhouse Stage Electrics has begun work on site at Kier Construction’s latest theatrical project, The Shakespeare North Playhouse in Knowsley, Prescot. The “Playhouse” will be a 350 seat theatre, modelled on the cockpit-in-court design that was popular during the Elizabethan era, and will complete the UK’s “Shakespearean triangle”: London, Stratford-upon- Avon and Prescot. Secured as part of a competitive tender process, the project will see Stage Electrics deliver the infrastructure for lighting, sound and communications throughout the purpose-built venue, including custom patch panels designed and manufactured by the company’s in-house specialist teams. Karl Formstone, technical project manager for Stage Electrics commented: “When complete, the Shakespeare North Playhouse will be a stunning, state of the art, attraction, and a new standout landmark for Prescot and the surrounding area.” Working to designs by Architects Austin-Smith:Lord and technical design consultant Arup, the project is expected to be handed over to the Shakespeare North Trust, the operator of the landmark venue on behalf of Knowsley Council, in 2022. www.stage-electrics.co.ukSeptember 2021 news 8 Renkus-Heinz Brings Flexibility and Interoperability to Iconyx Compact Series with Audinate’s Dante Renkus-Heinz, manufacturer of premium professional loudspeakers, has announced the latest products in its new Iconyx Compact Series: the ICC 12/3-RD1, 24/3-RD1, 36/3-RD1 and 48/3-RD1. The new -RD1 line-up completes the Iconyx Compact Series portfolio, a line that first launched in 2020 as a response to integrators seeking coherent and steerable sound solutions in highly problematic acoustic spaces. With its compact footprint, the series brings performance and directivity to spaces where even the classic Iconyx arrays might be too large. The -RD1 models add improved interoperability and flexibility through Dante audio- over-IP functionality. They also bring new control options with integration into Crestron’s remote control solutions and environments. “The -RD1 versions allow for quick, cost effective, and easy integration using Audinate’s highly integrated Dante Ultimo chip,” said Graham Hendry, vice president of strategic development at Renkus-Heinz. “The Ultimo platform is perfect for the smaller footprint Iconyx Compact Series where the diminutive dimensions also mean there is a need for more space-constrained network devices featuring a lower channel count. The -RD1 ICC family supports all the features that have driven widespread adoption of Dante technology: auto-discovery of devices, label-based routing of signals, true plug-and-play operation, and superb audio performance over standard networks.” The very narrow profile allows the Iconyx Compact Series to blend into nearly any environment, while exceptional directivity helps control even the most challenging acoustics. This brings the premium performance of beam-steered line arrays to even the most architecturally sensitive spaces and provides more opportunities for integration in the house of worship, corporate, transportation, education, and government markets. The new products also offer full RHAON II beam-steering with the latest U.R.G.O beam algorithms, a movable acoustic centre, multiple beam opening angles and high-pass filtering of individual beams. That means all the fidelity and musicality expected of a Renkus-Heinz product, found in a footprint 40 per cent smaller than the classic Iconyx. The included wall-mount brackets make mounting easy and is nearly invisible behind the arrays. Standard RN units have analogue and AES inputs. Lighting for Radio Podcast – Version 2 introduces new podcast series for the TV and film lighting Industry TV lighting specialist Version 2 has launched a brand new Lighting for Radio Podcast series that offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of some of the UK’s leading TV and film lighting professionals. Each episode will talk to some of the industry’s leading lighting experts as they share first-hand experiences and lessons on how they reached the top of their profession. Nick Edwards, managing director of Version 2 explains the concept of the podcast “born out of a lockdown idea, this behind the scenes podcast series will give listeners and I hope In particular students’ ideas for their future career paths”. Hosting every conversation is broadcaster Nia Visser, whose career credits include work as a radio presenter with the BBC and currently Jazz FM. The first episode, which is available now on all popular podcast apps, talks to Nick Edwards about his 25 years of dedicated television lighting experience, having held technical, commercial and management positions at some of the industry’s biggest and well-known companies PRG, Panalux and Aurora, after his training at the flagship training facility in BBC Wood Norton, all before founding Version 2 back in 2016. Nick talks through the whole journey, starting from where it began at St Clement Danes School and why Nick has subsequently gone back to be a governor of the school, to working as a technician across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East with show credits including The X-Factor, The Brit Awards, Live Earth, The Royal Variety Performance, MTV Europe Awards, The Baftas and the Eurovision Song Contest. It’s a must-listen for inspiring entrepreneurs, as we find out how Aurora was built to become one of the market leaders in the UK television industry in just three short years, which resulted in a bidding war that ensued to acquire the company. Nick explains how Version 2 came about, what drove him to start again, and his sacrifices to achieve it. And the significant step Version 2 made with entrepreneur Nigel Wray investing and the exciting plans for the future. The first and all future episodes can be found anywhere you get your podcasts, including those below. Be sure to subscribe to get future episodes automatically. Spotify – Lighting For Radio Podcast Apple Podcast – Lighting For Radio Podcast Amazon Music – Lighting For Radio Podcast Allen & Heath’s AHM-64 Powers Three New Church Installs Church sound and AV specialists DM Music, based in Hertfordshire, have recently installed Allen & Heath AHM-64 Audio Matrix Processors in three major house of worship projects. With nearly 30 years’ experience of working in sensitive historic locations, the company was engaged by Gloucester Cathedral, Holy Trinity Guildford and Christchurch Priory in Dorset to deliver solutions that prioritised versatility and operational simplicity. “Audio performance in churches is always important of course, particularly with regard to speech intelligibility, but alongside that, usability by non- professional users is always a paramount consideration for us” explains Graham Bennewith (pictured) of DM Music. “There’s no point specifying hugely powerful systems that are impossible to use by the volunteers who tend to make up church sound teams.” At the core of the AHM-64 is a versatile 64x64 audio matrix processor that allows integrators to quickly create scalable systems, supported by a comprehensive ecosystem of I/O, control and Dante solutions. The flexibility of the Allen & Heath ecosystem, in conjunction with the ability to seamlessly integrate with third-party control protocols, was a key factor in DM Music’s choice for its customers. “One of the great things with the AHM-64 is that it allows huge options in terms of connectivity and control; we installed a Crestron touchscreen solution at Gloucester Cathedral for example, and an Allen & Heath IP8 remote controller at Christchurch Priory, it allows us to specify a wide variety of control options depending on customer needs” notes Bennewith. For the Guildford install, DM Music took further advantage of the AHM-64’s connectivity options to integrate additional Allen & Heath products, delivering a holistic solution for the church’s diverse audio requirements. “While the three systems are regularly used for fairly straightforward speech reinforcement, at Holy Trinity in Guildford the AHM-64 is used in conjunction with an Allen & Heath SQ-5 digital mixer and DT168 AudioRack” adds Bennewith. “Here, the system can handle everything from simple multiple microphone set-ups to fairly complex musical line-ups, but it’s still possible for a volunteer to operate with minimal training – it’s a wonderful solution for situations like this.”news 9 Issue: 343 Eleftheri Ekfrasi Theatre Keeps Zero 88 in the Family Award-winning Eleftheri Ekfrasi Theatre in Athens, is a lively and proactive family owned and run business, benefiting from the passion and enthusiasm of a compact and dedicated team headed by Nikos Koutsaftis, who is also venue’s chief of lighting. Producing classics from Shakespeare, Moliere, Carlo Goldoni, and many more, Eleftheri Ekfrasi Theatre is also renowned for offering a great line up of stand-up comedy and is acclaimed for its children’s theatre productions which have won several accolades and European awards. Recently, Nikos has been busy overseeing a technical refit in the lighting department, which has included the purchase of a brand new Zero 88 FLX S48 console, which he loves! It was his first Zero 88 product, but: “It certainly won’t be the last,” he declares with pride. Nikos was recommended to look at Zero 88 by his friend, Antonis Panagiotopoulos, who is one of the most popular and prolific lighting designers in Greece. For many years he was the chief lighting designer of the Athens Concert Hall (Megaro Mousikis Athinon). Antonis and Nikos are long-term family friends, and Antonis has been entwined with the origins of Eleftheri Ekfrasi Theatre since the beginning 21 years ago. He knows Zero 88 from his own extensive work with and in many venues and theatres in Greece. Nikos wanted a high-quality professional brand to replace their previous lighting console, and one with a solid reputation for user friendly and cost-effective products, so Zero 88 and their FLX range ticked all the boxes. It is controlling approximately 80 lights at the theatre which includes ten moving heads (soon to be increased) plus a mix of LED sources and conventional fixtures. As an experienced lighting professional working on a wide range of different productions, Nikos was impressed generally by the features and functionality of the FLX range, especially for the small size. “I like the simplicity of the console, the power and the flexibility,” he stated, adding that he finds it “extremely easy to use,” as well as quick and logical to programme and use to create fluid sequences, cues and scenes. “Like most LDs, I am often under time pressure, so anything that can assist the process and make it quicker and easier is just fantastic,” he declared. In addition to being delighted with the FLX S48 itself, Nikos appreciates the excellent service and technical support from both Zero 88 and Greek distributor Bon Studio, which is also based in Athens. Nikos looks forward to having a chance to properly utilise his FLX S48. Everyone at the Eleftheri Ekfrasi Theatre, including Nikos’s mother Mairy Igglesi and sister Eirini Koutsafti, both well-known actresses, is looking forward to creating great shows again and, most of all, to performing to live audiences. A new work for children written by Eirini Koutsafti is in the pipe, addressing the benefits of recycling and the importance of helping the planet survive in the global warming crisis, and there is a constant stream of ideas and many other future plans, all based on their collective love for the theatre and the influence and stimulation that can be produced from intelligent and entertaining performance. photo: Eleftheri Ekfrasi Theatre www.zero88.comNext >