Cirkusrevyen (Circus Review) is the longest-running review performance in Denmark, with a six month season kicking off every year since 1935 – bar 1945 due to a fire and 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic. Staged in a purpose-built big top tent in Klampenborg, Dyrehavsbakken north of Copenhagen, the 2021 season was lit for the first time using Robe ESPRITE moving lights.
The lighting rig also included a Robe RoboSpot remote follow spotting solution, LEDWash 300+ and LEDBeam 150 lighting fixtures, supplied by Live Company.
Lighting Designer, Malthe Haugaard creates a new production design for each season. In addition to the backbone of sketches, the action is interspersed with performance slots for music and dance numbers. For this season, ESPRITES were newly purchased by Live Company to replace the older moving lights featured on prior productions.
Of the 19 ESPRITES used for general show lighting, seven were rigged on a truss between the tent’s rear king poles – making up the ‘front’ position in relation to the stage – with the other 12 on the over-stage rig where they were used for back lighting and gobo effects.
Haugaard praised the output and the colours of the fixture – particularly white source LEDs – as well as the colour mixing, flat beam field and the “fantastic continuity” offered by ESPRITES. With the show also recorded for television, the TV production team were also impressed with ESPRITE capabilities and features such as high CRI, green filters, and anti-flicker C-Pulse PWM management.
A RoboSpot system was first introduced to Circusrevyen three seasons ago, making the production “safer and more versatile all-round,” according to Haugaard. Three ESPRITE FS were supplied, complete with the integral camera, controlled via two BaseStations located in a small office outside the tent with a full screen view of the stage. Using an integrated RoboSpot system also enabled the lights to be utilised for other tasks apart from just following artists.
The Robe-heavy rig also boasted 35 LEDWash 300+s, used for stage and front washes. Eight LEDBeam150s under a glass topped podium were used to great effect for one of the dance acts, and there was also an old-school Parcan wash along the front positions for some tungsten contrast. The lighting was controlled by an MA Lighting grandMA3 console.
Haugaard believes Robe lighting has “advanced enormously” in the past five years and is now bringing “new, cutting edge and innovative products” to the market.
Live Company is a fast-growing rental company based in Copenhagen that has also started investing steadily in Robe products. For Circusrevyen, they supply the full lighting package including a production lighting and console operator.
