Martin Lighting For Rent

Billed as Broadway’s biggest musical sensation and the most successful new musical since Miss Saigon, Rent toured across the UK last year, after over 1000 performances in London’s West End.

Martin moving heads replace conventional rig

Lighting Designer Chris Ellis, chose a full Martin moving light rig of 22 MAC 600s, 11 MAC 500s and 3 MAC 300s to light the show, replacing the original specification of generic lighting and a small number of MAC 500s.  HSL Productions of Blackburn supplied all of the lighting production for the tour, including the extensive inventory of Martin fixtures.

Achieving West-Eng results

The aim of the project was to provide a practical full-scale version of the West End show, which would tour the UK on a weekly basis. Chris explains the brief: “Rent is a multi-scene musical with different locations happening at the same time and it is the task of the lighting to keep the audience aware of what is happening in the various ‘special areas’ at all times. These areas vary enormously and would need a lot of conventional lighting if moving lights weren’t being used.”

He continues: “We had to achieve West End results in a short load-in time, which meant starting to set up a show at 8am in the morning and finish it by 6pm the same day.  It was a very tall order but I worked closely on the planning with Production Electrician Ian Moulds.”

LD Ellis pleased with MACs

“Originally we wanted to use a mixture of conventionals and moving lights.  We went to quote for 16 Martin MACs and conventionals, but when we spoke to HSL they said it would be cheaper and easier just to use moving heads, so we did. It is very unusual for a theatre production to use only moving heads as normally the majority of lights are conventionals.”

“I have been using moving lights since the early 1980s and am particularly pleased with the Martin MACs - the costs aren’t too great for the producers and their reliability is astounding. The MAC 500s and 600s are good quality work horses, providing area lighting as well as effects, and they can be rigged fast. Another added advantage they have over conventionals is that the lighting technician doesn’t have to spend hours adjusting their focussing.  With the MACs it is all pre-set.”

HSLProductions supplied tour

“HSL supplied us with the complete package and also customised all the power requirements, which is unusual in the theatre world. The service was just amazing. We were a theatre show using a fast and efficient ‘rock’ lighting company.  The producers are happy because we kept within the budget while at the same time delivering a complex show.  And the audience was obviously delighted as there were standing ovations every night!” 

Since opening in 1995, Rent has broken box office records in every major city, including London.  Based on Puccini’s opera, La Boheme, it follows the lives and loves of a group of artists in New York, and according to its producers ‘reinvents the musical with its intoxicating swirl of vibrant theatrical rock.’

Production Specification
Lighting Designer: Chris Ellis
Production Company: Mark Goucher Productions
Rental Company: HSL
Martin Equipment Employed: 22 MAC 600s,
11 MAC 500s, 3 MAC 300s.