Woodroffe Gobos Deliver Fresh Looks for the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge

The rock juggernaut that is the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge has once again hit the roads of Australia with Paul Collison using his tried and tested formula that includes Martin MACs.

Paul came up with the idea of five curved snake like trusses hung under a mother truss along with a split front truss to allow the followspots a clear shot at the stage, all running off four data streams.

Along with 11 MAC 2000 Wash, 4 MAC 2000 Performance, 16 MAC 600 wash lights, other color changing lights, conventionals, and a pair of Jem ZR 33 Hi-Mass foggers, Paul used 15 MAC 2000 Profiles each housing the new Patrick Woodroffe Gobo Collection.

Lighting Designer Paul Collison

“I knew the gobos were on their way so I asked Vince Haddad from Show Technology to rush me through a set so we could use them for the Canberra show,” said Paul. “The gobos are awesome! It’s like using a completely different light. We know the MAC 2000 is the industry standard workhorse in Australia but the gobos needed updating. All the producers have seen them and everyone knows when a MAC 2000 is in use as they’ve seen the gobo pattern so many times before.

“The gobos are very usable and the ability to pull many different looks from the one gobo, or from a combination, is awesome and the results are fantastic. Patrick Woodroffe has done an incredible job in not only picking the designs for the gobos but how they align with each other. Doubling the gobos together works really well.

Paul believes that the new gobo collection will reinvent the MAC 2000, keeping it as the prime moving head profile. “The reality is that most shows can’t afford to get custom gobos cut so the standard set has to be relied upon. The MAC 2000 has been out for a few years now and lighting designers were looking for fresh looks. Martin was very smart in releasing this set of gobos. It’s not a money making exercise; it’s to rejuvenate what is considered to be an industry standard workhorse light.”

Paul promises lots of Woodroffe gobos in action on future projects. “We’ll be using lots of the Woodroffe gobos and I’m really looking forward to using them in a large arena situation.”

Lots of Watts are once again supplying both the lighting and audio for the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge tour. All the Martin gear was distributed through Show Technology.