Martin and Essential Proms in the Park

The world-famous Last Night of the Proms unites the nation in song, and there’s no better way to experience it than in the open air. Now in its twelfth year, Proms in the Park is one of London’s most popular events. As well as seeing a host of international musical stars playing live, you get to join the Last Night singalong in a firework finale. Sir Terry Wogan returned to Hyde Park to host a charismatic line-up of musical talent, with this year’s programme headed by top opera star Lesley Garrett. Joining her were sensational Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Florez and Young Musician of the Year, clarinetist Mark Simpson. As ever, Carl Davis and the full BBC Concert Orchestra accompanied the performers and filled the park with orchestral favourites.

Essential lighting provided the lighting for the evening’s festivities. The entire lighting rig was installed over 4 days, and included 20 x MAC 2000 Profiles, 30 x MAC 250 Entour and 30 x MAC 250 Wash lights, 6 x MAC 300 Wash lights, 14 x MAC 2000 Wash lights and 7 x MAC 700 Wash lights.

Control was via a GrandMA desk for all the moving lights, and a Whole Hog IPC for the generics. Essential Lighting used their radio dmx system for control of the audience lighting saving over 300 metres of DMX cabling.

Once again, Tony Hall was the lighting designer for the show. This year saw an evolution of last year's set design, from Hattie Spice, using a monochrome backdrop which presented an ideal lighting opportunity for Tony.

Tony Hall was very pleased to be using equipment from Martin Professional on The Last Night of the Proms. Tony commented: “The new Martin MAC 250 wash lights have made a huge difference to the design this year. Being so much lighter than anything with comparable light output means that I no longer worry quite so much about rigging weights in the structure, and can get light where I need it.”

Tony also commented that the MAC 700 Wash lights, “were also a great leap forward in light output versus weight, meaning that I could get these rigged much further out on the canopy than in previous years.” He was also happy with the MAC 2000 Profiles, saying, “They are still a great workhorse, and offer the huge effects and superlative light output that I need on a project of this nature, where the first half of the show is in daylight.”

Being an outdoor British concert the weather was, as always, a factor, “We enjoyed a week in the park without any rain whatsoever – most unusual for this event!”

Thanks go out to, Barry Tofield who was the Production Electrician for the evening, James Tomlinson the crew chief, Martin Seymour & Tony Hall were programmers, all ably assisted by Seb Williams, Simon Clench, Alan Boyd, Matt Ilott, Matt Clutterham, Tim Massey & Graham Loughman to name but a few.