‘C venues’ is one of the largest of the Fringe’s venue producers and ‘C aquila’, its latest venue. Like many of the Fringe venues, C aquila is a ‘made’ space operated off very limited power supplies. Two theatre spaces, a box office, catering and bar facilities had to run on only one 63A single phase.
A team, consisting of head of hire and events for Northern Light, Nick Read, artistic director and lighting designer Hartley Kemp, journalist Sara Rushton-Read and C venues production manager, Richard Williamson, approached the design for lighting the spaces. They wanted to run the entire venue from low energy sources which would not restrict the creative or practical aspects of the productions – up to 12 each day – which ran for the three weeks of the Festival.
The equipment lists evolved from ‘shopping trips’ to PLASA Focus, Leeds and ABTT London, where the team picked out the best LED and low powered tungsten units currently on offer in the industry. In addition to low power usage, each unit had to be robust and quick and easy to install, de-rig and program.
Nick Read stated that the Robert Juliat Aledin was found to be suitable and is unique in that it is an 85W LED source within a standard profile body.
Two Aledin 11°/26° units were installed on the front-of-house balcony where they were used on every show. Its low wattage means that up to 15 units can be run from a single domestic power outlet.
The high daily turnaround of shows means the venue technicians have only 15 minutes between shows to re-focus, re-colour and plot. Under these conditions, the user-friendliness as well as the performance of the Aledin was put to the test.
Read also stated that the coolness of the gate enabled them to put their fingers inside the unit to adjust the gobos quickly. Colour filter could be put inside the unit so it is cut smaller than standard profiles, using less gel, and does not burn out or need replacing.
The Aledin LED profile, which is available in warm or cool white, and also as a retrofit kit from the standard Robert Juliat 600 Series and Quincy profiles, has been nominated for the PLASA Innovation Awards, the results of which will be announced at the show.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, commonly known as ‘The Fringe’ is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1946 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place in Scotland’s capital during four weeks every August alongside several other arts and cultural festivals, collectively known as the Edinburgh Festival, of which the Fringe is by far the largest. The 2010 version of the festival took place from 6-30 August.
