Blackburn-based, lighting rental company HSL has supplied all the lighting and necessary rigging for a DVD and holiday TV special performance by Sting at Durham cathedral. Lighting designer for the two shows was Manfred Olma of mo2 Designs, based in Cologne, Germany. According to HSL project manager Mike Oates, the project entailed huge challenges, as this was the first concert of this scale to be staged there. When commissioned to light the show, HSL states that Olma specifically wanted to use Falcon searchlight and flower effects to accentuate the cathedral’s architecture, both for the benefit of the cameras and live TV audience. Apart from rigging a large quantity of fixtures into an unusual venue, other challenges included the fact that as a place of worship the cathedral was open to the public throughout the get-in, and technical and rehearsal periods. The stage was positioned below the crossing, right at the heart of the church, key lighting being achieved using Robe ColorWash 1200s which were attached to the columns around the crossing and those nearest to it in the nave on custom brackets. To illuminate the nave and aisle, more ColorWash 1200s were rigged on top of their flight cases along to the edges of the nave, and where possible concealed behind the pillars on both sides. Olma and programmer Markus Janning ran the show on two grandMA full size consoles and four NSPs. Sting: A Winter’s Night… was directed and produced by Jim Gable and Ann Kim of Graying & Balding Inc.
www.hslgroup.com
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