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On Sunday 17 March, the World Wrestling Federation held its annual extravaganza, Wrestlemania X8. This year’s event was held at Toronto’s SkyDome in front of nearly 69,000 people live and millions via Pay-Per-View, setting several attendance records. The four-hour production featured title matches and live performances by Saliva and Drowning Pool.

As long-time lighting suppliers to the WWF, Bandit Lites and production designer Jason Robinson were called upon to make this year’s event bigger than anything the WWF had ever done before, and judging by the numbers involved, they succeeded: 12 semis full of lighting gear, 4,000,000W of power at 11,000 amps per leg, 450 moving lights, 700 Par 64s, three Flying Pig Whole Hog 2s with four Overdrives, an ETC Expression 3x, 216 motors, 204 pieces of 10ft A-type truss, five custom A-type circles ranging from 42ft in diameter to

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Halo Live is a new company, launched by Yann Guenancia and Steve Marley, set up to handle all aspects of visual production and lighting for live tours and events. Halo Live will work with its sister company, the successful London-based operation Halo Lighting, which has been trading for 12 years as a lighting sales, rental and installation house.

The new company will focus on the specific creative needs and demanding requirements of the live industry - from music tours to corporate presentation and everything in between. The move is also designed to enable Halo Lighting to concentrate fully on its traditional core businesses. Halo Live’s production manager is Steve Marley: "We’d reached the stage where we needed to separate the production projects from the straight hire and sales ones. With Halo Live, we offer more than just lighting - it’s a fully integrated vis

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Universal Events, specialists in corporate event production and presentation technology, supplied sound, lighting and AV design, equipment and crew for the recent Miss Movie pageant - a major event on the Bollywood calendar.

Now in its 10th year, the event was staged at London’s famous Hammersmith Apollo and featured not only the contest itself, but a myriad of top international Asian singing and dancing acts. Universal’s Steve Butcher created the set design, opting for a white-floored stage featuring a simple, clean look. Two symmetrical podiums flanked the stage, whilst the presenters stood centre-stage on a raised upstage platform. Universal supplied a large, flown, central screen and a 5000 lumen projector, used to rear-project the sponsors’ logos. The screen was also used for live camera IMAG (the show was also recorded for broadcast). Butcher also designed two s

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Edwin Shirley Staging is once again working with ACS and the BBC to provide broadcast facilities at this year’s Aintree horse race meeting, which includes the Grand National. ESS’ John Wilson is spearheading the project to locate two 30m high towers within the course for the event. A kevlar wire, held under tension between the towers, will support part of the host broadcaster’s camera equipment throughout the race meeting. This method has been successfully used by the team at Aintree and other courses around the UK in previous years allowing for exceptional camera positions to record the sporting action.

Wilson explained: "The two towers are installed over two days and struck in one day. Approximately 60 tonnes of ballast secure the base plates to the ground and allow for the wire to be held under tension for distances up to 800 metres. ESS’ standard tower

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The International Audio Group (IAG) has created a new German operation - IAG (Deutschland) GmbH. IAG, which currently has subsidiaries in the UK, Australia, Hong Kong and America, opened the German facility in order to be able to serve the German pro audio market more efficiently. The office - based in Korschenbroich near Dusseldorf - serves as the headquarters for Wharfedale Professional, Wharfedale Systems, Soundtracs Topaz and Solo brands, as well as hi-fi brands also owned by IAG.

Spearheading the development is sales and marketing director Johnny Kluten, who until last year was in charge of the Professional Division at Taiyo (Ramsa by Panasonic). Kluten commented: "With our newly developed Wharfedale-Pro range, it's great to be able to inject something fresh into the deadlocked pro audio market. We are sure that our value/performance ratio will set new standards over the comi

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Danish manufacturer Martin Professional has announced positive year-end sales and pre-tax profit figures for 2001. Sales in 2001 amounted to DKK 878 million (over $100 million), an increase of 14% over the previous year, while pre-tax profit jumped to DKK 73 million ($8.5 million), a considerable improvement over 2000.

President and CEO of Martin Professional, Kristian Kolding, commented: "We are very satisfied with these results. Despite the difficulties in the industry following the tragic events of 11 September, especially in the United States and United Kingdom, as well as the general downturn in the economy, we managed to create the best results in the history of the company in 2001. This is really a testament to the quality of the product that we offer, as well as the people who back it up. The entire range of Martin, Mach and Jem products saw significant developments in 200

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Architects, lighting designers and other specifiers of lighting products interested in incorporating LED technology in their projects and designs will be interested to learn of a seminar, run by Color Kinetics, addressing the use of LED technology in architectural applications. The seminar, which will cover LED Basics, Color Kinetics’ technologies and case studies profiling the latest in LED applications, takes place on Tuesday April 9 at the Business Design Centre, Executive Centre 3, 52 Upper Street, Islington Green, London. Attendees can choose between two course times: 2:00 - 3:00pm (1:30pm registration) and 7:30 -8:30pm (7:00pm registration). To register, e-mail seminarlondon@colorkinetics.com.

(Ruth Rossington)

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The Oxford Street Virgin Megastore has installed a D.A.S. PA system for use on its high profile in-store live stage. Arizona-based Jimmy Eat World was the first band to use the full system, appearing there recently, in the middle of a sell-out UK tour promoting their ‘Self Titled’ studio album and new single ‘The Middle’.

The D.A.S. system, comprising four Compact 1 bi-amplified,1000W, 133dB three-way system cabs and four SUB-118 self-powered 500W 131dB cabinets, was specified by Virgin Megastore events manager Simon Dornan who was impressed by a hired D.A.S. system during an in-store set by UK band Elbow. The Megastore provides a launchpad for UK promotional campaigns for many up and coming and established artists and Dornan is well aware of the quality required: "The Megastore is a major date for a wide range of artists and the success of the events relie

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At the close of last year, history was made in Moscow as Nord-Ost, the first permanent musical production in Russia to be staged on such a vast scale, opened to the public. A story about love, hatred, heroism and betrayal, the musical is based on the novel Two Captains by Russian author Veniamin Kaverin. Nord-Ost is unusual not just for its scale; it is the first musical theatre performance in Russia to use a wide range of sophisticated western technology, supplied by London's Lighting Technology and Doka Media of Russia.

The novel is set in a number of contrasting locations, which means that its musical adaptation has to recreate dramatic changes of scenery, including the Northern Lights over the Arctic Ocean, a military plane landing on the tundra, the ghostly appearance of a wrecked ship and a train leaving a Moscow railway station. To bring these images to life

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UV/FX scenic productions of Los Angeles have recently completed the set design and painting for Shaggy's current tour. The Grammy nominated artist wanted a muslin backdrop (28ft x 40ft) and two side legs (28ft x 12ft) which would portray a traditional Jamaican beach scene under normal light and transform to a magical night scene of the beach under UV illumination.

UV/FX president Richard Green told us: "We had been speaking with Shaggy's people for a while and we finally decided to do a mixed Day to Night and Dual Image style." With the addition of the side legs and some smaller scrims designed to work in the front of the stage, the set had many lighting options and the multiple scenic elements gave incredible depth to the stage. The scenery was designed to work well under any lighting conditions and to simulate different times of the day based on the type of colored light us

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Online Learning 2002 Europe - an event addressing the issues of online learning - was held recently at London’s ExCel. CT London was commissioned by GMA Events, the exhibition and conference organizers for Online Learning, to provide a total of seven bespoke areas split by their respective technology and conference requirements. CT had also been asked to service the needs of those who were to exhibit during the event, which covered visitors and delegates from some 38 different countries.

CT provided audio visual hardware including projection, lighting and audio, with feeds for use with translation booths for international delegates attending the numerous Q & A sessions. The company also covered two separate break-out rooms in the ExCel conference centre and one area in the main exhibition hall, again utilizing vast stocks of projection, audio, VT and data hardware. CT also provid

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The past year has seen a close working relationship develop between two leaders in the field of theatre sound design. Aura Sound Design Ltd and Orbital Sound have collaborated on a number of high-profile west-end shows, including Mahler’s Conversion, Private Lives and most recently the highly acclaimed revival of George and Ira Gershwin’s My One And Only, which recently premiered at Chichester Festival Theatre and is now playing to packed houses at The Piccadilly Theatre in London.

Fergus O’Hare, one of Aura’s directors, wanted to incorporate a number of new products into his sound design for the show, and turned to Orbital to provide the solutions. Fergus commented: "By championing new technology, we’re able to offer producers, directors and cast technically advanced solutions which improve a production on several levels. From enhancing sound

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Coe-tech Ltd has announced three major new international distribution deals, all of which were cemented with the manufacturers at the recent Frankfurt and Rimini exhibitions. Coe-tech is now the exclusive UK distributor for French lighting control specialists Ariane, Italian theatre, club and architectural lighting manufacturers Teclumen and for Stage Tools from The Netherlands, manufacturers of trussing, metalwork and all associated accessories.

Coe-tech’s Ian Brown told us: "I’m delighted to bring these quality brands aboard the Coe-tech portfolio. They will further strengthen our current product ranges, enhance our competitiveness, and allow us to offer an even more diverse selection of quality equipment to our clients." The new ranges will also complement Coe-tech’s existing long-running distribution deals with Studio Due and Futurelight. "The scope

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The Broadway staging of the revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1943 musical Oklahoma! opened on 21 March at the recently renovated Gershwin Theatre, New York. The classic musical about the American West hasn't been seen on Broadway since the late 1970s, but it's now back by way of the well-reviewed London production directed by Trevor Nunn and produced by Cameron Mackintosh.

Fourth Phase supplied the entire lighting system for the show, working closely with lighting designer David Hersey to realise his creative vision. Darren DeVerna, vice president of Fourth Phase's parent company PRG, has a long-standing professional relationship with David and headed the Fourth Phase team. The production features a combination of conventional and theatrical lighting, new colour mixing technology, animation and fog effects equipment, plus dimming and control systems.

Fourth Phase is one of

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Martin Professional has announced that it will continue to expand its production capability with the establishment of a manufacturing facility in China. Production is expected to begin by the start of the year 2003. As an important part of the company’s strategy to maintain its competitiveness in the lower-priced lighting segments, the new Martin facility will be geared toward the production of Martin’s DJ range of lighting products. The facility will be located in the Chinese city of Zhuhai in the southern part of the country.

Martin will maintain full control over the facility’s production and level of product quality. Martin Professional President and CEO Kristian Kolding commented: "The DJ market has traditionally been an important segment for us and with this new facility it will continue to be so. The factory in China will allow us to maintain an aggressive

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Sarner is working on a unique multi-million pound travelling exhibition of Russian Yachts, which is set to open in Hamburg at the end of this year. ‘Treasures from the Tsars Imperial Yachts’, depicts the evolution of the Imperial Navy from 1703, when Peter The Great launched his first ship, through to 1918 and the era of Nicholas II - it includes more than 400 original artefacts, jewellery and ships from the palace of Peterhos and the Central Naval Palace in St Petersburg.

Intellectual property management company, Eagle Crown Productions, who have the rights to this stunning collection, first met with Sarner to discuss the venture almost three years ago. As a result, Sarner have been responsible for every element of the exhibition design and concept; visitors enter by walking onto an imposing aft deck of an imperial yacht; once inside there are displays of panoramic archive

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UK-based loudspeaker specialists Celestion has announced a series of moves designed to enable the company to better leverage its unique technologies in the global marketplace. The company is exploiting more fully the economies of scale presented by being part of the multinational Gold Peak organization, moving production of its high volume professional loudspeaker products to its own off-shore manufacturing plants.

As part of this process, the company has managed an exhaustive and detailed collaboration exercise to ensure that Celestion’s UK build processes and sonic quality have been fully replicated in its extended off-shore manufacturing facility. Launched at this year’s NAMM show, Celestion’s Inverted Neo speakers are the first of a series of innovative, technology-led professional products that will continue to be built in the UK. The company is also looking to

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On the evening of Wednesday 24 April 2002, Lightfactor/LightProcessor, Lights Camera Action, Vari*Lite Europe and the Society of Television Lighting Designers (STLD) will host an open evening at the Fairway Trading Estate in Greenford Middlesex, just off the A40/M.

The gathering will offer an opportunity for demos of the latest technology from these three companies - including the VL1000 and VL2000 series of luminaires from Vari*lite; Strand, Mole Richardson, Dedolight and Panavision high definition camera technology from LCA; Paradime digital dimmers, SGM moving lights and other brands from Lightfactor’s extensive product ranges, as well as a great chance to network with other industry people, including members of the STLD, ALD, BSKTS and BSC. The day will also include a tour each company’s premises and a chance to meet with the manufacturers and suppliers.

Please call P

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The Roundhouse is a well-known and curious live performance space, located near London's trendy Camden Lock and less than a mile away from Autograph Sound Recording, the sound design and audio equipment hire specialists. The site became legendary for punk and glam rock in the 1960s and 70s, where The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd made their names and The Doors played their only UK gig. This North West London venue is once again becoming an established home to quality live presentations and Autograph are proud to be taking part in its revival.

Throughout the company's 29 year history, Autograph has been associated with The Roundhouse on many occasions, supplying varying size systems for some of it's momentous shows and more recently Bounce, the highly successful modern street dance extravaganza. For its first ten years Autograph was a neighbour to this historic venue, the

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Production rigging experts, Flying Squad Aerial Rigging, were appointed by London-based brand experience agency, LIVE, to assist in the realisation of Robin Thompson’s set design for Barclays Human Resources event at London’s Excel Centre. As the largest single Human Resources event ever staged by Barclays, it stretched across four halls of the Excel centre, covering more than 8000sq.m and was attended by over 1,000 employees.

Working closely with Stage One and Robin Thompson, Flying Squad supplied and installed a staggering 1.2kms of trussing and 126 motors. With Rory Mckeown as project manager and Bryan Wilson as crew chief, Flying Squad accurately configured the structure underpinning Robin Thompson’s design into three sections: auditorium, reception and workshops. Ten individual workshop areas were constructed around the perimeter of the vast semi-circular auditor

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DIVAS is a new company, specializing in the design, project management and installation of visual and audio systems to all areas of the professional entertainment business. The DIVAS team consists of four individuals - Tony Day, Damian Brunetti, Darrin South and Steve Nicholls - who have all worked together on various projects in the past.

The company will design, specify and install lighting sound and AV schemes, either working directly with end users or working under the umbrella of large sound, lighting and AV companies. DIVAS has already been working in a miscellany of environments including clubs, bars, shops, cinemas, ice arenas, leisure centres, stadiums, hotels, churches, museums, ballrooms and live music venues. One recently completed project was the sound and lighting systems spec and installation at Flicks club in Sleaford, Lincs. The club is housed in a former cinema retai

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Imagination - one of Europe’s largest independent design and communications companies, has opened an office in Stockholm. The company has appointed Bo Albertsson, former marketing director at Ericsson Mobile Communications, as the managing director of this new Scandinavian operation. Albertsson, took up the position in March coinciding with the official opening of the office.

"In my role as marketing director at Ericsson, I had been Imagination’s client for five years. I have always been a great admirer of the company and their unique approach to building brands. I think there is tremendous potential for Imagination in the Scandinavian market and I’m delighted to be joining them at such an important phase in their development," said Albertsson. Imagination (Scandinavia) AB will be supported creatively by Imagination’s headquarters in London.

(Ruth Ro

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‘The Deep’, the world’s only Submarium, is Hull’s £45.5 million Millennium Commission lottery project. Opened on 22 March by Prince Andrew, the complex was designed by Sir Terry Farrell with Lighting Technology working alongside Waterman Gore to provide the ‘above tank’ lighting. A totally new concept in visitor attractions, the Submarium is a dramatic fusion of aquaria combined with a descriptive voyage through the worlds Oceans.

’The Deep’ boasts the deepest water tank in Europe. This and the 11 tanks are home to seven species of shark and thousands of other fish. These range in size from the ‘Endless Oceans’ tank which holds 2.3 million litres of salt water to the smaller ‘Jewel’ tanks which hold just 1 cubic metre. The interior spaces are strongly influenced by the physical nature of the ocean and maximum use

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Spectra, one of Northern Europe’s leading lighting companies, has been chosen as the official lighting and technical supplier for the Eurovision Song Contest 2002. The Estonian Television broadcaster, ETV has commissioned the event which will take place in the newly-built Saku Suurhall, in Tallinn, Estonia, on May 25. ETV estimates that 120 million viewers will watch worldwide.

Spectra will supply a full range of lighting and video equipment, together with technical coordination and crew. The company will have 26 people working on site in the month running up to the event. This is not the first time that Spectra has handled such a major technical project. Swedish television company, SVT, chose Spectra as the official lighting supplier and technical coordinator for the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest which took place at the Stockholm Globe.

The spec will include some 800 lanterns,

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