Gallery & Press Releases
Posts tagged grandMA
HSL Adds to Radioactive Ora
2 months ago
in 2013
Leading UK lighting and visuals rental company HSL supplied lighting equipment to Rita Ora’s first full production tour which blasted its way round the country, with a fabulous lighting design by Andy Iliffe.
The critically acclaimed chart topping singer-songwriter’s show is sexy, sassy, full on and highly theatrical, featuring an impressive array of props and stunning costumes in addition to her vibrant performance.
HSL’s Mike Oates Project Managed and comments, “Rita Ora is one of the hottest emerging talents in the UK, and Andy’s light show was every bit as original and exciting as her stage presence. We are extremely proud to be involved!”
Andy has worked with Rita Ora for the last four months. The first shows were promos, for which HSL supplied some ‘specials’ packages. Having worked with the Blackburn based company for around eight years, it was a ‘no-brainer’ for Andy when it came to recommending a lighting company to service the tour. “When given the choice, it will always be HSL,” he declares!
His dynamic touring rig for Ora’s energy fuelled ‘Radioactive’ tour was completely floor based. At each venue he also hooked into a front truss prepared to their LX spec with More >
Robe & HSL Cruise with Azura
12 months ago
in 2010
Robe moving lights – over 120 fixtures – including DigitalSpot 7000DTs have been installed into 4 primary entertainment centres aboard P&O Cruises’ newest state-of-the-art cruise liner, the 290 metre long, 14 deck, 115,000 tonne, 3500 capacity Azura.
The lighting was specified by Carnival UK’s Entertainment Sound & Lighting manager Philip Yeomans, and the package was delivered via Robe UK with Blackburn, UK, based HSL undertaking the installation and providing the ongoing technical support.
The project has seen close collaboration between Yeomans, Mick Hannaford from Robe UK and Simon Stuart from HSL.
A key element for Yeomans was forging a direct relationship with a manufacturer – he wanted a reliable, cost effective brand and needed several customisations. He also required excellent technical support. He has used Robe products for some time now, and has also worked with HSL before and been impressed by their work and attitude.
He is a “big fan” of the kit and knew that both companies could deliver the standards of excellence required for providing lighting and support in this demanding environment, where all areas of the ship are in constant use.
Robe lighting has been installed More >
HSL Supplies Sting Holiday Special in Durham Cathedral
12 months ago
in 2009
Blackburn, UK based lighting rental company HSL supplied all lighting and necessary rigging – including 8 A&O 7K Falcon Beams and Flowers and over 100 Robe moving lights for a DVD and Holiday TV Special performance by Sting at Durham Cathedral.
Lighting designer for the two shows was Manfred “Ollie” Olma of Koln-based mo2 Designs. The show was presented by Sting backed by 35 guest musicians, including string and brass sections, and was staged in the heart of the magical site-specific environment of Durham Cathedral.
The Cathedral, dating back to 1093 is regarded as one of the finest examples of Norman architecture and is a designated UNESCO world Heritage Site along with nearby Durham Castle which faces it across Palace Green.
HSL project manager Mike Oates comments, “It was a great privilege to get the chance to work in such an amazing building and also with Ollie, who is one of the most respected LDs in the business. The project entailed huge challenges as this was the first gig of this scale that had been staged there, which produced some superlative teamwork between the production company, our crew and the Cathedral staff, resulting in a truly inspirational event”.
When Olma More >
HSL & Stereophonics are Kings of Cardiff Castle
12 months ago
in 2009
HSL supplied all lighting for the Stereophonics incendiary homecoming show at Cardiff Castle, Wales, UK last weekend – including 8 of the new Robe ROBIN 300E Beam moving lights, which made their UK show debut, specified by LD Tim Routledge.
The gig celebrated the band’s forthcoming album “Keep Calm & Carry On”, and Routledge was asked to light this and a warm-up gig at the Electric Ballroom in London following a TV special he designed for them last year at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, for which he won a Welsh BAFTA Award.
Blackburn-based HSL has supplied a number of Routledge’s recent work, and he was very keen for them to also do this one. “The variety of kit that HSL has available is really impressive, as is their attention to detail and willingness to customise gear and accommodate non-standard requirements,” he says. The project was managed for HSL by Mike Oates.
It was a daylight show, with the band onstage at 4.30 p.m., so Routledge’s design was based on bright, high-impact lightsources that would register enough to make it look and feel like an evening show. He also needed to transport and project the massive energy coming from the band onstage right out into the audience. More >
HSL Invests for Pussycat Dolls
12 months ago
in 2009
Leading UK lighting rental company HSL has made a substantial investment in Robe’s new Digital Series products – including 6 DigitalSpot 7000DTs and 36 REDWash 3192s along with 16 REDBlinder 296’s – primarily for the Pussycat Dolls European “Doll Domination” tour, for which they were specified by LDScott Warner.
HSL is supplying all lighting equipment and crew for the tour which also includes 60 Robe ColorSpot and ColorWash 2500E AT moving lights, 40 Martin Professional Atomic strobes, a 12 way Kinesys automation system with Vector control plus over 60 motors and rigging. HSL also designed and commissioned several pieces of custom metalwork that were fabricated by TFL for the tour which is project managed for them byMike Oates.
It’s a complex lighting system to build each day, requiring lots of precision and tight teamwork. Mike Oates comments, “The biggest challenge is getting it in and up in a reasonable time each day, for which we did serious pre-planning to maximize the efficiency of get ins and outs.”
The slick, high-energy show is a colourful and fluid amalgam of classic pop lighting with plenty of attitude and dynamics. Warner makes an expediently sized rig – in More >
