Rigging / Staging

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14 December 2016

Fronted by actor Ben Miller, stand-up comedian Romesh Ranganthan and presenter Rachel Riley, the fast paced series succeeded in bringing science to life. Each week, one of the presenters put their lives in jeopardy in a series of daredevil, high risk experiments where only science could save them - and Unusual Rigging was on hand to help the production team achieve their ambitions for the show.

ITV's Kalpna Patel-Knight said, "To really captivate the audience, we planned some large scale experiments in an aircraft hangar - and each one had rather complex rigging requirements. Unusual Rigging was known to ITV as they handle all the large scale rigs on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeawa

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14 December 2016

The Rigging Conference will run alongside the PLASA Show on Monday 19th September. With the opening key-note from well-k

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14 December 2016

2016 marks the second year that AG Production Services has been relied upon to provide production support for the festival. For all three of the stages that make up the festival, AG Production Services provided the staging, roofing, lighting and video systems.

Production and lighting designer Koen De Puysseleir from AG Production Services was tasked with

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14 December 2016

"We were in contact with the Mariah production team from an early stage. In order to prove due diligence in terms of ascertaining actual weights as opposed to relying on calculations, Ian brought Load Cell Rental on board to weigh the entire rig", said Colin. "To do this we used 52 BroadWeigh wireless cells - a cell for each point. From this we were then able to complete a certificate for each individual truss which detailed the equipment used, the recorded weight from the cell and a detailed description of the load."

Load Cell Rental is receiving an increas

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14 December 2016

This event has been designed to cover the basic operation and implementation of Kinesys equipment and will showcase a broad range of products that will appeal to individuals and companies involved in the increasingly popular discipline of automation / motion control.

The invitation is open to lighting and show designers, automation operators, rental suppliers and rigging service providers - anyone with an interest in this dynamic element of modern show production.

Key products include variable speed chain hoist systems, programmable fixed speed motor control and load cell monitoring systems. The format will serve as in-depth introduction to products like the iconic Elev

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14 December 2016

BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend is the largest free ticketed music event in Europe and is held in a different UK location each year, with Exeter's Powderham Castle hosting this year's festival. Serious Stages supplied stages, decking and event structures to house production equipment and artists including Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Bastille, Biffy Clyro and Jess Glynne.

The main stage was a Serious Stages 25m Space Roof, with a 15m trim height, flanked by two 12m goalposts, from which video screens and PA speakers were hung. Serious Stages also supplied and installed a clear-span structure for the main stage front-of-house, along with delay towers, follow spot pods and the assisted viewing platform with accessibility ramps.

In other areas, Serious a

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14 December 2016

The Projector Mount offers full 360 degree rotation, tilts in two directions and is adjustable to fit most projectors. Meanwhile the Super Lightweight Drop Arm,with a safe working load (SWL) of 10kg,gives lighting designers the opportunity to hang smaller luminaires. With a 16mm spigot and a safety bond slot, the Super Lightweight Drop Arm fits 48-51mm diameter barrels and is adjustable from 75-400mm in length.

Mark Chorley, design engineer at Doughty, said, "The Modular Rigging range will continue to grow as long as its users keep approaching us with their suggestions on how it could be improved. A s

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14 December 2016

The actual unveiling was last year, two years since its notable revamp in 2013, which saw it returned to its 1932 former architectural glory; it remains one of the United Kingdom's biggest and best-preserved Art Deco super cinemas. Now, as the venue is halfway through a 10-year capital investment plan, the beautiful interiors, ornate plasterwork, marble staircases, and meticulous finishes, plus a new flat floor in the auditorium are all set to establish the venue as one of the most coveted private hire venues in the UK.

The venue has made significant investment in an aluminium modular platform floor produced by Prolyte Group, which can be installed overni

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14 December 2016

Penn Elcom chairman and founder Roger Willems stated: "The Irish pro entertainment industry market shows definitive signs of recovering from the economic dip, there are many installations and other projects happening and flourishing! It's been our intention to open a base there for some time, but then circumstances converged to make this a really opportune time."

These circumstances include Rory becoming available to run Penn Elcom Ireland and also the 7000sq.ft warehouse facility in south County Dublin coming on-stream, so with these two plusses, Roger activated the plan. Stock of Penn's extensive standard flightca

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14 December 2016

WI has previously worked with Dragone on several projects, explains project manager Koen Peeters, and for this one the show creators turned to them to provide solutions for several staging conundrums, all of which had to be delivered in an extremely short timeframe.

With the tour starting in Russia, crew visas, paperwork and transportation needed special attention, in addition to all the engineering and physical creative work!

The first WI element of the project was to create 14 aluminium flying wings and a kinetic system to make them move. All of these flying elements have an i

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14 December 2016

PLASA Show's first year at Olympia sees the show showcasing the latest technology in Olympia's National Hall and the Gallery floor above, with the two seminar theatres, product demos and interactive showcases also situated on the Gallery floor.

As always, every session at the PLASA 2016 Seminar Programme is free-to-attend, with subjects including audio, lighting, AV, staging and business skills being covered. The first 15 have been confirmed and include the return of LSI journalist Phil Ward's popular panel

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14 December 2016

Blackout's director Kevin Monks and his eight-strong team were called upon to help transform Stoke Park's indoor tennis courts into an entertainment venue fit to host glittering performances from Sir Tom Jones and Laura Mvula.

With a complex build in a challenging indoor venue with limited roof loading capabilities, Blackout designed and supplied a James Thomas ground supported super truss grid for over the stage plus an additional truss goalpost for hanging the upstage LED screen supplied by PRG XL. The truss grid also provided support to lighting from PRG XL and sound equipment supplied by Britannia Row.

The team supplied and installed over 50 motors

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14 December 2016

ETCP uses a point system to determine eligibility to sit for examinations. A candidate must have 25 points to apply for the ETCP Portable Power Distribution Technician examination. Points can be earned through work experience alone or through a combination of training (i.e., internships or apprenticeships), licensure, and degrees from accredited institutions. Courses taken outside a formal prog

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14 December 2016

An experienced jury of working practitioners and industry peers considered entries for the ABTT Awards. Both previously submitted nominations and items brought to their attention on the day, which satisfied the entry criteria were reviewed.

Commenting on the event, ABTT CEO Robin Townley said, "The Awards ceremony, held in the Petrus Bertschinger Studio (PBS), was again a great opportunity for exhibitors and visitors to gather and celebrate good technology and excellent technical practice. It was also very good to be able to welcome the Association of Lighting Designers' for the presentation of their Bursaries.

"There was a great atmosphere in the PBS which clearly conveyed the congr

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14 December 2016

Held on the first day of the PLASA Show (London Olympia, 18-20 September), this unique conference looks at the issues that are specific to rigging for the entertainment industry and regularly attracts over 150 practitioners, managers, engineers, safety professionals and policy makers from around the globe. "With 30% of its delegates attending from 20 different overseas countries, it has a truly international flavour," say organisers PLASA Events.

During Rocky's keynote presentation, he will talk about his career as a rigger and the influences from his early

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14 December 2016

The 13th Download Festival boasted headline performances from Rammstein, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden, with Serious providing the stages to house rock royalty and structures to house their production equipment.

A Serious designed and manufactured 25m x 30m Tower Roof was the main stage, which was renamed The Lemmy Stage in memory of the late Mot

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14 December 2016

In a continuing commitment to update its inventory with the latest rigging, lighting, and video technology, PRG XL Video has purchased a large number of the new EXE-Rise 8:1 range of chain hoists to update its rental offering.

The selection of the EXE-Rise units followed extensive evaluation of different hoists by a team of PRG XL Video's rigging experts including Chris Walker, Account Director, Q Willis, Head of Rigging Services, and Richard Gorrod, Head of Event Services.

This new version evolved from the already successful EXE-Rise electric chain hoist family and is designed with a WLL of 1000kg and a safety factor of 8:1. This new model includes all the key features and more of the existing product rang

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14 December 2016

These new hoists went straight out for use on the current UK and European tour of Riverdance.

The history of Riverdance goes back to 1994, when it was an intermission act for the Eurovision Song Contest. It was an immediate hit and quickly gained worldwide recognition. Since that time, it has continuously played to sold out venues and is one of the most successful dance shows in the world.

PSI is now on a fourth tour with Riverdance, supplying all lighting

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14 December 2016

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14 December 2016

The ship is the latest addition to the Thomson brand of cruise ships. Matthew Bull the sales and marketing manager took the lead on the project. The creative brief included building a stage into the ships swimming pool, as well as a main stage for Jess Glynne to perform on. The installation used the company's Versa stage deck and support structure. This system is designed for speedy construction and de-rig time - perfect for the ships tight build schedule.

The ship was launched on 10 June with a show and naming ceremony created by Black Skull followed by fireworks and a set from Jess Glynne.

(Jim Evans)

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14 December 2016

Designed by the celebrated Misty Buckley, following her work on Coldplay's appearance at the NFL Super Bowl 50's halftime show in February, the latest stadium tour sees a lavish explosion of colour accompanying the crowd-pleasing performances by the Chris Martin-fronted fivesome.

This time around, Stageco is building the sub-structure for the 65m wide x 25m deep main stage, the 30m long B-stage runway and a C-stage on which the band play a short, intimate set amongst the audience at the rear of the stadium. The company is also responsible for the steel structures that support the central video wall and side screens, the rigging points, PA and spot towers

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14 December 2016

Seventy-one axes of movement feature a variety of CM Lodestar motors, 29 of which are fitted with Kinesys Elevation 1+ vari-speed drives and these move two (out of 10) chevron-shaped trussing pieces; four individual sides of a large video cube plus assorted other scenic metalwork elements like 'the claw' which flies in and out over 'the Orb' drum kit.

The other eight chevron trusses are flown on fixed speed motors that are controlled with Kinesys DigiHoists.

All of these are controlled via Kinesys' powerful and stable Vector control platform.

The tour kicked off in fall 2014 and is still going - such is Brooks' popularity as a live a

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14 December 2016

Fresh from Glastonbury Festival, the band performed on a Star Events' 15m by 12m SAM platform, the largest single truck mobile stage in Europe.

Since 2006, Sentebale has been helping children in the south African kingdom of Lesotho affected by HIV/AIDS and Coldplay's 11-song set culminated in current single Up & Up accompanied by the Basotho Youth Choir and the charity's founder.

"Please drive home safely and carry on the work of Sentebale," Prince Harry said afterwards. "And thank you to Coldplay, you've rocked the palace."

Working to the tightest deadline, in on Sunday night, show on Tuesday, out first thing Wednesday, Star Events fitted the SAM stage with extended wings to accommodate Coldplay

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14 December 2016

The famous play, directed by Trevor Nunn, was performed during a three-week run at the theatre. It required an elaborate set that included a large raised floor with an automated lift, two 9m-high towers and three platforms connected via numerous staircases and walkways. Any remaining empty space between those towers and walkways was finished with wooden cladding. Elsewhere on set, two large sliders concealed a throne.

Wayne Parry, head of production at the Rose Theatre Kingston, explained that the load cells were used only for set installation, not during performances. He said: "Large steel sections were lifted using several motors