Ghoema Music Awards 2016 Feature Robe

	Ghoema Music Awards 2016. Photo: Antony Cousens

South African lighting designer Christopher Bolton from Johannesburg-based Keystone Productions used 180 Robe fixtures for the "feel good" 2016 Ghoema Music Awards, staged at the famous Jo'burg Theatre in Braamfontein, the city's lively downtown.

The Ghoema Awards recognizes exceptional achievement in the SA Afrikaans Music Industry. Bolton was appointed by Joshua Cutts of Visual Frontier to light and program the 2016 awards for their client, creative production company, Idea Candy.

The show was recorded for Afrikaans TV channel KykNET so Bolton also worked closely with stage director Barry Pretorius and camera director Eugene Naidoo.

The Robe count included eight BMFL Blades, 24 Pointes, 12 LEDWash 800s, 12 LEDWash 600s, 12 LEDBeam 1000s, 21 LEDBeam 100s, 22 MMX Spots, and 70 LEDForce 18 RGBW PARs.

The BMFL has become one of Bolton's go-to luminaires for major shows. "Both Josh and I specify the Robe BMFLs wherever possible," said Bolton. "Six BMFL Blades were rigged on the theatre's front-of-house positions and used for washing the stage, with two on a house bar 4m upstage used to backlight the presenters who were standing within a box set onstage.

Pointes are another favorite, "I'll always find a place for them," states Bolton.

Pointes were rigged on a collection of totem (vertical) trusses and used for the striking beam and effect work at which they excel. The LEDBeam 100s were also positioned on the totems at the back of the stage and with 20 on the show, the LEDForce 18s were used to internally illuminate the metalwork which looked very cool.

For gobo work and back lighting, the MMX Spots were positioned on some of the theatre's overhead house bars, together with the LEDWash 800s and 600s.

It was the first time that Bolton had worked with Robe's LEDBeam 1000s. "They are fantastic, a very versatile fixture," he enthused. The lights were placed right at the back of the stage on the floor for intense, tight beams punching through."

The Jo'burg Theatre has a number of stage lifts and trucks which were utilized during the event by Bolton, who also designed the set with input from Cutts and Pretorius, and this also facilitated more opportunities for creative lighting.

With clever use of the flying facilities and other stage mechanics, a number of interesting scene changes segued different sections of the show, all adding to upbeat performances by artists like Elvis Blue, Steve Hofmeyr, Karlien van Jaarsveld, and others ... along with Bolton's highly imaginative lighting.

Equipment was a combination of the theatre's in-house stock supplemented by kit from SA rental company, MGG.