Robe Shines on Latest Discovery Show

South Africa-based technical solutions agency TechRig supplied technical production -- including nearly 200 Robe lighting fixtures -- to the 2012 annual DFC Conference & Gala Dinner for medical aid and insurance giants, Discovery.

The event was staged at Sandton Convention Centre (SCC) in Johannesburg throughout two days, and included two evenings of entertainment spectacular and award presentations starring Lindiwe Bungane of Dream Girls, among other vocalists plus a full dance troupe.

Lighting was designed by TechRig's Robert Grobler, and the set created by Michael Gill. The two separate evening's programs were enjoyed by more 1,000 people.

A large trussing system was installed over the 30m wide stage, based on three concentric circles with a series of trussing spines coming off the largest circle on the outside of the two smaller ones.

Kendall Dixon coordinated all the event's rigging requirements, which totaled 98 points.

Other highlights of the two evenings included a draw to win a Range Rover Evoque.

Grobler's lighting design included 60 Robe Robin 600 LEDWashes and 24 LEDBeam 100s. Sixteen of the LEDWash 100s were positioned on the rear-most truss circle and used to light the Evoques when they were revealed, and the 600s were dotted around the rest of the trussing, utilized as primary stage and set washes in a variety of colors and hues.

Seventy-eight Robe LEDForce 18s RGBW PARs were rigged above the audience on additional trusses.

Thirty-eight Robe ColorSpot 700E ATs were also positioned over the stage, used for sharp beams and gobo projections onto floor and set, which included a 30m curved projection screen upstage.

TechRig owns a large stock of Robe fixtures and has been steadily investing in the brand throughout the last five years. Grobler uses them on all his major shows, "They are my workhorse fixtures," he says.

It was the first time that Grobler had occasion to use the selection of preset color temperature whites available on the LEDWash 600s. "They were excellent, giving me all the same effects as if using 2K blonds or fresnels ... but without the harshness".

Other advantages over and above traditional 2K fresnels are the light weight and low power consumption of the LEDWash 600, in addition to having all the versatility of a quality LED moving light.

Grobler programmed and ran lighting for the Discovery shows from a grandMA full size console.