NEWS FOCUS: FIFA World Cup Concert
production, where he worked closely over several months with Gearhouse South Africa’s project manager, Bill Lawford. Gearhouse South Africa (GSA) was chosen
as the full technical supplier for the concert covering all disciplines including rigging, lighting, set, staging, structures and power. Audio was a combination of Gearhouse Audio and the UK’s Britannia Row Productions — the extension of an already existing healthy working relationship between the two companies. Said Lawford: “As soon as everything was
confi rmed, one of the fi rst things that Jim [Baggott] did was book all the gear, knowing that it would be an exceptionally busy time. His foresight ensured we could deliver everything needed.” Control Room also utilised several talents from
the creative team that had helped it successfully produce 2007’s Live Earth events, including lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe and set design company Stufi sh, for which Ray Winkler was the lead designer. The Gearhouse crew numbered between
70 and 80 people at peak times, plus locals. Despite the load-in being compressed by the stadium hosting the fi nal of the Super 14 rugby tournament less than two weeks before the Kick Off Concert, the Gearhouse In2Structures team (led by Mark Gandy) pulled out all the stops as soon as they had access and built the whole Stageco roof system with Layher decking in an impressive two and a half days. Closely observing this process, Lawford
rescheduled the other departmental load-ins to maximise the time, and ensure that the stage was handed over to Control Room the following Sunday in order for the intense rehearsal schedule to begin. In2Structures built the mezzanine level onstage and supplied all the rolling risers for the changeovers.
SETTING THE SCENE Stufi sh’s Ray Winkler had his initial meetings with Control Room about the show over a year ago, from which he developed several ideas that were honed down into the African Shield design that appeared at Orlando. They wanted something spectacular and unique, which was a challenge in itself as essentially it was a rock’n’roll show. Winkler also developed the fi rst concepts
with Michael Curry of Michael Curry Designs (and The Lion King fame) and from there came the idea of a prop based design and the shields, which were inspired from researching African warrior shields. These were given a contemporary twist and evolved into the elongated hexagonal shapes that defi ned the environment. A total of 154 shields clad the
three inside walls of the stage, creating a slightly abstracted but highly recognisable version of the South African fl ag. They were fabricated by Gearhouse’s set
TPi JULY 2010 • 07
building company SDS and fi nished in printed vinyl stretched over a foam core sheet material, chosen for its light weight. They were clipped on to a series of vertical catenary wires stretched between two pieces of a trussing framework running around the three sides of the box. The side scrim graphics were designed by Ric
Lipson from Stufi sh and these were also printed locally by SDS. Winkler’s design also included the mezzanine
level which was 2.5m high, running around all three sides. This gave additional spatial dynamics to the space, and provided a practical area for the Soweto Gospel Choir and various dancers to perform. It also gave a handy mid level lighting position which was useful for back-of-camera shots.
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