German magic duo the Ehrlich Brothers recently performed at the Commerzbank Stadium in Frankfurt, turning to Belgian automation specialist WIcreations for help with the creation of their set.
Magic – The Unique Stadium Show marks the first time that the magician duo has ever played a football stadium, as well as the end of a sold-out 120-date arena tour.
WIcreations’ Geert Stockmans was contacted by Production Manager Thomas Bartz, who was in charge of co-ordinating the show’s automation elements.
The stage was built at one end of the stadium and the production used the massive LED screen already installed for public viewings of Germany’s UEFA Euro 2016 matches as a backdrop.
A pit of large doors were situated at the front of the stage, each measuring 17 metres wide by seven metres high and weighing 13 tonnes each. WIcreations utilised their heavy-duty Floor Track system to move the doors.
Floor Track was initially developed for a special event staged in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to celebrate 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 2014, and is now available as a regular rental item.
For this Ehrlich Brothers stadium show, the stage left and stage right trussing frames, clad with the printed scenic flats, were secured on top of a bespoke version of Floor Track installed for the gig.
The automation system powering the servo-motors that move the drive trolleys was controlled by WIcreations’ own system, developed to have a positional accuracy of one cm, with the track elements based on standard Layher system lengths for full flexibility.
The doors tracked right offstage into the side wings.
Stockmans said: “It was a great show in which to be involved. Producing a magic show in a stadium is extremely challenging and we were very pleased to be part of a highly talented production team that delivered fantastic results.”
