Cambridge University’s ADC Theatre recently sought a versatile solution for cyc lighting as part of the CUADC's production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s musical, Aida. The theatre, the oldest University playhouse in the country, turned to entertainment lighting specialist White Light for advice. White Light’s Jonathan Haynes worked with Lighting Designer Mitchell Clarke to decide on the right solution: the Spectra Cyc 100 – a 100 watt LED cyc fixture from American manufacturer, Altman Lighting. For the ambitious production, flexibility was key. Clarke needed a fixture that could achieve many different looks on the curved cyclorama, which encapsulated the abstract set. The Spectra Cyc delivered with a complete range of vibrant, smoothly blended colours, thanks to Altman’s patented LED lens. Clarke explained “I couldn’t get the variety of colours needed from our existing units, which is why we went in search of a new fixture. With the Spectra Cyc, I was able to get an almost unlimited range of colours – including saturate tones that beat out conventional units in a shoot out.”
The Spectra Cyc benefits from built in RGBA colour-mixing, (also available with RGBW colour-mixing) which means Clarke’s colour-palette wasn’t limited by the number of units or by choice of gel. He was able to easily and instantly adapt his design over the course of technical rehearsals without the need for time on stage or additional crew. “I was also impressed with the Spectra Cyc’s smooth dimming curves,” he said, “which made live fades a true asset to the production. I would recommend the Spectra Cyc, especially to theatres and venues looking to upgrade their conventional units.”
The Altman Spectra Cyc is distributed in the UK exclusively through White Light. For more information on the full range of products and services available through White Light, or to schedule a demo, visit the company online at www.WhiteLight.ltd.uk
Aida was preformed at Cambridge University’s ADC Theatre in March of this year. For more information about the theatre, visit www.adctheatre.com