Rigging / Staging

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UK - Rope Assemblies has supplied a range of Doughty kit to the Royal Albert Hall to help improve safety in the performance space. As a duty of care to performers on stage and to ensure that any falls from height are prevented, Doughty designed and fabricated some bespoke handrail braces to make the space as safe as possible.
Ian Redding, technical supervisor at the Royal Albert Hall explained: "While there were no incidents that triggered the need for these rails, our technical team are always striving to ensure that no stone is left unturned when it comes to the safety of our performers, crew and audiences. The challenge was to design and create something that could work for our stage, but at the same time, not to look too intrusive.
“It also had to be strong enough to withstand the weight of an average person. We had a round, scaffold size connection on the off s

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UK - Callum Wachowski has joined Fiend Productions to provide a primary point of contact for rental enquires. Callum, who is also principal at Rugby-based dry hire and event production company Genius Bros, will bring his knowledge of lighting, rigging and video equipment and projects to the Fiend Productions team.
Jess Mathews, Fiend’s MD comments: “Callum has joined us at a time of investment and growth for the business. We are building on our stock of MA and Avolites control equipment, wide range of intelligent lighting fixtures and LED screen this year and Callum’s arrival will help us provide a knowledgeable and consistent contact for our customers.”
(Jim Evans)

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Poland - Intel Extreme Masters - one of the largest e-sports events in the world - features a multimedia stage that has become synonymous with the event.
The structure of the stage with its distinctive scaffolding was originally introduced in 2015, and the look has since become a signature feature of IEM Katowice.
For the 2019 edition, the design features large automated LED screens on the central part of main stage, from which pro gamers enter the stage. The catwalk where the IEM trophy is located, has been completely reworked and combined with the rest of the stage.
Despite set changes the lighting design has been completely renewed, featuring new lighting fixtures and LED bar frames built around the screens behind the teams. Almost 400sq.m of LED screens were used and 650 lighting units.
“Every year we are trying to introduce something new to the stage

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UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) has launched a new website to showcase its portfolio of technologies.
Created to deliver a better overall user experience, www.ac-et.com features a cleaner design, improved menu functionality with faster navigation, and is now fully responsive, adapting to the best layout for viewing on mobile, tablet and desktop.
The website also reflects AC-ET's position as a one-stop supplier of lighting, rigging, video, audio and related technologies.
AC-ET's UK sales and purchasing director, Jonathan Walters comments: "We are delighted to share our new website with you. The team have been working tirelessly to create a high-quality website, which reflects our (AC-ET’s) world-class products and services. We are confident that the smarter, slicker design will enable easier and quicker browsing to ensure you find the right products

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UK - Stage Electrics has been appointed as the UK distributor for Admiral Staging Products.
Based in the Netherlands, Admiral has been offering staging essentials globally since 1986. Its product range includes stage and rigging accessories, truss transportation devices, clamps and couplers, along with cables and connectors.
The Stage Electrics sales teams have undergone product training from Admiral, enabling them to offer the best solutions to meet the clients’ needs.
“We have decided to stock Admiral as their equipment fits into our inventory perfectly” comments Anna Western, sales director of Stage Electrics. “Admiral’s wide range of clever solutions is now available to our customers. With over £30,000 of stock on the shelf, and having received fantastic responses from our client base, we are looking forward to working alongside Admiral and build

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UK - Unusual Rigging has worked its own magic on Magic Mike Live! (an in-depth production report is coming soon in a future edition of LSi).
When TAIT UK was tasked with a seemingly impossible feat, operations director Alex Hitchcock turned to Unusual.
"We were initially approached by Magic Mike Live! with an enquiry for an automation and engineering package at the theatre at the Hippodrome Casino on Leicester Square", explains Hitchcock. "Some overhead rigging and staging, steel work structure, diversions and winches. We were already familiar with the venue having once done another show there. But at that time, installing a single winch was a nightmare - Magic Mike required about 18!"
The Hippodrome Casino is not a big venue - certainly not designed with the intention of staging elaborate productions like Magic Mike Live!. "The venue

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UK - Absolute Motion Control has returned to The Bridge Theatre for the fourth time to provide the automation for Alys Always. The show started previews on 25 February, and has its press night on 5 March 2019.
The show is designed by Bob Crowley, whose set incorporates a large stage lift, a sliding floor palette and a cloth roller. As The Bridge doesn’t have a fly tower, any full height cloths need to run on a roller. In this production a roller is used as a ‘blinder’ to hide scene changes inside a large gauze box.
For the floor palette, Absolute has rented the production a zero-fleet winch. The compact zero-fleet design allows the winch to be used in a variety of situations. All Scene All Props, the production’s scenery contractor, built two custom decks that incorporated the pulleys required. These custom sections were then simply dropped into place, r

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UK - Doughty Engineering is bringing its new Fifty Clamp to BVE in London. The clamp will make its show debut on stand E30.
Mark Chorley, design engineer at Doughty, comments: "We hope our customers in the broadcast industry will see the Fifty Clamp as a welcome addition to our existing range. Our Twenty Clamp is one of our best sellers and we realised that a clamp that could take an additional 30kg would be a bit of a game changer.”
The Fifty Clamp which is available to order has TUV approval, a SWL of 50kg and has been designed to fit tube diameter 38mm - 51mm. It is made from pressure die cast aluminium which prevents damage to thin wall truss. It is captive with M10 or M12 bolts and comes supplied with an M10 fixing kit.
Doughty will also bring its Lightweight Lighting stand to the show. This piece of kit which made its debut at BVE 2018 takes all the prin

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South Africa - Urban Brew Studios was the home to The Voice South Africa. In time for the new season, Studio Ten - where The Voice was shot - as well as four other studios on the premises, received a massive upgrade ranging from walkways, trussing, hoists, curtain tracks and pulleys. DWR Distribution’s theatre manufacturing department were commissioned for the project by Protea Electronics.
Urban Brew has been in the television business since 1995 and has been responsible for a variety of game and reality shows, music and sport shows, documentaries and soaps.
“To me this project was all about the people, the achievement, the deadlines and challenges too,” explains Jacques Welthagen from Protea Electronics. “Protea Electronics was chosen as the preferred turnkey supplier to furnish the complete facility including grids, trussing and lighting displ

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UK - The heady mix of highly tuned bikes, screaming engines, screeching tyres and brakes and supernatural speed races meshed with the breath-taking daring of motorcycle stunt acrobatics… indoor Motocross racing and Freestyle MX all rolled into a single adrenaline fuelled night of seat-edge action complete with pumping soundscape . . . and you have the heartbeat of
Producers and organisers Arena Sports Live presented Arenacross (AX in three of the UK’s leading arena venues – Belfast, Birmingham and Sheffield – for their 2019 AX tour, with HSL supplying a full production package – lighting, video and rigging – plus sound in partnership with Nitelites.
Additional venue ‘sports lighting’ was also provided by HSL for the two Birmingham shows at the Resorts World Arena (NEC).
HSL’s project manager was Ben Perrin. He and the team were delighted to be

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USA - For a third year running, TAIT has been included in Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Live Event for 2019. The list honours businesses making the most profound impact on both industry and culture.
“Receiving this recognition again is a great reminder of just how important teamwork really is and how influential innovation is in creating extraordinary experiences,” says Adam Davis, CCO at TAIT.
“Live events create shared experiences that are community building and binding. Some are in-person communities others are digital communities. Because the ability to experience a live event has multiplied in form, it is essential that we continue to challenge ourselves, our clients and the industry, to be even more innovative when creating. This is an exciting time, we are at the advent of revolutionizing the live event experie

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UK - Free registration is now open for PLASA Focus Leeds, PLASA has reported.
The sold-out event, taking place at Leeds' Royal Armouries Museum on 14-15 May, will feature 120 exhibitors and is ideal for professionals working across live events, concert touring, production, performing arts and installation.
Present will be lighting companies including Elation, Robe and Philips Entertainment Lighting; pro audio firms including d&b audiotechnik, Funktion-One and Shure; and rigging, staging and production specialists including Area Four Industries, Gerriets, Hawthorn and J&C Joel. The trade show will also welcome several new exhibitors, including loudspeaker manufacturer Wharfdale Pro Audio and US sound masking company, Cambridge S

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The Netherlands - Multi-national rigging and staging equipment specialist Sixty82 has partnered with Dutch distributor Senci. Working with the existing distribution network in the Netherlands, the Dutch company will offer customers optimised access to the full range of Sixty82 products. This partnership will focus on expanding the Sixty82 product line across the Netherlands as well as enabling the company to provide the growing demand for craftsmanship and technical know-how.
Fokko Smeding, CEO of Sixty82, comments: “We are excited that we can name Senci as our new distribution partner, as it is a highly regarded player in the industry. They have a dynamic and experienced team, that can deliver the expanding demand for top level support.”
Carlos Rego, CEO of Senci, comments: “It is impossible to miss the growing success of Sixty82. With their in-house experience

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UK - The BAFTAs welcomed film stars and royalty to London’s Royal Albert Hall in February, as the industry honoured those making waves on the big screen. The all-important red carpet - where the paparazzi anxiously awaited famous faces - was flanked by a rigging and lighting solution designed and delivered by TSL Lighting.
The British weather proved to be another well-known guest at the proceedings, with high winds and heavy rain in the run-up to, and on, the big night. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined a who’s who of the global film industry for the ceremony, which was broadcast live.
TSL's Neil Harvey, worked alongside colleagues Ali Morris and Rory Mackay to realise the challenging and prestigious project, working to a brief from event designer and producer Lucy Smail, of WD&P. The red-carpet arrival area required the construction of 12 TSL custom-des

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UK - AED’s Luxibel Expo Tools range makes its UK debut at the AED Customer Night events this week, alongside a spread of new kit covering sound, lighting, rigging, display and accessories.
The AED UK Customer Nights will be held on Wednesday, 20 and Thursday, 21 February at the company’s UK office, from 4pm onwards. On both nights, visitors can enjoy the best local brew and curry whilst experiencing Luxibel’s Expo Tools.
The Prolyte range, the new Show Lift AED-SL18 - an automated motorised tower lift that can be controlled by DMX - and the AV Stumpfl Pixera range will also be on show.
“In this fast-paced industry, it’s important for us to inform our customers about the latest products, technologies and services,” says AED commercial manager, David Baker. “It’s a great occasion for our customers to meet the AED team in person and to discover our A

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UK - Attracting over 1000 attendees, the Women in Data conference features addresses from high-profile speakers plus a range of supporting events. Held within the grand surroundings of Central Hall Westminster, London, the event included presentations, development sessions and an exhibition, designed to inspire the WiD community.
Technical production specialists LFPS collaborated closely with the client and production manager Dave Parker to design the look and feel of the entire event.
Providing a complete production package covering both equipment and logistics, LFPS supplied lighting, audio, video, rigging and staging. Working to precise schedules beginning with a 6pm time slot for overnight load-in and build, the team were ready for rehearsal at 6am, with everything in place ready for doors open at 9am.
Commenting on working with LFPS, WiD co-founder Roisin Mc

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USA - The Entertainment Technician Certification Programme (ETCP) reports that ETCP Paper and Pencil rigging examinations will be offered in conjunction with the Jay O. Glerum Rigging Masterclasses in San Diego on 3 April.
Any qualified rigger over 21 is invited to apply to sit the exams. Applicants should fill out the exam application form at http://etcp.esta.org/riggerapplicationmaterials and submit it to the ETCP office by Monday, 11 March.
 The Jay O. Glerum Masterclasses now have three tracks of learning: advanced, intermediate and entry level. Held at San Diego State University’s Done Powell Theatre, the entry-level courses will take place from 30-31 March, and the intermediate level will be taught on 1-2 April. All courses carry full ETCP Renewal Credits. To register, please visit

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USA - Prolyte’s Verto Truss system was used by Creative Technologies (CT) at three separate stands during the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show in December.
During the show, CT installed 3,200 linear feet of black powder-coated Verto truss to create booths for the new Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia automobiles. Prolyte’s Verto truss low self-weight allowed for more creative lighting options and flexibility in designing the stands. The Verto truss quick assembly, silent connection, and low self-weight also translated into a significant savings of at least 50% on drayage and labour costs.
In addition to the LA Auto Show, CT also relied on Prolyte’s Verto truss for a Volvo product launch at the new US plant in the Carolinas. CT built a stage inside the warehousing facilities to release a new car model for Volvo’s Worldwide management team.
Ian Dobson, project manager/

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USA - Rocky Paulson will become the third recipient of the ESTA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award.
The award, which recognises individuals with ‘significant and sustained’ technical contributions to the entertainment industry over at least 25 years, will be presented at the conclusion of the New World Rigging Symposium at the Hyatt Regency Louisville at 5:15pm on 20 March.
After being discharged from the Navy and while in college, Paulson worked for the stagehands' union, rigging at the Cow Palace arena in San Francisco and other locations. In 1973, Rocky took a job with the NBC network as a production rigger for Peter Pan and toured the world with them for several years.
After returning to the Bay Area, he founded Stage Rigging in 1977. The company went on to become one of the preeminent rigging companies in the world, providing services to such s

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Europe - The Litec RL76 double pitch roof is the new version of the RL105 double pitch roof. Designed for high-loading capacity and long spans, but with an eye on your budget, it's an attractive structure that adds a nice touch to your outdoor events, as well as providing increased resistance to high wind loads, says the company.
Scalable from 18m x 16m to 21m x 16m, and up to 15m in height, it’s designed for medium-sized outdoor events. Built with rectangular RL76A high load aluminium truss with steel fork connections, it provides high loading capacity on medium-long spans.
(Jim Evans)

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UK - Unusual Rigging reports that its support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has been recognised by Support the Goals.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals, or SDGs is a plan to end poverty, extreme inequality and climate change by 2030. Agreed in 2015 by world leaders, these goals can only be achieved with the support of businesses.
Unusual Rigging has gained its first star rating; a maximum of four stars can be awarded as the company progresses and communicates its journey to support the goals.
Tom Harper, director at Unusual and head of sustainability, comments: "On face value, the goals laid out by the SDGs may feel too broad and interdependent, hence way beyond the scope of an entertainment rigging and engineering company's influence. Yet with headlines such as "Only 12 years to act on climate change" o

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UK - East of England Arena Events Centre (EEAEC) has announced a collaboration with Pearce Hire. The EEAEC is one of the UK’s top event venues, hosting over 300 events, conferences and meetings a year. The multi-purpose events complex sboasts over 9,000sq.m of indoor space and over 250 acres of outside space. With significant and ongoing investment in the venue and its infrastructure, the venue has appointed Pearce Hire as a preferred contractor working throughout the complex.
“With our HQ based in Peterborough we are ideally placed geographically to offer an outstanding level of service and support to the venue, to the organisers putting on events at the venue, and to the exhibitors at all the major trade and consumer exhibitions which take place here throughout the year,” observes Shaun Pearce, managing director, Pearce Hire.
“Having provided services for man

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Europe - Sixty82 has expanded its global distribution network with the appointment of Electro Waves Oy as its exclusive distributor for Finland and Sweden.
“We are very happy with our newly formed partnership with Electro Waves,” says Sixty82 CEO Fokko Smeding. “It will help strengthen market synergy for Sixty82 as it creates a solid foundation to penetrate the Scandinavian market.”
Date Jonkman, Sixty82 executive account manager, continues: “Electro Waves is a highly-regarded and well-renowned distributor in the trussing and staging industry. Their team is well experienced and, with their expertise and support, we are confident that, together, we can create something special.”
Miko Nurkki, CEO of Electro Waves, comments: “In order to offer our customers holistic, quality solutions, we have gathered the best partners around us - Sixty82 shares ou

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France - Colour Sound Experiment supplied lighting, video, rigging, special FX plus a snow-loving crew to various entertainment venues and events associated with the Varsity Trip 2018 in Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in the French Alps at 2,300 metres in the beautiful Tarentaise Valley, Savoie.
The Colour Sound team of four was led by Steve Marley and working for Zero Degrees Events who designed and produced a busy series of Varsity Trip events running throughout the week. Marley and their managing director Neil Cranston have collaborated on many previous projects, and with Tom Williams from Zero Degrees running things on the ground, the mission ran like clockwork.
The main music venue for the week was the Centre Sportif de Val Thorens, which featured three full-scale DJ performances – including Rudimental’s DJ set - with numerous other smaller venues hostin
  1. First Rigging Conference for Poland
  2. New member for Litec roof system family
  3. Codex Events joins the SIXTY82 family
  4. White Light goes underground for VAULT Festival
  5. Christie Lites North America adds Kinesys
  6. Eurotruss celebrates 25th anniversary
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