Rigging / Staging

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14 March 2016

The company reports that 2006 again saw an increase in numbers attending the show, with visitors travelling from all parts of Wales and the surrounding English counties.

This year, the RWCMD Bute Theatre had a new look, with the central section occupied by Stage Electrics with four 50" plasma screens showcasing the company's product range. On the theatre seating block, which previously has been hidden behind drapes, a high level café area was constructed. Manufacturers occupied the stand positions around the end of the theatre space ensuring that they all had the maximum opportunity to interact with visitors.

Leading industr

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14 March 2016

On the back of the success of PLASA06, many companies have increased their stand size and several have literally doubled their space, setting PLASA07 on course to be the major event of next year.

Further new developments for PLASA07 will also bolster its appeal: the full management of the show has been taken on by PLASA - who recently launched an Events Division to support this move - making it one of the few shows actually owned and run by the industry.

Along with the change of management comes a change of look as the show is moving onto one level and expanding

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14 March 2016

The set - constructed by Total Fabrications - featured a large elegant and distinctive flown circular truss as its centrepiece. Summit utilised 21 ways of their Kinesys K2 variable speed automation system to fly and move the structure.

The circular truss itself was rigged on eight double-braked variable speed LL Lodestar motors and was moved in and out at strategic points during the presentation by the K2 system, piloted by one of its designers, Dave Weatherhead of Kinesys, assisted by Summit's Jay Call.

The advantages of using a K2 system for this type of show is its abil

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14 March 2016

One of the most important producing theatres in the UK, the Young Vic was originally founded in 1970 by Sir Laurence Olivier for the younger members of his newly formed National Theatre Company. Built as a temporary space, it had an intended life span of a mere five years. However it wasn't until 2000 - when the building reached a dangerous state of disrepair - that 'the powers that be' sanctioned its rebuild. The theatre reopened six years later to press on 11 October - on time and on budget.

Designed with total flexibility of space utilization and configuration in mind, Charco

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14 March 2016

The usual construction and hardware characteristics found in Tour Grade include 12mm birch ply, together with large recessed butterfly catches and sprung handles. Internally, polyethylene foam supports ensure complete equipment protection. Additional compartments have been designed into the base to allow for the storage of matching speakers, plus mounting brackets and other accessories.

Mark Davies of Paragon Projection says, "We've been using 5 Star for about 18 months now and have given them some tough projects to handle in that time - and they just keep coming back with excellent innovative design and build solutions."

(Jim Ev

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14 March 2016

"The response to our announcement of the concept earlier in the year was excellent," says Jane Russen, director of Star Events Group's mobile division. "The majority of people who came to see the stage at Showman's had already heard of it, although I'm sure there were some who came along to see if it actually existed!"

Star Events Group founder Roger Barrett developed the first modern mobile stage in 1988 and, with the company having acquired Orbit UK in 2004, it rapidly became clear that a mobile version of the popular Orbit stage would appeal to a wide range of event

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14 March 2016

The stage was set off to one side of the atmospheric circular venue, configured in an 'end-on' format. Summit put in points and rigging for two semi-spherical trusses used for lighting positions - upstage and mid-stage and a straight lighting truss at the FOH position was rigged on four points and used for key lighting. Two spreaders, each with two points a side were installed off the house beams and below their Cable NET mesh grid, to ha

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14 March 2016

Lifting Gear Hire also provides a full range of test and inspection, calibration and training services to customers in the industrial and construction sectors. It operates from 34 UK depots employing 309 people, with a further 26 at its head office in the North West of England. The total consideration, subject to completion accounts, is £13.5m - comprising £7.6m in cash, the assumption of an estimated £3.4m of debt on completion, and £2.5m of shares in Speedy Hire.

For the 10 months ended 30 April 2006, Lifting Gear Hire reported audited turnover of £16

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14 March 2016

The president of Quickbeam is no stranger to the industry and had to take a break from putting the Sandia Casino's roof system "to bed" for the winter to accept the much coveted scholarship. "I'm absolutely thrilled," he said before getting back to the project at hand.

Because Jaeckel has already attended the four day Hoist and Rigging Workshop, he has selected the Advanced Hoist and Truss Workshop.

Tomcat's annual school is February 21 - 24

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14 March 2016

"It has been an excellent summer for hire this year and we have thoroughly enjoyed working on such a wide variety of projects," comments technical director Mike Naish. "Fine weather has also helped organisations to feel confident about staging outdoor events although we always build into our plans the possibility of a downpour!"

The company supplied Martin Mac 250s and Mac 500s for a private performance by the band Madness, the Arc Roof and stage for the Salisbury International Arts Festival, Art Asia and the Honey Pot charity appeal; Source 4 profiles and

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14 March 2016

Nippy has been a rigging supplier at the National since 2001 and works closely with the National's rigging department including rigging resources technician, Matthew Wheeler and his colleague Rob Barnard, head of stage facilities.

Wheeler and Barnard first saw the Kinesys system on the Nippy Industries stand at the 2005 ABTT show, and were immediately struck by its potential flexibility for the National. The theatre has an action-packed production and repertory schedule across all its theatre spaces. "The demands of the theatre are really quite considerable," says Wheeler, and w

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14 March 2016

Summit's main task was to rig a series of discreet catenary wires between the courtyard's second floor level balconies, onto which over 200 artistically presented orchids were attached forming a ceiling of flowers and looking fabulous. The orchid roots were encased in little parcels of damp compost to ensure they stayed fresh for the event.

Summit's team led by Jon Bray worked closely with production manager Haydn Taylor. "It was an extremely stylish event in a beautiful setting that needed dressing appropriately and sympathetically, " explains Ta

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14 March 2016

Bytecraft's technical manager Darren Irving explains that they first became aware of the Kinesys system - one of the most popular, flexible and powerful movement systems on the market - after it was highly recommended by crews and rental companies both locally and overseas. "It's now also being specified on numerous shows, so getting one over here was a really logical step," he concludes.

Apart from the word-of-mouth recommendations, the functionality, ease of operation and competitive pricing all combined to swing the decision Kinesys' way, says the company.

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14 March 2016

Strickland and three other panel speakers addressed a distinguishedgroup of CEOs, presidents and upper management. Michael Strickland shared hisinsight of growing Bandit Lites into a global business in today's economy.People from throughout the southeast attended the event to network and learn from eachother in order to develop their own business' interest in today's fast paced globaleconomy.

The event was moderated by, Bill Brewer of the Knoxville News Sentinel and AmyNolan of the Greater Knoxville Business Journal.

The Roundtable

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14 March 2016

The studios are located facing the famous Clydebank Cranes, that have been preserved as a proud and lasting testament to Glasgow's industrial and shipping heritage, and is the new base of stv, the largest independent television franchise in Scotland.

One of the tracking systems is in Studio 1, which is used to record and broadcast the flagship daily news programme Scotland Today, the weekly Scotsport, plus a number of special programmes. A similar system has also been installed within studio 2.

J&C Joel has supplied curtains and tracking systems for other stv studios and locations for several years, so studio manager Tony McIlmurray and designer Annette Whitelaw once again tu

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14 March 2016

Tomcat, a manufacturer of staging and lighting support equipment for the entertainment industry, has called Midland its international headquarters since the company's founding in 1987. The company boasts as clients some of the biggest names in entertainment including the Rolling Stones, U2, Janet Jackson, Disney and Cirque du Soleil.

"I am very excited about this acquisition. It will not only create a great partnership between two very strong organisations, but will give Tomcat greater opportunities to invest in additional manufacturing technologies, infrastructure and other assets that will help us continue providing the highest quality products at the best possible price to ou

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14 March 2016

The gloves offer a personal integrated LED light source on the index fingers and are CE certified. The electronics are waterproof and also machine washable. Following their sell out introductory launch at the PLASA show, the unique gloves have been firmly installed into the Le Mark accessory range.

The company reports that the new 'Light Finger' glove has been very well received both within the UK and abroad. It provides a strong 10,000 lumen LED light source directly onto the working area, without shadow. The LED in each glove is rated at 100,000 hours of light with a unique energy saving 'shut off' every 7 minutes to conserve the CR20I6 battery life.

All new gloves

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14 March 2016

As part of Leeds City Council's Phase 1 £20.7m upgrade of the Grand and the creation of a permanent home for Opera North, the equipment installed has modernised procedures and proved indispensable in getting the company's current season out on the road for its autumn tour.

Replacing the old, manual double-purchase counterweights, the first full power flying system ever installed outside of London, has been enthusiastically welcomed by the technical crew and production teams al

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14 March 2016

The Bella Centre in Copenhagen was the venue for this year's show, which was presented by Justin Timberlake and saw performances from the likes of The Killers, Snoop Dogg, Muse and Keane. Awards were presented to Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera for Best Male and Female Artists, while British bands led the way with Best Group going to Depeche Mode, and Best Alternative to Muse.

Specialist event seating company, Arena Seating was brought in to supply the audience seating for the show, which had to be built to very specific requirements. The seating layout was built in a three-quarter circle shape, raised up in the air by one metre.

Bradley Merchant, account director of Arena Seating explained: &qu

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14 March 2016

Stardraw's marketing director, Rob Robinson, is delighted that Stardraw Control has qualified as a finalist for the inaugural Technology InAVation Awards which will be held at the forthcoming ISE show in Amsterdam next February. "Stardraw Control has already been recognised at several prestigious industry awards, and the Technology InAVation nomination serves as further testament to the truly innovative nature of the product," noted Robinson. &

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14 March 2016

"We have seen a rapid growth in recent years whereby the four companies products are often used alongside each other in a vast range of events ranging from exhibitions, seminars, parties, fashion extravaganzas and even multi-site product launches," explains Dominic Peissel, Gerant at Blackout France. "Heavent provides the perfect platform to showcase each company's expertise, talents and specialised products in an integrated show scenario."

On the stand, Blackout will feature their drapes, rigging, LED starcloth, track and Easi-Build Pipe and Drape system.

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14 March 2016

The Grand Theatre built in 1878 was a major milestone in Victorian theatre building and is listed Grade II. Once described as "probably the finest theatre of its size in Britain," the Grand's 19th century facilities no longer met present day audience and performance expectations. Working conditions backstage and facilities for artists were increasingly difficult and inefficient.

The £16m first phase works on the theatre have involved new seating, improved sight lines, better ventilation and improved facilities for the disabled. Backstage, the fly tower and flying systems have been upgraded, and two new rehearsal rooms constructed on an adjacent site are connected to the Theatre by a wide bridge, which also acts as a sc

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14 March 2016

"This project proved to be a tough physical challenge as it required a huge amount of staging," said Ted Featonby, project manager for Stage One. He continued: "This is demonstrated by the fact that at the height of the build we had nearly 40 Stage One employees on site."

The Aberdeen Conference Centre was transformed for the series of events. In the reception area Stage One provided three graphics areas by constructing three, semi-circular towers. Made of steel tubing, these were 4m high with a diameter also of 4m, with graphics applied. In front of them were three ab

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14 March 2016

Vertigo Rigging built the platform on twin truss legs, with the platform itself mounted atop 52cm Libera flat section truss using the company's latest decking product, Flightdeck. The structure, pre-rigged and lifted in and out by crane, was secured to the building's canopy using rigging points previously installed at Selfridges by Vertigo for a promotional event in 2004.

Clear Island Productions supplied the PA and lights, while Mojo Barriers provided barriers. Security