National Theatre of Scotland Embraces LED with Chroma-Q Color Force

The National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) has recently invested in seven Chroma-Q Color Force 48" / 1.2m LED battens to provide wash lighting effects for their various stage productions, including Knives in Hens and An Appointment with the Wicker Man.

The Glasgow based theatre received a grant from the Wolfson Foundation to replace their existing cyc lights with energy-efficient LED versions. Head of lighting, Paul Claydon and technical manager, Niall Black conducted extensive research before inviting four leading LED brands to do a shootout at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow. Also attending the shootout were a number of lighting desighers with whom NTS works.

"As soon as the Color Force battens were switched on, to us they absolutely blew all the other products away, especially in terms of their intensity and quality of light" states Claydon, adding that it was "a bit of a moment!"

"It was a collective decision" recounts Claydon; NTS work with at least 12 different lighting designers every year, so it was "important to invest in a batten that would keep all our LDs happy."

Apart from the remarkable 8,000 lumens power of the Color Force, the company reported other features impressing everyone included the smooth washing effect, homogenized lightsource, and lack of hotspots. The company also noted the quality of colors and the batten's ability to produce a selection of the entire color spectrum, including a good white, as important.

The Color Force LED batten range has a custom developed lens system, ensuring coverage across large areas, easily washing up to eight metres. The advanced ColorSure RGBA color and control management technologies offer an enhanced color palette, color consistency, a high CRI of 92, and theatrical grade dimming, the company says.

The first production for the new units was Knives in Hens, where they were used to light an upstage cyc made from back projection screen material. They were rigged on floor based trussing around which the back projection screen was wrapped.

Claydon explains, "They are absolutely perfect for venues challenged for depth and space," a circumstance in which NTS often find themselves working. He adds: "They are an excellent lighting solution which will be in constant use."

Other productions that have used the Color Force battens have been, The Wheel at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, and The Missing at The Tramway in Glasgow.