Rock Circus Volume 2 returned to the stage at IFEMA in Madrid, Spain, produced by Productores de Sonrisas, choreographed by Albert Sala and lit by Juanjo Llorens with a set design by Anna Calvo.
Ten dancers, an 18-piece rock ‘n’ roll band and over 100 Robe moving lights brought the performance to life, embracing 40 musical moments.
Having lit the first Rock Circus edition in 2022, Llorens enjoyed working collaboratively with a creative team including video designer Romera Infografía and technical director Flavio Bañuelos alongside producers Manu & Rafa González.
Lighting was developed in a theatrical style that blended the precision and drama of circus performance with the emotion and power of rock music. Llorens explored the relationships between the various music genres and daring circus acts.
The size, weight, and deployment of the lights were critical, and Robe MegaPointes and LEDBeam 150s were a clear choice for the lighting design. “Both these products are very flexible and can be positioned in multiple locations due to their expedient size and weight,” he noted.
The moving lights were rigged in some of the set pieces positioned around the musicians and taking advantage of the venue’s structural elements, with weight limitations and sightlines top of the agenda.
The left, right and central side sections of the tent were each lit with four MegaPointes and four LEDBeam 150s, complemented with 13 MegaPointes, 20 Spiiders and 21 LEDBeam 150s in a 12-metre square structure above the ring. Above the square was a 14-metre circle truss loaded with 12 Pointes and four Spiiders, and on the floor were another two MegaPointes and six LEDBeam 150s. Upstage on a series of scenery trusses were six more MegaPointes and six Spiiders plus 14 Pointes.
While he loved lighting all 40 of the songs, “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine was a favourite, featuring a performer walking upside down and leaping from a height of 14 metres without a safety net or harness.
Productores de Sonrisas purchased the Robe fixtures via Spanish distributor EARPRO&EES, with technical support and co-ordination for this project by rental company Smart Fussion.
Llorens mentioned the “outstanding” backup and support received from their account managers Mario Ortega and Alfonso Pintado for the Rock Circus project. On site, he was supported by programmer Rodrigo Ortega, lighting chief and operator Fernando Berzosa, as well as Blanca Roldán and Jorge Olalla, his assistants and follow spot operators.
He also mentioned how great it was to be working with the González family: “for enabling me to develop my work on such a brilliant show concept.”
For Llorens, Rock Circus 2 offered an opportunity to use his talents and skills as a lighting practitioner to engage in two of his other greatest passions – hardcore rock ‘n’ roll and circus.
