Robe Lights Up Gadget Show

Robe’s latest technologies were recently selected by lighting designer Steve Sinclair for the special presentation show at the 2013 Gadget Show Live @ Christmas expo.
The show was staged in the 2500 capacity Super Theatre auditorium at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London and presented by three of the regular Channel 5 TV show anchors Jon Bentley, Jason Bradbury and Pollyanna Woodward, who were joined on screen by the fourth member of their team, Rachael Riley.
Filming involved three 75 minute shows staged each day, based around the 12 days of Christmas theme.
Robe employed some of its latest technologies, including the MiniMe LED and digital effects luminaire plus DLS Profile, DLX Spot, MMX Spot, LEDBeam 100s and LEDWash 600 moving lights.
Robe received thanks from the hosts for cutting the energy consumption of the live show’s lighting by over 50% from the previous year.
"I really wanted to use as much LED product as possible for obvious reasons," explains Sinclair. "As well as some of the most innovative lighting products on the market in keeping with the whole event’s high-tech emphases."
Robe equipment was supplied by High Wycombe-based rental company Siyan.
A catwalk stage in the middle of the room traversed two large seating banks either side, with two trusses flown above running the entire length of the stage. At the entrance / exit end, was a seven metre tall Christmas tree.
Each of the 12 'Days of Christmas' sections highlighted a different piece of technology, with a product or an associated product placed under the Christmas tree. Audience members texted in their names and at the end of the show, one lucky person was randomly picked as a winner of all 12 presents!
Sinclair used 17 x LEDBeam 100s on the truss and the floor to light the tree. together with ten MiniMes, six on the floor and four on the truss.
He ran video content from the MiniMe’s onboard media library to make the tree light up.
"They are absolutely wicked," he said of the MiniMes.
"The output is fantastic for the small size."
Choosing any of the 255 onboard video clips was "just like selecting a gobo," he said. Some of these are moving clips and some are still images that can be animated or manipulated, shuttered, keystone corrected, etc.
Above the stage on the trusses were 28 x LEDWash 600s, 22 x DLS Profiles, 10 x MMX WashBeams and eight MMX Spots all used for general stage lighting.
It was the first time Sinclair had used the DLS Profile. He made extensive use of the MMX Spots to stripe the stage floor and the white masking drapes in the roof with rich colours and vivid gobo patterns.
www.robe.cz
(IT/CD)