Details

04 September 2025

USA - Christie has announced the appointment of Jim Hallas as vice-president, product management. Reporting to president and COO Michael Phipps, Hallas will lead the company’s display product strategy, ensuring Christie delivers customer-centric solutions that advance the cinema, ProAV, and industrial markets.  

Jim holds graduate degrees in engineering and business and brings a wealth of diverse experience. He has served as an adjunct professor and an entrepreneur and has built businesses within leading technology organisations, including IBM and Texas Instruments (TI). Most recently, Hallas served as business and engineering manager for the DLP Cinema, ProAV, and Industrial Group at TI, where his team pioneered the HEP pixel technology and holds five patents for various technology innovations.

Michael Phipps, president and COO of Christie, says

Details

03 September 2025

UK - Stage Electrics Group has announced the acquisition of Willow Communications Limited (Willow), a specialist in audio-visual integration and the provision of software as a service platform, serving the land-based gaming, hospitality, holiday park, sport and leisure sectors.

This strategic acquisition enhances the group’s capabilities, further enabling the delivery of a wider range of technical solutions to a broader spectrum of customers and sectors.

Willow will continue to operate from its Northampton headquarters, where it has been based since its founding more than 35 years ago by managing director Steve Barlow and finance director Sally Barlow.

“This acquisition is an important step in our strategy to diversify the sectors we serve and expand the products and services the group is able to offer,” said Dave Coull, CEO of Stage El

Details

03 September 2025

Austria - AV Stumpfl celebrated the opening of its new 2,200m² production hall at its headquarters in Wallern an der Trattnach together with its entire team during this year’s summer family festival.

Fuelled by a good economy in the United States – one of AV Stumpfl’s major sales markets – the company is experiencing a strong increase in demand.

More than 10 years ago, AV Stumpfl strategically established a US subsidiary in Atlanta, Georgia, to bring its innovative systems – developed and manufactured with dedication in Upper Austria – to the US live entertainment, hospitality and film industries.

The new facility adds 2,200m² of production space, effectively doubling the company’s production capacity. Last year, AV Stumpfl invested in new equipment for a second production line and welcomed 20 new team members. Until now, this

Details

03 September 2025

Canada - More than 25,000 fans descended on Ottawa’s RA Centre Grounds for the 15th annual edition of the Escapade Festival this summer, Canada’s largest outdoor EDM event.

Being relatively far north (450km above Toronto), Ottawa enjoys long summer days. That’s great for people who spend time outdoors, admiring the area’s natural beauty, but for anyone trying to light a major festival featuring stars like The Chainsmokers, Excision, Kaskade, Gryffin, Jessica Audiffred and Liquid Stranger, all that sunlight can present a challenge, especially if you want to serve up the intense, searing looks that their music demands.

The team at Quebec-based Onedot was more than up to the task this summer. They succeeded in setting the stage for evocative looks even during day light hours, thanks to some adroit fixture placement and a carefully curat

Details

03 September 2025

UK - Thum + Mahr, part of the Broadcast Solutions group, has delivered a third DHD audio console to News Broadcasting, part of the News UK media group. The DHD RX2 console is now in use in the talkSPORT studio complex.

News Broadcasting, with headquarters in London and a major presence in ROI and Northern Ireland, reaches a monthly audience of almost 40m across the UK and Ireland. Brands include national radio stations like Times Radio, Virgin and Talk, plus a group of local stations in Ireland.

The production facility in London features an extensive infrastructure connected over Livewire technology. News Broadcasting was keen to expand its connectivity to a fully open platform for greater flexibility and configurability. It first brought in Thum + Mahr for a proof of concept in September 2024.

Initially this led to the installation of two DH

Details

03 September 2025

USA - Clear-Com is supporting productions of Alley Theatre, one of the oldest and largest nonprofit resident theatres in the United States. With a storied history dating back to 1947, the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre produces classics, new works, and community programmes that reach nearly 200,000 people annually across Houston.

Alley Theatre has been a longtime user of Clear-Com products and has deployed Clear-Com’s flagship Arcadia Central Station, integrating FreeSpeak II digital wireless beltpacks and HelixNet digital partyline systems across its two performance spaces: the 774-seat Hubbard Theatre and the 296-seat Neuhaus Theatre. This combination allows stage managers, board operators, technicians, and creative teams to remain seamlessly connected throughout Alley’s 75,000sq.ft Centre for Theatre Production.

“Clear-Com is absolutely es

Details

03 September 2025

UK - AbsenLive, the dedicated live events category brand from Absen, will recreate the Oasis Live Tour LED set at PLASA Show 2025. From 7-9 September at Olympia London, the AbsenLive Experience Zone (located in the Oly Room) will transport visitors back to experience the band on stage once more.

For this special feature at PLASA, the production team behind the official tour is partnering with Absen to provide an exceptional visual experience in the AbsenLive Experience Zone. Disguise will be powering the screens, while Brompton will be handling the processing. Additionally, Adam Hall is supplying the lighting and sound to ensure a first-class production.

Absen’s VN4.8 Pro, used for all sold-out UK tour dates this summer, will take centre stage, immersing visitors in the energy, the sights and sounds alongside live footage and photography of the com

Details

03 September 2025

UK - Solid State Logic has announced the expansion of its SSL Live Bundles offering, which now includes the new MPL 16-8 stagebox. These expanded packages provide users with a new, affordable entry point into the world of SSL Live. Designed for engineers and production companies looking to harness SSL’s sonic performance and streamlined workflow, the MPL 16-8 stagebox opens the door to a powerful, professional-grade live production experience at a significantly reduced investment.

The SSL Live production platform is extremely flexible, with an almost infinite number of system configurations available. SSL Live Bundles have been developed to provide complete systems optimised for touring, installed sound, and church audio, in the most cost-effective way possible.

The new MPL 16-8 is a Dante-enabled stagebox designed to deliver streamlined audio conn

Details

03 September 2025

UK - CUK Group, Outline’s exclusive UK distributor, will feature the company’s latest loudspeaker ranges at the PLASA Show 2025.

The P Series introduces a new generation of portable coaxial point-source systems, spanning from the ultra-compact P4 to the powerful dual-15" P30. Each model benefits from advanced port geometries that minimise turbulence, ensuring cleaner low-frequency output, and precise time alignment that preserves phase integrity (in both mono and bi-amped configurations). Combined with their coaxial design, these refinements deliver accurate, consistent coverage and clarity across applications.

The A Series embodies the motto “Sonic excellence finally rhymes with Architectural elegance”. While slim column loudspeakers are often judged by their looks, the A Series proves that discretion and design can be matched by authentic a

Details

03 September 2025

UK - Visit Obsidian Control Systems together with distributor Live Technology (Stand C22) where lighting control experts will be on hand to showcase the latest innovations. The Obsidian team has been busy with new product developments, software upgrades, and a fresh schedule of training sessions - all designed to keep you at the cutting edge of lighting control.

Obsidian will feature the new NX W, a sleek, portable, and full-featured PC control wing designed to deliver professional-grade Onyx operation via USB-C. Its responsive hardware surface brings the power of Onyx to any PC system, offering lighting operators the tools they need in a compact and intuitive form. From RGB-backlit motorized faders to customisable multi-function buttons, every detail is engineered for speed, precision, and creativity.

Obsidian’s popular and award-winning Netron da

Details

03 September 2025

UK - Jerry Harvey Audio [Booth J10] announces that founder Jerry Harvey will be presenting Jerry Harvey and the History of In-Ear Monitoring at PLASA Show 2025. The presentation will take place on Sunday, 7 September at 4:30pm at the Audio & AV Theatre. It is free to attend with a show entry badge.

Jerry Harvey and the History of In-Ear Monitoring will explore 30 years of IEM history through the context of Harvey’s professional journey, from his first set of custom-fit 2-way earpieces designed for Alex Van Halen to the founding of JH Audio and beyond. The discussion will trace the evolution of in-ear monitoring and its impact upon the live sound industry, as well as explore innovations and new technologies to come.

In addition to his speaking appearance, Harvey and the rest of the JH Audio Team will be on the show floor at Oly

Details

02 September 2025

Europe - Robert Juliat has announced its major participation in an ambitious investment project led by the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, as part of a European programme to renovate the energy efficiency of cultural infrastructures in Belgium. Ten emblematic French-speaking theatres have benefited from the renewal of their lighting systems: Les Tanneurs, La Raffinerie, Le Botanique, Le Varia, Le Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles and Les Halles de Schaerbeek in Brussels, L’Orchestre Philharmonique Royal, Le Manège Fonck and Le Forum in Liège and Le Manège in Mons.

This project enabled the replacement of tungsten lighting with LED solutions, making a strong contribution to the energy transition. To guide the process, end-users were invited to a series of demonstration days to compare the solutions offered by different manufacturers, as well as to a

Details

02 September 2025

Europe - One of the most successful gatherings to date, Showlight 2025 was welcomed back with open arms as it hosted a record number of delegates in Dijon for three days of lighting, gastronomy and conviviality.

You too can get a taste of what this perennial lighting quadrennial is about with the release of the first two speaker presentation videos from 2025. These can now be viewed on the Showlight website here: www.showlight.org/videos

This month, Brad Schiller and Lucy Carter are featured.

Brad Schiller’s presentation Transforming the Industry: The Promises and Potentials of GDTF covers improving workflows using GDTF and has been the most requested presentation to date, with Showlight delegates citing it as a brilliant demystifying of the intricacies of General Device Type

Details

02 September 2025

Spain - The Sagunto Roman Theatre, an open-air venue with over 2,000 years of history, has chosen to modernise its stage lighting with nine Ayrton Rivale Profile units, exclusively distributed in Spain by Stonex.

Every summer, this space hosts Sagunt a Escena, a festival that brings together theatre, music, and dance in front of thousands of spectators. Working in such a historic and open-air venue is a challenge: lighting must be powerful enough to cover large distances, resistant to changing weather conditions, and at the same time discreet, so as not to interfere with the aesthetics of the monument.

That’s where Rivale Profile has proven to be the best choice. With its IP65 rating, the fixture is built for outdoor conditions while maintaining a compact design that blends seamlessly into the theatre’s architecture. According to Ramón

Details

02 September 2025

UK - When the 2025 Wimbledon Championships were broadcast to millions worldwide this summer, the event not only showcased world-class tennis on the famous grass courts but also delivered breathtaking aerial coverage - captured by a high-speed wire camera system installed by Rigging Team and safeguarded with Broadweigh’s wireless load monitoring technology.

Spanning over 650m, the high-speed wire camera system was supplied by Luna Remote Systems, the specialist wire cam company behind the project. Two 36m tower crane sections, positioned in Wimbledon Green and across the adjacent golf course, supported the dual-line setup, enabling a single camera unit to capture sweeping, cinematic shots from the practice courts to Centre Court.

Throughout the tournament, Broadweigh’s wireless load monitoring system ensured the lines remained safely and evenly te

Details

02 September 2025

UK - The Sennheiser Group has joined forces with Rise AV, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing gender diversity and inclusion in the audiovisual (AV) sector. As a gold sponsor, Sennheiser supports Rise AV’s mission to create pathways for women and underrepresented talent. By supporting Rise AV, Sennheiser contributes to a shared vision: an AV industry where talent is recognized regardless of gender, and where inclusive structures enable long-term change.

“When individuals from diverse backgrounds come together, they spark creativity and innovation in unexpected ways. By supporting Rise AV, we’re working to ensure more voices are heard, supported, and able to shape the future of audio,” says Daniel Sennheiser, co-CEO of Sennheiser.

The sponsorship includes support for Rise AV’s flagship Mentoring Programme and the Elevate leaders

Details

02 September 2025

UAE - PPDS, the global provider of Philips Professional Displays and complementary solutions, has announced a new strategic distribution partnership with FVC, expanding its reach and strengthening its presence across the Middle East and parts of North Africa.

Under this new agreement, FVC will represent and distribute the full PPDS portfolio of Philips Professional Displays – including the latest digital signage, direct view LED displays, and professional TVs.

Headquartered in Dubai, FVC is a value-added distributor with a long standing reputation for bringing leading edge audiovisual and unified communications technologies to the market. The partnership ensures that systems integrators and end customers in the region can access the PPDS portfolio, supported by FVC’s extensive partner ecosystem and technical expertise.

Mr K S Parag, manag

Details

02 September 2025

Europe - Stage Precision has joined the OpenAV Cloud, a global, nonprofit initiative dedicated to building an open, connected audiovisual industry. The OpenAV Cloud fosters interoperability through open APIs and shared protocols, ensuring that AV systems, tools and platforms can communicate seamlessly across brands, disciplines and geographies.

By becoming part of the OpenAV Cloud community, Stage Precision is reinforcing its long-standing mission of delivering customers true freedom of choice, flexibility and system integration without lock-in.

At the heart of this commitment is SP Grid, Stage Precision’s flagship platform for managing and synchronising live data across complex AV workflows. SP Grid acts as a universal data backbone, bridging tracking systems, media servers, lighting desks, automation controllers, and more, so creatives and engine

Details

02 September 2025

UK - The multi award-winning new musical, The Great Gatsby, which opened at New York’s Broadway Theatre in April 2024, successfully transferred to London’s West End at the London Coliseum in April 2025 for a limited summer run that lasts until 7 September.

Produced by Korean musical producer, Chunsoo Shin and directed by Marc Bruni, The Great Gatsby is set in the American Jazz Age of the 1920s. 

The musical features music by Jason Howland, choreography by Dominique Kelley, book by Kait Kerrigan and lyrics by Nathan Tysen. The scenic and projection design and lighting are handled by the decade-long collaborative partnership of Paul Tate dePoo III and lighting designer, Cory Pattak.

Pattak talks to PRG UK, the lighting, control and atmosphere supplier for the London production, about his inspirations and vision for the

Details

02 September 2025

UK - Robe will have a big presence at PLASA Show 2025 - on stand A70 - and will be launching six new products – T3 Profile, iPAINTE LTM, SVOPATT Classic, Footsie1 MC and Footsie2 MC plus the new PowerDolly.

These will be available in one of the demo theatres for interested parties to see up close and to receive detailed demonstrations.

A new expo cycle live performance concept show Excalibur will also be premiered. This will be ‘full of cool, high-impact surprises and gravity-defying performance thrills from acrobat Oskar Skrypko… plus surprise guests’.

Produced by Robe’s in-house creative team, Excalibur will riff on the delight and drama of Arthurian legends – complete with the ‘lights of the round table’ and the magical sword … all with a contemporary twist and a specially compiled soundtrack, capitalisi