The next show that opens at the Regent On Broadway will be lit like never before.
Lighting installed in the theatre’s roof in 1998 has finally been removed and replaced by 12 Chauvet Professional Ovation REVE E3 profiles and nine Chauvet Professional Maverick Silens 2X Moving lights which will offer illumination far greater than the Regent has provided in the past.
Venue technician, Kieran Peters, describes the new lights as creating “an improved level of brightness” that will benefit touring productions and the Regent’s audience.
“The lights also provide greater flexibility with colour changes and improved flexibility when moving them to different parts of the stage,” he said.
“In the past, when touring productions came, we had to adjust and move the lights manually. Now colour and location is provided by just pressing a button.”
Peters has paid tribute to the existing lights that have provided faithful service but technology has moved on since the theatre was redeveloped 27 years ago.
“It’s important the Regent remains at the forefront of technology. Together with a new sound desk installed last year, the LED lighting makes the theatre an attractive venue for hire,” he said.
“I’m pretty excited. The lights are a lot easier to operate and our job is less physical,” he
said.
Eighteen lights are now in place with the remaining three to be installed this month.
The 40-kilogram lights were hoisted up to the ceiling with Technical Manager, Braden Noel, climbing to the top of the theatre to position them.
“They are fully silent moving theatre lights that don’t make noise because they use a large heat sink and careful LED power control instead of fans,” Peter explained. “They are very versatile and can light a whole stage or provide a precision spot on an individual or shaped piece of set.”
Regent Manager, David Walsh, said the lighting is “state of the art” and enables the theatre to provide a competitive edge over many theatres in New Zealand.
Funding for the $140,000 lights has come from Friends of the Regent, the Regent Trust
Board and Central Energy Trust.