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INNOVATIVE LIGHTING FOR A ROCK CLASSIC
It’s been over 40 years since The Rocky Horror Show debuted
at the Royal Court Theatre in London, but it’s is still going
strong. The show features a cast of crazy characters, fifteen
cracking tunes, and some of show business’ most memorable
lines: “So come up to the lab. And see what's on the slab/ I see
you shiver with antici... pation!”
Millions of theatre-goers worldwide have shrieked with laughter and
delight at those words, uttered by the madcap transvestite scientist Dr.
Frank-N-Furter, the central character in Richard O’Brien’s era-defining rock
musical.
In July last year Cape Town’s Fugard Theatre, and producer Eric Abraham,
opened their production of the show. Its success has been as riotous as
some of Frank-N-Furter’s dance moves. After playing to sold-out houses for
27 weeks in a row, the production moved to Pieter Toerien's Montecasino
Theatre in Joburg, where it has SOLD OUT its entire season, which ends
30 March. It has just been announced that, due to overwhelming public
demand, the production will return to Joburg for a further 12 week run
starting 14 November 2014. So if you missed it, here is your chance to grab
your tickets…but you better move fast!
In an artful melding of new technology with classic show business this
production of The Rocky Horror Show makes innovative use of lighting and
screen projection. As the Fugard Theatre’s preferred supplier, Electrosonic
SA had a hand in the lighting and SFX aspects of the show. This included
designing a mobile wireless Versalight LED installation. Electrosonic SA also
supplied Compulite Vector Series Lighting Consoles, Jem Haze Machines,
Jem Glaciator X-Streams, Martin MAC Auras, Martin MAC 401s and Martin
MAC 700 Profiles.
Electrosonic SA’s association with the Fugard Theatre dates back to the
construction phase of the theatre when Electrosonic SA installed the
lighting infrastructure, including dimming, control, and generic and
intelligent lighting.
Photo: Jesse Kramer
Robbi Nassi (Electrosonic SA: Technical Sales and Support: Lighting
Division) notes the good working relationship and strong friendships that
have been built up over the years with this successful theatre company.
“We’d like to thank the Fugard Theatre, and Executive Director Daniel
Galloway, for their loyalty and continued support. We value the opportunity
to be part of their vision to create and host world-class theatre.” According
to Daniel, the feeling is mutual: “Working with Robbi and the chaps from
Electrosonic SA is a dream. In a demanding industry, which requires fulltime passion and commitment in reaching for perfection, we continue
to find our perfect match in the Electrosonic SA team. Their integrity and
tireless work ethic is refreshing and rewarding.”
HARRIS PRESENTS MASTER CLASS AT
HIPPOSCHOOL
Over a period of seven days in January and February Simon Harris, User
Experience Manager for the media server manufacturer Green Hippo,
conducted HippoSchool training in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
Simon, who is based at Green Hippo Head Office in London, presented
the training sessions in association with their South African distributor,
Electrosonic SA.
Electrosonic SA excelled by setting up all three locations in advance and inviting
the majority of key people from across the entertainment technology industry.
Programmers in SA’s three big centres had the opportunity to become closely
acquainted with the world’s favourite media server - Hippotizer.
HippoSchool training is designed with one outcome in mind: to teach everything
required to program Hippotizer media servers for a show. Training covered
– among others - topics such as MediaManager, DMX control, PixelMapping,
VideoMapping, and Timeline Programming. It wasn’t all theoretical though,
and delegates were given the chance to get hands-on experience with most of
Green Hippo’s servers.
Attendance at all three locations was high, and productive question and
answer sessions followed after each training session. Despite the huge
range of subjects and features covered within the time available, the
HippoSchool programme managed to meet all delegates’ needs and
expectations. Based on the feedback received, as well as orders for systems
received, it is fair to surmise that the HippoSchool Training Programme was
a great success.
Green Hippo had high hopes for the success of Hippotizer in South
Africa – when they teamed up with Electrosonic in 2013. Now, after the
successful completion of the 2014 training sessions, it seems those hopes
were justified. Green Hippo has renewed confidence in the potential of the
Hippotizer range in the South African live events and installation market.
PROMAG
– first quarter 2014
9