Plasa Focus Leeds has announced its programme from 2023, returning to the Royal Armouries with seminars and workshops.
Vectorworks will present two sessions on its Vectorworks ConnectCAD system, walking attendees through audio-visual workflows, alongside a ‘Production Design for Sky Sports Boxing’ seminar to unpack the design experience for a major TV event.
Lighting professionals can gain creative and technical insights through designer Durham Marenghi’s ‘Lasers at Light’ presentation, showcasing his work on the Leeds Year of Culture opening ceremony, the World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar and New Year’s Eve celebrations in London.
ETC will offer its ‘The Balance of Power’ showcase, offering considerations for new LED fixtures and how power control infrastructure could improve shows.
Whitelight will also highlight the issue of sustainability in venues, along with representatives from Leeds City Varieties, Royal Court Liverpool and Storyhouse Theatre in Chester, discussing recent lighting upgrades.
ChamSys will also run workshops throughout the show, allowing visitors to get hands-on with pro consoles, learning about MagicQ, Timecode and audio timeline as well as group based programming.
On the audio side, Holoplot will highlight its ‘The Future of Storytelling’ session, exploring what “immersive” means and taking a look behind the scenes of immersive venue, Lightroom in London, UK, exploring its opening show: David Hockney: Bigger & Closer.
The ASD will also highlight how to ‘Crete Sound Design for a Content Based Theatre Show’, using computer-based audio tools.
Riedel will host a session, catering to AV professionals in its Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party session, explaining to attendees how they supported the iconic New Year’s Eve celebrations with a signal transport and communications backbone.
KV2 Audio will be running live audio demonstrations throughout the show, launching the ESR 106 and ESD 8 in the UK. These demos will allow visitors to get an experience of the latest sound systems used in theatres and concert venues around the world.
James Eade will present two sessions at the show, exploring electrical safety. In ‘PAT is Dead! Long Live ET!’ Eade will explain PAT testing, while sharing expertise on equipment such as RCDs, battery storage and generator earthing in ‘BS7909: 2023 – What’s New?’
The ABTT will explore technical developments with its ‘Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment’, sharing all amendments since 2022. Tom Goode, production manager, ABTT, will explore the relationships between safety, health, continuity and resilience.
Rigging and skills shortage
UK Rigging will present its latest scheme, ‘Project X’, aiming to support freelncers who wish to join the entertainment rigging industry.
The National Rigging Advisory Group will provide its latest updates and answer questions from the audience, with the Power of Events leading a panel on the generation ‘Picking the Best Pathway’, aimed at the next generation of event professionals.
Production Park and Backstage Academy will team up to discuss how to train and nurture industry newcomers.
Finally, BECTU will discuss issues facing freelancers, alongside a PLASA-led panel of industry charities and organisations to provide an update on the latest wellbeing initiatives.