Production Reviews
Bogota To Caracas, 1992
TOURING Bogota To Caracas, 1992 by Roderick van Gelder. In 1992 Sydney Dance Company performed ‘Some Rooms’ in Bogota and Caracas as part of a world tour. I was the production manager and lighting designer. The challenge was to get the sets for ‘Some Rooms’ from Bogota to Caracas on a 3 day turn-around.…
Read MorePaul Kelly’s Making Gravy
ROADSKILLS Paul Kelly’s Making Gravy by Cat Strom. Photo Credits: Ashley Mar Next time there’s a drought anywhere, just book Paul Kelly for an outdoor concert. Many of us saw the footage on social media of the Melbourne leg of Paul Kelly’s Making Gravy tour where extreme flooding resulted in the ground stacked speakers…
Read MoreHistory – Braithwaite: Tour Sells Out
History We have covered a lot of touring productions since 1990. Here’s a story about Daryl Braithwaite’s The Horses tour from Channels magazine, September 1991. Braithwaite: Tour Sells Out by Julius Grafton. When Daryl Braithwaite sold out three nights at Sydney’s State Theatre during May; his crew were relieved. After all, three nights…
Read MoreThe School Musical – A True Story
WAR STORIES The School Musical – A True Story by Stephen Dean. The school has booked the venue to do their annual musical, the sort of affair where it is important that the parents see and hear their little darlings. The only problem is the teachers directing. Yes, I said teachers, plural – who have…
Read MoreDavid Byrne
ROADSKILLS David Byrne by Cat Strom. Photo Credits: Rob Sinclair. American Utopia utilises a flexible lighting design, chosen to light people and objects, and not for effect. What happens if musicians are free to move around the stage and are not tethered to a drum riser or mic stand? That was the question that David…
Read MoreTales from the Road
THE GREAT OUTDOORS Tales from the Road Gigging and giggling alfresco by John O’Brien. Ahh, the great outdoors. Fresh air, wildlife, views, Mother Nature in all her glory – what’s not to love? Oh: sun, rain, wind, snow, mud, flies, snakes, spiders, dust, salt, bushfires, floods and all the other natural wonders. We might enjoy…
Read MoreEquitana – Bringing The Great Outdoors Indoors
THE GREAT OUTDOORS Equitana – Bringing The Great Outdoors Indoors by Harry the Hirer’s Marcus Pugh. Equitana Australia is Australia’s premier equine event, and it celebrated its 20th Anniversary this year in the 8000sqm Grand Pavilion at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Equitana delivers Australia’s premier equine gathering culminating in ‘The Mane Event’ with trick riding, entertainment…
Read MoreOutput 001
ROADSKILLS Output 001 by Cat Strom. Photo Credits: Output Tours & Events Stunning lighting and visuals co-designed by Matt Downs of SWS, IKONIX, and Colourblind’s David Fairless for dance event Output Tours & Events are an Australia-wide touring and event company that are simply lovers of all dance music, aiming to provide a show…
Read MoreThe Living End
ROADSKILLS The Living End by Cat Strom. Photo Credits: Troy Constable On the back of releasing their eighth studio album, Wunderbar, Australian rock legends The Living End have begun a string of tour dates throughout the summer. Echoing the Wunderbar album cover, the stage design is littered with old TVs, half of which actually…
Read MoreRoad Skills: Sam Smith
ROADSKILLS Sam Smith by Cat Strom. Photo Credits: David Youdell / James Barber. It’s not often that the set design for a concert almost steals the show but Sam Smith’s The Thrill Of It All was impressively creative. A long, thin triangular stage thrust its way into the audience allowing intimacy with the artist…
Read MoreCaloundra Music Festival
THE GREAT OUTDOORS Caloundra Music Festival by Cat Strom. Every spring, the township of Caloundra celebrates the popular Caloundra Music Festival, a non-profit family-friendly event that includes music performances, cultural programs, environmental awareness, and community events. Held over four days at King’s Beach, the festival started in 2007 and has since become quite refined. Not…
Read MoreDunk’s World – Life Be Out Of It
DUNK’S WORLD Life Be Out Of It I heard on the news the other day that the government wants to bring back Norm, a cartoon character couch potato from the ‘Life Be In It’ fitness campaign in the 80s. It reminded me of the time I answered an ad looking for enthusiastic people to work…
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