New lighting console for Hawke’s Bay Opera House
Published: ASIA
NEW ZEALAND: The Hawke’s Bay Opera House, located in Hastings, New Zealand, has been equipped with an LSC LX600 lighting console to complement its existing LSC main stage and house lighting dimming, wall plates and DMX distribution. The console was supplied by Showtechnix Auckland.
Often admired as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most impressive examples of Spanish Mission architecture, the 1915 opera house was originally known as The Hastings Municipal Theatre and boasts an extravagant Art Nouveau interior. Having recently come under new management, the venue has been undertaking a refurbishment plan including the replacement of its pre-existing lighting console.
‘Running a busy touring venue, we are exposed to many different systems and this gave us a good basis to gauge what is in use and what is required,’ explained technical operations manager Henry Norton. ‘Naturally we had to be conscious of budget, practicality and capability in our choice and as part of our evaluation, we had been trying Clarity software PC version with a wing.
‘We liked the simplicity of Clarity and being able to show clients how to operate their own lights quickly and effectively is a key part to our operation. After running several shows with Clarity and looking at the ease of the software, we came to the realisation that a console version would only further advance a fantastic product. As a result, we purchased an LX600 console and haven’t regretted it for a moment.’