Robe moving lights have been installed into the brand new 80 million Euro Muziekkwartier in Enschede, the Netherlands, for use in two of the multi-purpose spaces inside.
The theatre replaces a previous building, with the different venues inside run by several companies and including Podium Twente (a big hall), Reisopera (an opera company), a music school and two Pop Podium spaces – Glosch Zaal and Studio Zaal - run by ATAK.
The project was under construction for 18 months, and was officially opened by Queen Beatrix in late November.
The Robes were supplied – along with other lighting kit - via Robe's Benelux distributor Controllux, in a deal project managed by Kuno van Velzen in conjunction with the Theatre's technical manager, Timo Wildschut.
“They needed a flexible system that could be used for a wide variety of shows and events specially those taking place in the Glosch Zaal (the main Pop Podium venue) and some of the other venues,” explains van Velzen, “And so we recommended Robe as a robust and very reliable installation product that would last a long time and give excellent value and many options”.
Controllux won a competitive tender to supply stage and effects lighting to Podium Twente, Glosch Zaal and Studio Zaal.
There are 6 ColorWash 575E ATs, 10 ColorSpot 575E ATs and 8 of the compact Robe ColorSpot 250ATs in Glosch Zaal. These are positioned on 3 onstage trusses and a box truss over the auditorium. Controllux also supplied 10 Robe ColorSpot and 6 ColorWash 250E ATs for Studio Zaal and a further 8 ColorSpot 575E ATs for Podium Twente, along with Avolites Pearl 2008 and Tiger desks for control.
The Glosch Zaal hosts a wide variety of bands and live events of all types, while the Studio is utilised for conventional and experimental theatre shows and for popular club nights. Both spaces are run by ATAC.
House lighting technician Frank Holthuis is delighted with the new moving lights. He has worked with some Robe kit in the past but this is the first time he has had a good chance to use the AT series fully for the shows that he designs and operates. “They are reliable and have lots of features and functionality which I need because of the diversity of artists I have to light,” he confirms.
Part of the ethos behind the new venue and lighting and sound rigs was to provide high production values so visiting bands didn't have to bring in their production systems. Holthuis comments that everyone so far has been very pleased to use the house rig. He adds that the support from Controllux has also been excellent.
Ian Bintliff, LD for veteran UK rockers Uriah Heep was ecstatic when he turned up on their recent European tour to find a rig replete with Robes. “Robe has always been a personal favourite of mine and I've used them on at least my last 6 tours,” he enthused. He likes the optics and the vivid colours, “Once they are set up and you have your positional palette sorted, they are simply rock solid – there's no drifting at all – they are great lights”.