Illuminating Theatre in Iceland

The Icelandic National Theatre has purchased 6 Pal 1200 automated framing spots first used in their production of the US musical Rent. A further six RoboScan Pro 1220 CMYR’s and 8 RoboColor Pro 400s were used in the show.

Lighting Designer Elfar Bjarnason of the Reykjavik Theatre Company at the Reykyavik City Theatre recently used 7 Pals for a fall production of Peter Pan.

Both the Icelandic National Theatre and Reykyavik City Theatre are repertoire theatres that produce a variety of shows each season. Lighting designers however often forego the movement and strobe functions that are usually associated with intelligent lights. In most cases designers tend to use the lights as gobo-washes or to highlight persons or objects on stage.

A 1999 production of Die Fledermaus at the Icelandic Opera incorporated 6 MAC 600s with lighting design by Johann Bjarnason.

LD Bjorn Bergsteinn Gudmundsson used 6 MAC 600s at the Icelandic Opera for productions of Evita and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The Icelandic Opera usually produces one opera per season and the house is then rented out to various independent productions ranging from children’s plays to musicals.

Martin equipment was also used by three independent theatres, Hafnafjordur Theatre, Loftkastalinn Theatre and Idno Theatre for several different performances. In fact three of the four busiest theatres in Iceland now boast Martin intelligent lights.