UK - Glyndebourne is set to launch a new apprenticeship programme designed ‘to nurture the next generation of technical and production talent within the performing arts’. The initiative aims to create a more inclusive and accessible pathway into the industry, offering individuals the opportunity to earn while they learn at one of the world’s most respected opera houses, which employs over 150 staff out of season and more than 500 during its annual Festival.

The apprenticeships present an alternative route to the traditional university education, providing paid, hands-on experience in a real working environment where the apprentices will develop skills directly from industry professionals while building valuable connections to support their future careers.

This new programme presents an opportunity for Glyndebourne to grow and develop i

South Africa - The L-Acoustics House of Worship Tour, which visits churches and worship spaces around the world, is coming to South Africa. Church technical teams, volunteers, consultants, and anyone interested in PA design or building audio systems are invited to attend the workshop in Johannesburg on 19 November and in Cape Town on 21 November from 1pm to 5pm.

Joshua Maichele (application, Americas – house of worship global lead) and Alan Johnson (business development, Americas – house of worship global lead) from L-Acoustics will guide attendees through audio infrastructure and the creation of immersive sound experiences. This experience is designed to empower attendees with world-class audio insight, training, and innovative sound solutions tailored for worship environments. While the workshop is free of charge, booking is essential. 

USA/Europe - The DALI Alliance and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) have announced a collaboration aimed at ‘strengthening the connection between lighting design professionals and cutting-edge digital lighting control standards’.

This partnership aims to empower specifiers, designers, and architects by sharing knowledge, launching educational initiatives, and fostering more substantial alignment across the lighting ecosystem. It focuses on joint efforts in education, outreach, and the promotion of open standards to enhance lighting outcomes in architectural, commercial, and public space projects.

“Lighting designers play a critical role in shaping the built environment,” said Paul Drosihn, general manager of the DALI Alliance. “Partnering with the IALD allows us to build a direct bridge to the design community, ens

UK - Sean Crowley, director of drama and head of design performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, has been awarded the prestigious Golden Pin Award for lifetime achievement in Stage Design by OISTAT, the International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians. The award was presented at the World Stage Design exhibition 2025, held this year in Sharjah. 

Sean, who celebrated 25 years in his post at RWCMD last year, is a leader in British and international theatre design. In this time his focus on ‘art school training’ within a conservatoire setting, and his passion for making the college’s Design for Performance course as accessible as possible, encouraging people who wouldn’t normally think of studying at a conservatoire to apply, has led to an impressive track record in the Linbury Prize for Stage Design w

USA - Follow-Me has announced that technical applications specialist Henk-jan Blok will lead a comprehensive Follow-Me 3D Fundamentals training workshop at LDI 2025, supported by Chris Lose, designer relations liaison North America. The workshop will take place on Friday, 5 December 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM. The training will feature at LDI 2025 as part of the LDInstitute Courses, taking place from 3-9 December in Las Vegas. The company invites industry professionals to register (see below) for this hands-on learning experience, and visit booth #2329 in partnership with AC Americas.

The training workshop will provide participants with practical, hands-on experience with the Follow-Me 3D manual performer tracking system. Attendees will learn how to prepare, set up, calibrate, fine-tune and integrate a Follow-Me 3D system, while also exploring real

UK - The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) has announced the fourth edition of its proactive annual event the Make A Difference Conference, returning in 2026 with a focus on bridging the gap between formal training and ongoing professional development in the theatre and live performance industry. The day’s theme will be Continuing to Learn Beyond Education.

The 2026 conference will be held on Thursday 16 April 2026 at Bathway Theatre, University of Greenwich.

“This year’s theme will focus on the employment sector as we explore how we can improve learning and development outside our formal higher education training schemes,” say the organisers. “By bringing together both sides of our industry, those that teach and train, together with employers we will break down the discourse between the two sides, and work together

South Africa - Earlier this year, DWR Distribution welcomed DiGiCo’s Tristan Mazire and Ian Staddon to South Africa for a DiGiCo masterclass. DWR’s Kyle Robson, who represents the DiGiCo brand at DWR, helped coordinate the visit.

The masterclass took place at DWR’s Johannesburg offices in June and at the GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, with both sessions fully booked. Tristan shared his insights from over 20 years of experience in live sound, post-production, and recording, with a focus on DiGiCo consoles, KLANG, Fourier Audio and Sound Devices integration.

“My experience in South Africa was amazing,” says Tristain. “It’s a beautiful country, and I met so many talented technicians. The training sessions were packed, and delegates were highly engaged, asking thoughtful questions about workflows and processes. The level of knowledge here is

USA - Audinate Group has announced the release of its all-new 3rd Edition Training for Dante Certification Levels 1, 2, and 3. Designed for ‘today’s fast-evolving AV landscape’, this update equips professionals with cutting-edge networking and AVoIP expertise, while offering up to 19.75 AVIXA Renewal Units (RUs), says Audinate.

Participants will gain deeper insights into foundational networking concepts, including IP addressing, VLANs, QoS, and multicast, as well as advanced Dante-specific topics such as system design, cloud-based production, the latest AES67/SMPTE ST2110 integration with Dante controller, enhancements to Dante AV, and expert-level troubleshooting.

Participants can earn AVIXA RUs for CTS, CTS-D, CTS-I, and ANP upon certification (Level 1: 5.5 RUs, Level 2: 8 RUs, and Level 3: 6.25 RUs). Courses are offered fre

UK - Drawing an international audience, PLASA Show 2025 transformed Olympia London’s Grand Hall into a hub of live entertainment technology from 7-9 September. Welcoming over 30 new exhibitors, and with a focus on sustainability, skills and the people behind entertainment technology, this year’s show welcomed a 2.6% increase in overall attendance despite severe train strikes that challenged travel across the capital. 

The surge in international visitors and the record number of students in attendance highlight how the industry continues to broaden its horizons and attract fresh talent, says the show’s organiser.

A growing, international audience

According to PLASA, visitor numbers rose by 14% on the opening day and 5% on day two, with 11.3% of total attendees arriving from overseas, marking a 24% increase on last year

UK - With nominations now open for its Breakthrough Talent Awards 2025, Production Futures has announced the addition of two new categories which highlight the work of the industry itself in supporting and developing emerging talent. Whilst the principal focus of the Awards remains on recognising the achievements of newcomers across the production industries and seeking to inspire future generations, Production Futures CEO Hannah Eakins is keen to shine a spotlight on those companies and organisations who are leading the way by promoting initiatives and pathways for newcomers to the production industries, as she explains:

“The two brand new categories - 'Industry Initiative Supporting Emerging Talent' and 'Organisation Championing Diversity and Inclusion' reflect the importance of welcoming and supporting newcomers to the industry. Put simply, the

South Africa - DWR Distribution officially opened the Aubrey Ndaba Training Centre on 5 September with a ribbon-cutting ceremony honouring the late industry legend. Aubrey Ndaba’s family attended as special guests, making the day especially meaningful.

Training has always been at the heart of DWR, and as it has become a regular part of the company, a revamped training room and new dining area were created. Naming it after Aubrey, who passed away in May 2024, was a natural choice. A long-time friend and mentor, Aubrey inspired countless young technicians and had a true passion for sharing knowledge.

The event included heartfelt tributes from Duncan and Bruce Riley and Eazy Moeketsi, while delegates on DWR’s Network Training course and the DWR and Install Crew teams joined the celebration.

DWR extends thanks to Debbie Buchanan, the DWR team

UK - In support of its aim to increase knowledge and accessibility in the sector, Production Futures has just launched its global online community platform. The platform has been created to connect newcomers, freelancers, students, and employers, in an unprecedented way, unlocking around-the-clock access to jobs, training, events, and up-to-date industry insights. The platform, which attracted a substantial waiting list in the run-up to launching, is an important step forward according to Production Futures’ Hannah Eakins:

“Over the last three years, we’ve been lucky to work with our partners to grow an IRL (In Real Life) community, built on connection, access, and the belief in the potential of young people and newcomers to production. Through 15 live events, we’ve met more than 15,000 people, and more than 47,000 have chosen to connect with us thro

UK - This year’s PLASA Show (7-9 September, Olympia, London) will debut a new Careers and Networking Hub, which the show’s organisers say is set to be “a vibrant, inclusive space designed to support early-career professionals, apprentices, students, and anyone seeking their next step in the live entertainment and events industry”.

A collaboration between PLASA, The Power of Events, Production Futures, and Access Industry, the hub will feature: speed networking sessions with top industry professionals; professional development support, including CV and LinkedIn reviews and free headshots (limited availability); live talks and panel sessions exploring careers and opportunities in live events; and a welcoming lounge space with comfortable seating and coffee, open to all ages and experience levels.

Apprentice ambassadors from Acc

UK - The second edition of the Yungblud-curated Bludfest took place this year at Milton Keynes Bowl. With an emphasis on inclusivity and diversity both on and off the stage, the occasion proved to be another success.

Once again, Production Futures was invited to the event and enjoyed engaging with more than a thousand young people interested to find out more about potential roles in the production industries. True to the organisation’s ethos, and keen to showcase the talents of the next generation, the Production Futures brand activation area was designed, constructed, and run by two students from the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, part of Nottingham Trent University.

Abigail Skelton and Ant Ioannou are both in their second year at Confetti, and having first crossed paths with Hannah Eakins of Production Futures at an On Tour

UK - Keen-eyed readers will no doubt have noticed our special edition 40th anniversary logo popping up here on LSi Online, and across our social media platforms in recent weeks. While the magazine’s official anniversary isn’t until November, we’re kicking off celebrations early as we prepare to honour the occasion this September at the PLASA Show (7-9 September, Olympia, London).

At the PLASA Show, we’ll be hosting the LSi Theatre, a dedicated seminar theatre. Here, show visitors can enjoy a carefully curated schedule of talks, panel discussions and ‘live’ editorial columns hosted by an array of LSi journalists, including Rob Halliday, Phil Ward, Louise Stickland, James Simpson, Sam Woodward, Roland Hemming, James Eade, Jerry Gilbert and more.

Topics will range from reflection on 40 years of both LSi, and the i

UK - The first wave of seminar sessions has been revealed for PLASA Show 2025, returning to Olympia London from 7-9 September.  

With sustainability, next-generation talent, industry heritage, and artificial intelligence at the heart of this year’s programme, the show sets the agenda for creative and technical evolution across the live entertainment industry.  

From high-profile panels and hands-on training to heritage showcases and career-building opportunities, the 2025 line-up promises an inclusive, educational and informative experience. Proudly sponsored by Vectorworks, entry to all sessions is available free-of-charge, making the programme accessible to all PLASA Show visitors. 

Making its debut in celebration of LSi’s 40th anniversary, the new LSi Theatre is set to bring to life many of the publication’s popular columns,

Austria - Amadeus Acoustics is inviting consultants, acousticians, system designers, and AV professionals to join them in Vienna this winter for a two-day seminar exploring the future of active acoustics and immersive audio.

Taking place on 1 and 2 December 2025, the seminar offers an opportunity to engage directly with the Amadeus team, experience its technologies in action, and connect with peers from across the industry. With live demonstrations, expert talks, hands-on workshops, and exclusive venue visits, the programme is designed to inspire, inform, and foster collaboration.

Day one will take place at Amadeus headquarters in Vienna, where the fundamentals and innovations shaping active acoustics and immersive sound will be explored. Demonstrations of Amadeus technologies in action will be paired with open discussions and Q&As.

In th

USA - dBTechnologies has debuted its dBTechnologies Academy, delivering the first-ever stateside VIO Operator Level 1 and Level 2 certifications.

Hosted by The Rave, a multi-room Milwaukee venue and recent adopter of multiple dBTechnologies VIO systems across its performance spaces, the two-day event welcomed audio professionals from across the Midwest for immersive training with dBTechnologies’ road-ready VIO series - a modular system designed for both complex installations and demanding live environments.

Attendees included technical teams and leadership from The Rave, AudioBiz - the dBTechnologies USA reps for the region - and sound companies, with participants ranging from system techs and engineers to sales and support staff, all eager to deepen their knowledge of system design, deployment, and performance using dBTechnologies

Italy - K-array has announced the launch of its new online e-learning platform, enabling accessible access to training on K-array products and technologies. The courses are AVIXA certified, meaning learners can collect Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) Renewal Units, required for maintaining their continuing professional development. 

“The launch of our e-learning platform is a natural evolution of our commitment to increasing skills and knowledge within our industry,” explains Daniele Mochi, customer support director at K-array. “Aimed at systems integrators, sound designers and everyone involved in audio design and installations, our courses provide learners with an accessible toolkit to empower their work and get the very best out of K-array products in various environments.”

A full portfolio of courses will be available on the e-lear

UK - Production Futures has announced that nominations are now open for its Breakthrough Talent Awards 2025. The awards recognise the achievements of young people across the production industries and seek to inspire future generations. With the support and sponsorship of key industry partners, the Awards cover 21 different categories, reflecting the diversity of opportunity within the production industries. Previous winners have gone on to enjoy flourishing careers with a wide range of companies or have taken up roles as in-demand freelancers with the skills and confidence to meet any challenge.

A keen sponsor of the Breakthrough Talent Awards is independent lighting, rigging, and control supplier for the UK and Europe, Neg Earth Lights, whose head of marketing Anna Gould comments: “We are delighted to be once again sponsoring the Breakth

UK - As part of its bid to engage young people with the production industries, Production Futures returned to stage a brand activation at Bludfest, which took place at Milton Keynes Bowl on 21 June. The festival’s eclectic lineup, curated by singer-songwriter Yungblud, attracted a diverse range of fans, including many young people for whom the Production Futures pop-up stand provided insights into possible careers in the production sector.

The Production Futures stand was located in the fan-zone entrance, and as well as providing information about the organisation’s upcoming On Tour shows, ran a series of popular competitions designed to attract the interest of young people with limited knowledge of the wide range of opportunities in the sector.

The stand was designed by Abigail Skelton and Ant Ioannou, two second-year students

UK - PLASA Show 2025 is now open for free registrations. This September, the UK's market-leading trade event for live entertainment technology will set the stage for breakthrough products, big ideas, and invaluable industry connections. Celebrate entertainment technology and the people behind it at PLASA Show, returning to its home at Olympia, London from 7–9 September 2025.

Drawing 7,500+ professionals from across the global industry, the show offers unrivalled access to 250+ leading brands, an expert-led seminar programme, and hands-on experiences with next-generation technology.

Headline sponsored by Robe, PLASA Show 2025 features an expanded show floor filled with world-class manufacturers, distributors and service providers. Attendees can explore the latest tools and technologies for lighting, audio, AV, staging and rigging – all under one r

UK - Events Apprenticeships (EA), a not-for-profit organisation advocating for accessible career pathways in the events sector, has announced a strategic partnership with apprenticeship search platform Apprentago.

The collaboration is designed to streamline access to apprenticeships in the events and production industries, provide support to employers and learners, and drive visibility of apprenticeships as a valuable route into the sector. EA will feature a dedicated section on eventsapprenticeships.org, highlighting the partnership and linking directly to Apprentago’s searchable apprenticeship listings. Apprentago will, in turn, display EA’s logo and backlink, helping visitors access both organisations’ resources and opportunities.

Promoting apprenticeship acc

UK - PLASA Focus Leeds 2025 returned to the Royal Armouries on 13-14 May, drawing a vibrant cross-section of the live entertainment technology sector for two buzzing days of connection, innovation and learning.

This year’s show welcomed 2,852 professionals, an increase on the 2024 show. The quality of attendees continues to thrive, with 687 directors, owners, or chairs representing 16% of the audience. Significantly, when combining senior roles and those in sales, procurement and specification, nearly 40% of the professionals on site held final decision-making responsibility, underscoring the event’s commercial impact.

A broad spectrum of industry roles was represented, including sound and lighting engineers, technicians, production and tour managers, lighting designers, venue and operations staff, as well as consultants, buyers, lecturers, conte

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