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The recent launch of Attack of the Clones, the latest chapter in the Star Wars story, saw two notable firsts for a UK film premier, a live performance by the Royal Philharmonic in Leicester Square, and a pair of PM1D’s used in a unique audio experiment. "There were two major considerations for this event," explained live engineer Dave Bracey, "the concert must be relayed a full 360° around the Square which means we have to be acutely sensitive to the local neighbourhood; and secondly the whole thing must go in, fit-up, be played and cleared in under a day."

Duplicating the sound system for rehearsals away from the site was fairly straight forward, having two PM1Ds one at the rehearsal site, one in Leicester Square, simplified things further, as Bracey explained

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Italian luminaire manufacturer LDR has provided, via its Spanish dealer Prolighting, 100 units of its brand new Rima 500 floodlight, in white finish, for the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The lighting is being used to highlight two major exhibitions at the museum. The first is titled ‘Paris: Capital of the Arts, 1900-1968’, and traces the major developments in painting and sculpture which took place in Paris throughout the first seven decades of the twentieth century. The second is ‘Pictures of the Surface of the Earth’, a collection of photographs by the German artist and film director Wim Wenders, who began taking photographs back in 1983. From the start, he has brought his unique sensibility to focus on the villages and landscapes of the United States and Havana, the forests and temples of Japan, the coast of Galilee and the endless roads of the deserted Austral

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Star Hire (Event Services) Ltd supplied mobile StarStages to the organisers of the UK’s largest gay festival, Mardi Gras, for the two main stages at the Hackney Marshes event. The main G.A.Y. stage was a mobile SS 15-12 StarStage that housed the PA and lighting, with a line-up including Atomic Kitten, Westlife, A1, Human League and Belinda Carlisle. These were variously introduced by a range of celebrities including Graham Norton, a host of Big Brother stars, Ken Livingston, Mo Mowlam and Trisha. Meanwhile, the more intimate ‘Popstarz’ Indie stage was a mobile SS 10 08 StarStage that featured acts including Suede, the Cooper Temple Clause and Haven.

Graham Drew headed up the Star Hire crew who had to cope with the summer’s inclement weather and the soft ground of Hackney Marshes that meant production schedules were stretched. "The whole production team work

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Indochine X PixMob Fan Immersion

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's - 40 thousand LED pixels on a ceiling!!! Indochine's whirlwind tour transports fans to another level of the live experience - immersing them from floor to ceiling with PixMob's X4 wristbands, and an LED ceiling made entirely of its NOVA Minis! With the vision of Indochine's creative team, PixMob used its LED fan-technology to turn attendees and venues into an ocean of effects, and a starry sky of LED magic. Très très cool!

Read more about the Indochine tour in the latest issue of LSi

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Just over a year after being appointed to the ABTT Council as Honorary Secretary, Mark White, ETC's manager for the UK and Ireland, has taken over as Chairman of the Association, following David Edelstein's decision to stand down.

Edelstein’s resignation comes in the wake of the de-merger of his company Triple E from Blackout and issues including the relocation of his business have put pressure on his availability and time. David told us: "It is with much regret that I resign, as there are a number of initiatives that I would have liked to see through to completion. I will, however, continue to serve on the Council and the ABTT will have my full support."

The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) is run by a Council of eleven volunteers and Mark White will now serve as Chairman until July 2003. Having worked in the theatre industry since 1985, his career

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Light Relief is delighted to have received a number of donations last month thanks to Forester Health, the STLD and BKSTS. Krystyna Gibbons of Forester Health took Matthew Griffiths, managing director of PLASA, completely by surprise at the Association's AGM on June 14, presenting him with a cheque as the company's first contribution to Light Relief.

As part of the Forester Health Cash Plan offered to PLASA members, which was launched at PLASA 2001, £1 is donated to Light Relief for every new member of the scheme. The scheme, which is being continued at this year's show, offers members a range of cash refunds for basic healthcare needs not funded by the NHS, such as dental treatment, eyesight tests, physiotherapy and reflexology. It also provides much-needed financial help in the event of hospitalisation, an accident or the birth of a child. Whereas private medical insurance is basic

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The much-anticipated Flying Pig Systems Wholehog III console is now shipping with version 1.0 software. The first five US Wholehog III consoles and DP2000 DMX processing units were passed through High End Systems' Austin Quality Control before being shipped to their various beta test locations nationwide. This delivery follows the placement of several beta consoles throughout the UK and Europe. HES’ Brad Schiller is managing the beta launch in the US, while Lee House is handling it in the UK.

The response from the beta test program led to the release of Wholehog III software version 1.0. As Robert Mokry, Wholehog III product launch manager, told us: "The beta test program yielded great results. The idea behind V1.0 software is to release a reliable build that offers the core features users must have to do a show, with features such as XYZ positioning and Hog II show import s

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The renowned Albany Theatre in Deptford, south-east London, has recently undergone a complete technical refurbishment.

Opened on its present site in 1982, The Albany established a formidable reputation for itself in the 1980s as a thriving community theatre with the backing of some big names. But as the years passed, lack of funding took its toll and the theatre fell into disrepair, its equipment failed or was removed, and eventually, in 2000, it succumbed to darkness.

Since then, an energetic campaign to bring it back to life has seen the birth of a three-phase refurbishment programme, most of which is now complete. Thus, the Albany opened its doors again in March, boasting a fully refurbished interior, revamped flying grid and brand new sound, lighting, comms and patching systems with names such as Meyer Sound, XTA Electronics, MC2, Yamaha, ETC and Strand in the rig.

The team re

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Lee Baldock and Ruth Rossington report from ABTT 2002

From its now established base at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London, the ABTT Show continues to underline its role as a key event for the theatre industry. Well over 100 exhibitors from across the wide spectrum of supplies and services were at the show, drawing in over 2,500 visitors.

Before we get down to brass tacks, a quick mention of the Dinner, staged on the first evening, at which Major Sir Michael Parker, famed for his work on such events as the Royal Tournament and more recently All the Queens Horses, was the guest speaker. During the dinner, Andrew Bruce of Autograph Sound collected a Lifetime Achievement Award; Nick Wade, chief electrician at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, was handed Technician of the Year;

Vari-Lite’s VL1000 won Lighting Product of the Year; AVW’s Impressario stage motion control

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The Sheraton Frankfurt recently added a new chapter to its 27-year history, following the completion of a €50 million renovation and redecoration programme. As an elegant five-star hotel with bright, spacious areas, it offers the latest technical equipment, large conference and banqueting facilities, direct access to Frankfurt Airport via a footbridge, close proximity to the ICE terminal and metro connections to Frankfurt’s city centre.

As Europe’s largest airport hotel, it has over 1,000 guest rooms. Not only has the interior design of the lobby changed completely, but also its location. Gone are the relatively dark charms of former days, now replaced by a bright and modern lobby six times larger. The floors are Italian porcelain tiles, extravagant Venetian plaster decorates the walls and the staircase is constructed of marble and glass. In the new ‘Glass House&rsqu

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This year’s Philip Morris Jazz Weekend took place in the Dutch city of Bergen Op Zoom in late May. During the five-day show, national and international stars of the jazz scene performed in four different venues. Among these were Phil Mason’s New Orleans All Stars with Christine Tyrell, Arie Kuit Quartet, Trio Johan Clement featuring Madeleine Bell, Miss Lulu White’s Red Hot Creole Jazz band and many more.

The main stage was the 1,000-capacity jazz tent, which was equipped with four stacks of HK Audio R-Series plus DFC amp racks, supplied by Triple A. For monitors, a total of seven HK Audio SM 112 II, two VT 115 Xs and an SM 212 for drum fill were used. Toon Dekkers, owner of Triple A, commented: "We have been working with HK Audio material for several years and we are again and again enthusiastic about the versatility of R-Series. Some people consider R-Series as

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When David Bowie’s production manager, Nick Belshaw, turned his attention towards Europe and the summer season he thought of his old colleague, Dick Hayes at Entec in London. "When Nick first called he explained that the show Bowie is taking to the festivals of Europe was quite complex," explained Hayes, "so his sound engineer Pablo Wheeler had asked Belshaw to secure him a Yamaha PM1D."

Such is the size and scope of Bowie’s repertoire, that Wheeler was looking at 56 mic lines and a further 24 line inputs. "This show controller required the ability to follow an artist with a huge song list, and a penchant for chopping and changing his set list at the drop of a hat. At first, I thought I’d rent a PM1D for him," Hayes explained, "but then on reflection I realised this is a desk being spec’d more and more."

Hayes had harbou

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Martin Heap has joined Vertigo Rigging as projects director, based at the company’s new headquarters in Deptford, London. After working as a freelance production manager, Heap joined Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group in 1992, as technical manager, overseeing new productions and ventures in the UK and Europe.

In 1997 he became RUG’s director of production, managing all aspects of the company’s producing arm. Martin’s role at Vertigo will include overseeing the project management department, supervision of the larger contracts and aiding in the day-to-day management and running of Vertigo, an extremely busy hire and service company.

(Ruth Rossington)

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Mike Charman has joined the Autograph Sales team as Clear-Com product specialist. Charman brings to the company a wide range of engineering skills, matched with familiarity within the field of broadcast and communication sales. His experience includes 15 years of working with innovative products such as AVS standard converters and Tekniche and Leitch broadcast systems.

Mike’s arrival coincides with an exciting period for Clear-Com, with a vast range of new wireless communications products soon to be available in the UK. The imminent licensing of the Q700 range, a programmable frequency agile UHF wireless intercom system, will be welcomed by communications users. The system has already attracted interest from across the UK, andenquiries have been coming in from broadcast users, as far a field as Aberdeen, to regional theatres, as well as numerous lighting and sound rental companie

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Working closely with Army co-ordinators, Skyhigh was recently asked to simulate enemy fire at close quarters to the thousands of spectators, providing heavy artillery explosions as little as 50 metres from the public. The British Army’s showcase event for 2002 - ‘ARMY 2002’ - was the most action-packed event of the year, with the only ‘All Arms’ firepower demonstration ever mounted for the public.

With almost every weapon in the British Army’s inventory taking part, tanks, artillery and infantry, supported by attack helicopters, transport aircraft and fast jet bombers, the audience saw, and very definitely heard, one of the largest demonstrations of military might ever seen in Europe. The ‘Live Fire’ demonstration took on the scenario of three enemy encampments located 6, 7 and 8km away with units from the Royal Artillery, Army Air Corp a

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The long-awaited return of the PLASA Credit Circle is now complete. The Service returns in a web-based, free-to-use format at www.plasa.org/creditcircle - bringing this useful service right up to date.

The Credit Circle has been created to benefit PLASA members by helping them identify companies which have defaulted on payment. The information gathered is displayed on the PLASA website in real-time so that all contributing members can immediately profit from this exchange of data. The success of the Credit Circle depends entirely on the input provided by members - it costs nothing to join, but could prove to be a valuable resource in maintaining the financial health of your business.

The service is open to all UK PLASA members and only requires agreement with the terms of the Constitution created specifically for contributors to the Credit Circle. For details of how to sign up for th

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PLASA’s ‘Association Day’, held at Down Hall Country House Hotel in Hertfordshire on 14 June, and incorporating the Association’s AGM, was a great success. The event was attended by a record number of PLASA members, and drew a positive response from all involved.

The format of the AGM has changed gradually over time, and has for some years included an industry dinner event at the close of the day. Last year, a series of ‘Break-out’ meetings were held for the first time, providing valuable discussion and feedback on a number of topics.

The aim of the Association Day is to gain further advantage from the opportunities offered by having a large contingent of PLASA members, plus the PLASA Executive Committee and head office staff, together in one place. Rather than concentrate on the AGM itself - a legal formality - the emphasis has now been shifted f

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Now here’s a thing: the ‘It’ girl Sophie Ellis Bextor, diva of the dancefloor with her Julie Andrews voice and lounge lush livery, sidles off stage at the end of song six and we’re treated to a guitar solo.

And not just any solo, this was raunchy, rocky, postured and powerful. Frankly, this caught the crowd completely unawares, even though there had been a clue it was coming: the opening number Sparkle was similarly endowed with a power pop melody and a thickly textured rhythm section, more Sweet’s Suicide than Siren of Style. What to think?

The audience didn’t seem to mind: here we had a mixture of sub-teens, mainly self-conscious girls still wearing LED flashing antenna from the S Club gig a fortnight earlier (these disappeared very quickly once the grown up audience arrived and they realised how uncool this made them look); a fair contingency o

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Manchester-based Digital Projection International (DPI) has announced the addition of three new projectors to its successful product line-up. The Blacklite range has been specifically designed for applications where cinema quality high contrast images are required.

The range offers light output levels from 3000-7000 ANSI lumens to suit every application: all the projectors utilize the unique dark metal Thunder DMDs which are the core enabling device of this 3-Chip DLP system, offering SXGA (1280 x 1024) resolution with optional SD-SDi or HD-SDi. This dark metal chip technology has only previously been available in D-Cinema projection units, and coupled with special lenses and Digital Projection’s optical know-how, offers a contrast level of 1200:1.

All the Blacklite range features as standard composite, component and DVI inputs. A unique link mode function offers conversion of

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Andolite, the manufacturer of internally wired lighting bars, standard and custom panels and power distribution units, is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Ayling as Operations Director. Ayling has been with Andolite for 14 years and has considerable experience in the company's products and manufacturing process.

(Lee Baldock)

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Sennheiser UK is marking the 25th PLASA Show with the UK launch of several new products and ranges. The Sennheiser SKM 5000N Neumann-capsuled wireless microphone, the MKE Platinum ‘invisible’ miniature lavalier mic and the evolution eW550 touring twin wireless receiver are among major attractions for the live sound industry. The company will also be showing the Lab.gruppen range of power amplification for the first time, including the latest Iron Power and Ferrite Power ranges. Alongside all of which there will be the full range of Sennheiser and Neumann live and studio microphones, Sennheiser headsets, including the new HD280 pro DJ headphone, and D.A.S Audio sound reinforcement products and Mindprint signal processors. Sennheiser will also be unveiling an entire new innovative audio installation brand and new Sennheiser conferencing products at the show.

To accommodate th

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Glenn Beckley's sound design for the touring production of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers features no less than five types of JF Series loudspeakers from EAW, supplied by Stage Electrics of Bristol, UK. In line with current practice, Beckley has split the distributed system so that different enclosures handle the band and vocals, and he selected the JF590 to give a rounded sound to the show's small orchestra.

"It's a nice speaker for listening to music," he commented, "and its fairly wide horizontal dispersion is ideal for a system that doesn't contain huge arrays." The four JF590s are configured as two stereo pairs and are supplemented by the same number of SB330 single 18" subwoofers, feeding the stalls and balcony areas respectively. The cabinets are flown or ground-stacked as required, displaying the versatility of the JF Series. The JF260z is a rec

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