Having previously been involved with putting together the lighting design for James Arthur’s club/theatre tour in early 2017, LD Michael Straun has moved up to lighting the larger arenas for the artist — again using GLP fixtures extensively in his toolkit. He was invited by Meggan McKenzie, creative director of production company, The Live Dept, after previously working with the company on shows with Tinie Tempah and Katy B.
He and McKenzie worked closely to evolve the concept. “She would send me ideas which I would adapt and add lighting elements. We wanted to move away from custom builds so we used different fixtures in different ways to create the stage set,” said Straun. “James was also involved throughout the entire creative process. The key was to make the show look big and impressive — and the wall of JDC1’s did this.”
This is GLP’s new low profile hybrid strobe — one of the most successful and unique fixtures in their history.
Summarising the JDC1, he says. “GLP have really developed something useful and exciting here. The back wall of JDC1’s was a major part of the look. Without a big video wall they were the key element of the stage design. With them being so versatile compared with other LED strobes on the market they improved the looks within the show tremendously.”
As for Christie Lites, their large commitment to GLP’s new cutting edge inventory had been driven by Karina Mendoza, VP Purchasing in the States.
The company presently boasts 200x GLP X4 Bar 20’s and 120x JDC1 in their UK hire fleet only. “The JDC1’s are great units and sell themselves,” states Andy Strachan. “They are compared to a Solaris flare with an Atomic dropped inside — and with a tilt to top it off! The brightness is also unbelievable.
“The Bar 20s are also a fantastic LED batten with a tilt. They will be around for a long time as they can be used for so many different elements of a design.”
The wisdom of this investment is beyond doubt he says. At the same time he praises the support given by Simon Barrett and his GLP UK team. “Simon has been fantastic; it’s all about the relationship within the industry and he really delivers on that front.”
Picture credits: Hywel N Williams and Chaz Callingham-Woods