UK - Around 115 Pixeon Color Stream tubes of various lengths have been supplied by distributor Lighting Effects Distribution (LED) - the recently launched division of Coemar UK - to VLPS Lighting Services for use on the finals of Pop Idol 2. Show designer Julian Healy built the innovative LED tubes into his set when the Thames TV production left Teddington Studios and moved to Fountain Studios in Wembley for the finals. The Pixeon has been supplied from VLPS' hire stock.

Lighting Effects Distribution has received enormous interest in the Color Stream effect since demonstrating it at The Bar Show back in June, and Julian Healy confirmed at an early stage that he would be using strips ranging in length from 500mm to 2000m, giving him in excess of 100m of tubing in total. These have been deployed in such a way as to emphasise the vertical and horizontal lines of the gantries, handr

Denmark - Martin Professional's new CX-10 colour changer breaks new ground in output, decoration and versatility, according to the manufacturer. Featuring a motorized colour and effect wheel, the CX-10 is, say Martin, based on feedback from customers demanding an innovative total effects solution useful not only for dance floor effects but also total club ambience.

The CX-10's highly-efficient optical system uses with a 250W MSD/2 lamp, which combines with a glass reflector and lens system for extreme output. A 22° standard lens and 15° and 32° optional spread angles, as well as soft or hard-edge beam options, allows for highly versatile projection options.

The wide range of effect possibilities originates from 12 interchangeable colours and a double-sided effect wheel with 2 x 13 positions, giving more than 200 possible combinations. The colour wheel can be replaced with a

UK - Enttec has announced the release of its new DMX over Ethernet product, the DMXEthergate MK2, the latest evolution of the original DMXEthergate, which the company launched four years ago. The MK2 incorporates many new features requested by users of the DMXEthergate, including two DMX ports and the ability to work as input or output node (to help preserve the user's investment). In addition, the unit is RDM ready and supports both Enttec and ArtNet protocols. A built-in web page allows for quick configuration using any web browser.

(Lee Baldock)

UK - ShowCAD Artist has recently been installed in the latest superclub to open in the UK. Mercy nightclub in East Anglia, owned by Peris Leisure, is situated in the centre of Norwich and has a capacity of over 2,000. Lighting installer Richard Jarvis of Creative Laser Services, based in Tiptree, Essex, fitted the Artist system to control a wide range of effects lighting, including seven Coemar Ispot 575 moving heads, 10 Martin Mx10 scans, six Martin Wizards and four Atomic strobes.

The ubiquitous colour changing was supplied in the form of eight fixtures, each featuring eight Optopod 30 LED Par 36-tyle lamps, making a total of 64 colour changing heads surrounding the dancefloor. By utilizing all of Artist's built-in effect generators, powerful scenes were quickly put together which would have taken significantly longer with many other desks.

Norwich also saw the first UK inst

USA - VLPS has announced the return of one of the industry's brightest fixtures to its staff, with the news that Lee Magadini, a 25-year veteran of the lighting industry, will be handling account executive duties from the company's New York office.

Magadini began her career on the West Coast, and after moving to New York in 1985, she continued to work within the ever-evolving lighting industry - including five years as the general manager of VLPS New York office in the mid-90s. "I am very excited about returning to VLPS," Magadini says. "When Rusty Brutsché, chairman and CEO of VLPS, gave me a preview of the company's growth plans and the future products currently in development, I was eager to be involved."

Magadini's experience and reputation has made her a welcome and familiar face within the lighting community, especially in the New York area. Her prim

USA - Using the same design principles as the already successful ZR 24/7 Hazer from Jem, the Martin Magnum Hazer is a true club hazer giving light shows refraction with ease. The Magnum Hazer incorporates some of the most complex technology behind a simple interface, making it one of the most effective, mid-sized haze solutions available today, say Martin.

With DMX as standard (optional digital remote available soon), the Magnum Hazer comes with an elementary analogue control panel. It also features new technology in the digital calibration of its electronic system - leaving technical adjustments to its on-board software. To ensure an even haze dispersal every time and in any environment, the Magnum Hazer uses a VGA system (variable geometry airflow), adjusting the airflow inclination between 0° and 60°. An Auto-fan mode also adjusts the radial fan's output to achieve a consis

Dubai - Dubai-based superstar-of-the-turntables 'Cowboy' is generating more heat in the run-up to the biggest DJ showdown the Middle East has seen - and he's not even competing. Reigning champion Cowboy, who hails from Lebanon, has agreed to sit on the judging panel at the forthcoming PALME 2004 DJ of the Year Competition in Dubai. The DJ promises tough times for contestants, at this stage likely to number more than 200 from all over the world. It was revealed this week that prizes will be worth $40,000 and organizers are spending $100,000 staging the event..

The DJ contest runs in conjunction with the massive PALME expo, the region's first professional sound, light, audio-visual and systems integration exhibition. It was held for the first time earlier this year and organizers say the coming expo, to be held 17-19 February 2004 at Dubai International Exhibition Centre, will be

UK - Coca-Cola Great Britain has been flying high in London's Piccadilly Circus for almost 50 years, but the company recently brought its brands to life in a new way with Lighthouse's new LVP1650 LED screen. Measuring 32m wide by 6.6m high at its highest point, the screen comprises 88 standard LVP1650 panels, along with approximately 170 bespoke LVP1650 panels to allow for the curvature of the screen and front access for maintenance.

Coca-Cola used a hand-picked team of British designers and technical experts, who spent over a year working to create one of the biggest and most intelligent signs of its kind and allows The Coca-Cola Company to deliver cutting-edge entertainment to transform the face of the world's most famous billboard. Lighthouse's Simon Taylor explains the strict brief: "There could only be a gap of a 1mm (maximum) between panels ensuring it was completely

Europe - Legendary rockers Deep Purple are using 14 of Robe's new ColorSpot 1200 AT moving head fixtures on their Bananas world tour, currently in Europe.

Lighting designer is UK-based Louis Ball, who lit the band initially from 1984 to 1987, and then continuously since the mid-1990s. Ball's own high profile career started at 18, with the Alex Harvey Band in the late 1970s. Since then he's lit some of the best-known names in rock 'n' roll, including Judas Priest, Ozzie Osborne, Slayer, Anthrax, Wishbone Ash, Climie Fisher and a host of other diverse artists including Wet Wet Wet and French superstar Johnny Halliday.

Ball was first introduced to the Robe ColorSpot 1200s by Robe's German distributor, L.M.P. who supplied the gear to the German rental hire company, T.D.A. Ball was then contacted by Randy Wade of Robe America - the two having worked on many of the same shows and pr

UK - A new memorial honouring Australia's contribution to both World Wars was unveiled in London on Armistice Day, 11 November, 85 years after the idea originated at the end of World War One. In a ceremony attended by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Australian Prime Minister John Howard and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, crowds gathered at Hyde Park to watch the ceremony which included a live video screen set up in Green Park to deal with the overflow. The memorial honours the 102,000 Australians who died in the two world wars and the million or so who fought. A two-minutes silence was observed at 11am, followed by an RAAF fly past.

Fourth Phase London, working for Unusual Services, was chosen to provide the lighting for the historic event. Due to the nature of the event (staged virtually on a traffic island), a lighting rig would have compromised sightlines, so Fourth Pha

UK - Age-Sex-Location, Marcus Markou's darkly comic play set in cyberspace, will be staged at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, prior to transferring to the West End. Producers Titus Media recently announced that Age-Sex-Location will be staged at the Riverside Studios from 9-28 February, 2004, prior to transferring to the West End - in a theatre will be confirmed nearer the time.

Age-Sex-Location sees internet and virtual reality come alive on stage in a play that for the first time fully realizes the potential of integrating theatre and technology. The production combines, writer Marcus Markou's, entertaining, ingenious and dramatic script with Sven Ortel's state-of-the-art video projection and lighting design, under the direction of award-winning young director Pip Pickering.

Age-Sex-Location has video projection and lighting design by Sven Or

Germany - Steglitzer Kreisel is the tallest office building in the district of Berlin. At a height of 119m, it has incited strong public reaction ever since it was built. The 1970 town plan of Stegliz included a road round the building, which was under construction at the time. Even though this road was never built, the name Kreisel (circle) remained.

The road now runs under this skyscraper, which architect and building constructor Sigrid Kressmann-Zschach originally planned as a shopping centre. Construction began in 1969 and ended in 1980. The building contains more than 700 rooms, including the city council offices, the area's largest hotel, a bank and a number of restaurants and offices. The bus station and a car park take up the underground floors.

Hans-Peter-Stoerl Architects were commissioned to refurbish the area in 2001. Their design included lighting of waterfalls us

Switzerland / UK - Swiss company VXCO, maker of the DMXCreator PC lighting control system, has announced the appointment of Lightfactor Sales Ltd as its distributor for the UK and Republic of Ireland. VXCO's export manager Oleg Kaufmann says: "Thanks to their versatility and experience in several sectors, Lightfactor are well positioned to distribute our products across the many markets our range is suitable for."

Lightfactor's Mick Hannaford commented: "We believe that in VXCO we have found another bright young company capable of providing new and innovative products into a fast moving market. Their first products have already established them as serious professionals: we are very happy to be their commercial partner in the UK."

(Lee Baldock)

UK - Entec supplied lighting equipment to production company Indigo for the 2003 National TV Awards at the Royal Albert Hall. This is the ninth year running the company has serviced the high profile event, which is presented by Trevor MacDonald and broadcast live on ITV1. Lighting designer/director was Brian Pearce; the set was designed by Richard Plumb and the director was Russell Norman.

James Thomas's Pixelline fixtures were used as ground cyc up-lighters for the main screens at the rear of the set. The screens were made from twin white cyc material, with a silver lattice trussing effect fixed to the front. The idea was that these were lit with plain washes of colour in keeping with the lighting aesthetic of the show, which was understated and non-glitzy.

Pearce, who has used Pixelline in different ways on a variety of shows, commented: "They are a lovely lamp."

Canada - Following the very successful preview of their new Vista Lighting console at PLASA, Jands Pty Ltd has announced the appointment of AC Lighting (Canada) Ltd as exclusive North American distributor for the complete range of Jands lighting products.

Speaking about the change of distribution for USA and Canada Paul Mulholland, CEO of Jands, said: "Our products were previously distributed in the USA, by ACT Lighting of Agoura Hills, California. However, recently both ACT and Jands have moved in different directions and we mutually agreed to end our association."

Mulholland went on to say: "Jands has had a long standing relationship with AC Lighting in the UK and Europe and we look forward to being a part of their plans for expansion into Canada and the USA."

Jands will be showing an updated version of the Vista lighting console on the AC Lighting boot

Lebanon - The first Zouk International Festival at the Zouk Amphitheatre in Lebanon included two shows produced by EC1 International - the world premiere of OperaBabes - Beyond Imagination and a new production of Evita.

EC1 brought in Ben M Rogers to look after the scenic and lighting design for both productions. The OperaBabes show was designed as a fusion of classical styles with rock and pop technologies, mixing album tracks with incidental music and dance to create a narrative thread to the show. Rogers' lighting rig, supplied by Lumen Art, included eight Martin Pro MAC 600s and 16 Clay Paky Stage Zoom 1200s, along with 60 Par cans and an Airstar Lumex 2000 4kW balloon, which made an impressive entrance rising up behind the stage during Act 2 and remaining at a height of 10m over the stage. Rogers programmed on a Wholehog II from Stage Electrics, using his WYSIWYG Perform

UK - It's just over two years since Stage Electrics moved to its new HQ in Bristol. Since then, the business has grown, becoming more streamlined and diverse, the latest addition being a rehearsal space inside one of its warehouses, initially developed for Belinda King Productions to rehearse three shows for the Royal Court Theatre on board the new cruise liner, The Queen Mary 2.

The facility has enabled Belinda King Productions to rehearse the shows working with all the relevant scenery from the start, a crucial part of the process considering most of the show's scene changes are either automated or executed by the performers themselves. With limited rehearsal time once on board, it seemed logical to get the productions as close to the finished article as possible prior to embarkation. The rehearsal space at Stage Electrics has given both companies an opportunity to iron out t

UK - Lighting for the current TV series of Pop Idol features 30 James Thomas Pixelline battens, supplied to the show by lighting contractors VLPS and specified by lighting designer/director Al Gurdon. The 'final 12 stages of the popular series are being recorded at Fountain Television Studios in Wembley, London, following the early rounds that were shot at Teddington Studios.

Lighting is programmed and operated by Mike Owen using a Virtuoso VX console. The rig features over 100 Vari*Lite automated luminaires, assorted PARs and conventionals as well as the 30 Pixelline units, which are being run in their fully expanded DMX mode. The Pixellines are used upstage in a broken up matrix-style - 15-wide and 2-high - to illuminate the back wall of the set, a large translucent metallic structure.

Pixelline is proving to be an in-demand rental item, VLPS now has over 78 battens i

UK - The centre for Performance in Aberystwyth in Wales is organizing a Symposium on the stage and lighting designers Edward Gordon Craig and Adolphe Appia entitled Sculptors of the Modern Stage - light / shadow / architecture. The symposium will include talks, workshops, films and presentations at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth from 5-7 December 2003. The event is produced in association with the Scenography department at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Edward Gordon Craig was a theatre designer, actor, visionary and the first British theatre artist to write a book of theatre theory. Rejected by the British theatre establishment he was embraced by the French and the Russians, most notably Stanislavski. Adolphe Appia was a Swiss designer and philosopher of theatre, and the first to write about theatre as a visual art form. In his collaboration with the Swiss c

UK - How people love to talk about the weather: as Kin Hubbard, the US journalist who created cartoon character Abe Martin, said: "Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation." Perhaps based on this predilection, this year's Unilever commission for the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall is 'The Weather Project' by artist Olafur Eliasson. This £250,000 installation is one of the largest ever seen in the UK, occupying the Gallery's entire Turbine Hall, which itself appears to have doubled in size due to the nature of the piece.

The space has been saturated with a fine mist that occasionally accumulates into faint, cloud-like formations along the walls, then disperses again. Overhead, the glass atrium of the Turbine Hall has disappeared and in its place is a reflection of the space below, created by a huge m

Australia - Before the blood started to flow in the tournament proper, the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup on Friday 10 October was the latest stunning spectacle to grace Sydney's Olympic Stadium. The event ushered in the largest sporting event of 2003, and was broadcast live to an estimated one billion people worldwide.

Chameleon Touring Systems provided lighting designer Mark Hammer with a rig that included over 350 intelligent lighting fixtures. The rig, predominantly Martin Pro, included MAC 2000 washlights, MAC 2000 profiles, MAC 2000 Performances, MAC 600 washlights, MAC 300s and Atomic Strobes; this was also one of the first ever events for the new MAC 550. The 2000s did the main work on the stadium floor, from a height of up to 46m, while the 550s were used on the performance stage. Other fixtures included 56 VL2402 washlights from Vari-Lite, 24 Studio Due fixtur

UK - Lighting designer Durham Marenghi has been chosen to design the lighting for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Oympics in Turin, Italy, in 2006. The event will be designed by Mark Fisher and produced by the Italian group Filmmaster.

Marenghi has also revealed that he is to return to London's Royal Albert Hall in November with Classical Spectacular, the son-et-lumiere of favourite classical pieces featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and accompanied by a new lighting and laser design. The sell-out event, conducted by Anthony Inglis and produced by Raymond Gubbay, runs from the 20-23 November.

Marenghi's work can currently be seen illuminating the world tour of Diamonds for Holiday on Ice and the UK national tour of Saturday Night Fever.

(Lee Baldock)

UK/Europe - The award winning West End and Broadway musical Fosse celebrates the unique, pioneering choreography of Bob Fosse, whose unique style is stamped on numerous musicals including Chicago, Cabaret and Sweet Charity. Following a successful run at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London three years ago, Fosse, has taken to the road. Having kicked off the tour in Pasadena, California, the UK leg of the world wide tour opened in Liverpool on 29 October and will play at various venues around the country including Oxford, Manchester and Edinburgh before heading off to Europe in December and returning to the UK again in May 2004.

For this demanding schedule Fourth Phase London was selected to supply an extensive lighting rig as well as full technical support and backup for both UK and European legs of the tour.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

UK - Pat Smith, Chief Executive of Business Link for Essex, recently visited Litetec, the Rochford-based optics and fibre optics company, to see the brand new showroom Business link for Essex advisers have helped make a reality. With their support, Litetec has recently achieved ISO 9001:2000 quality management standard, re-branded and launched a new website, with direct impact on the order book.

Litetec first contacted Business Link for Essex in search of advice on how to obtain ISO recognition. It became clear to Business Link adviser Angela Kimberley that they would need to look at other areas of business development in order to achieve this standard. Litetec needed to consider developing a new corporate identity and planning their sales strategy. An action plan was put together including a website development strategy, assisted by another adviser Colin Harvey. Specialists fro

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