PLASA London 2013 Offers Free Educational Sessions That Brings Together the World's Best

PLASA London 2013, which takes place at ExCeL London from October 6 - 9, reveals the first entertainment lighting and stage technology sessions in its anticipated Professional Development Program. The packed program offers four days of free sessions that give visitors a glimpse of the technology behind the world's most spectacular live shows, and most talked about events and venues.

All sessions in these streams are presented by leading experts in entertainment technology, with two new theatres dealing exclusively in entertainment lighting and stage technologies, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Theatre, and an inside look at the extravaganza that is Eurovision. Visitors can register their interest in their preferred sessions at the URL below.

In a tribute to the National Theatre (NT), which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, PLASA London is delighted to reveal two sessions that commemorate this extraordinary institution. "Theatre Versus Architecture and Technology" promises to be a fascinating after-hours discussion between Richard Eyre, the NT's former artistic director, and theatre consultant Richard Pilbrow, looking at the design process behind the three stages and the innovative technical installations; while "Changing Theatres 1963-2013 (In Loving Memory Of Mark Fisher)" features a group of colleagues, led by Pilbrow, discussing the "revolutionary times" that they have lived through at the NT, and speculating on what is to come.

With 1,243 lighting fixtures, 800 moving lights, 3,500m of truss, 64km of cable, 12 lighting consoles, and over 6,000 hotel nights, "Eurovision 2013: We Are Done" is a panel discussion like no other. Find out how the world's largest music show was tamed, and how the set designers' brief to make the stage a "pixel-free zone" pushed the boundaries for the creative team. This session is moderated by LSi's Lee Baldock, with technical director Ola Melzig, lighting designer Fredrik Jönsson, and video designer Mikki Kunttu.

The ALD will lead what promises to be a lively discussion on "The Role of the Lighting Programmer." What do lighting designers of all kinds expect their programmers to be able to do for them? What is the difference between a programmer and an operator? These issues and more will be debated by a highly experienced panel including Nick Moran, chair of the ALD; Anne Valentino, controls product manager for ETC; and Victoria Brennan, top lighting programmer for theatre, including Top Hat and King Kong.

And Robbie Bruce presents "An Introduction to the New Hog4 V2 Software," an exclusive and unique insight in to High End Systems' Hog4 control platform and the latest V2 software.

All sessions in the audio streams are presented by leading experts in audio technology, with separate programs on live sound, installed sound, and the sound business in the new AudioLab Theatre, and a hands-on, myth-busting, pro audio laboratory -- AudioLab Interactive -- where visitors will see live experiments on a range of pro audio equipment. AudioLab 2013 also features a new pro audio arena, where the latest club sound, mobile / PA, and large-format sound systems will be available for demonstration. The 1,000-sq.-m. venue has been designed in consultation with the industry to give exhibitors and visitors a world-class facility in which to sample the cutting edge of pro audio and will feature many world-class brands, including the launch of Pioneer's new club range of loudspeakers.

More details about the Professional Development Program, including the Pro Audio sessions and experiments, can be found at the URL below and other elements of the show will be revealed in the coming weeks.