Point Source Productions supplied lighting, smoke and haze effects, cabling and power distribution to the notorious La Clique at the Roundhouse during its dynamic, successful 10 week run over Christmas 2009 and New Year 2010.
Dubbed by The Sunday Times as ‘the best selling show of all time’ for pre-bookings at Camden’s Roundhouse, La Clique’s style is a mixture of outlandish variety, burlesque and circus entertainment which has been described in reviews as both ‘a walk on the wild side’ and ‘a divinely decadent delight.’
Point Source Productions was called upon by Dan Watkins of The Production Desk and freelance Production Electrician, Jono Kenyon to provide additional equipment which would facilitate the very specific look of Willie Suddon’s lighting design.
Kenyon and Watkins had collaborated on La Clique’s 2008 production at the Hippodrome from where, despite its success, it relocated to the Roundhouse when the Hippodrome was refurbished as a casino.
Kenyon explains: “The Roundhouse itself is very well stocked but Point Source Productions were called upon to provide the extras to help create the famous ‘Spiegel Tent’ which forms such an integral part of the show and helps recreate the circus feel so pivotal to its atmosphere.
“Point Source Productions supplied the festoon lighting, which adorned the famous Hall of Mirrors, forming a canopy of lights which spread from every pillar of the Roundhouse to the central point. This helped reduce the dimensions of the Roundhouse to a more intimate space and set a backdrop reminiscent of the traditional variety show.
“This was a deliberate decision on the part of Willie Suddon to steer away from a more high-tech look and keep things simple as a means of focusing the audience’s attention on the extraordinary performances taking place.”
Additional generic lighting supplied included a variety of Birdies, 500W Floods, Par 64 Outdoor Cans and 4 Lite Blinders, with followspot lighting provided by Robert Juliat Buxie and Robert Juliat Super Korrigan Followspots. Point Source Productions also supplied haze and smoke effect solutions with Smoke Factory Data II units, Smoke Factory Tourhaze and Hazebase Base Caps and rounded off with a selection of supplementary cable and distribution.
All combined to successfully recreate the feel of the show from the successful formula at the Hippodrome.
Kenyon adds, “Stephen’s willingness to invest in new equipment to ensure we had the right tools for the show was a real winning move! Not only could we create the precise look that we wanted, but we have the assurance of knowing we can come to Point Source Productions again for future productions for La Clique.”
Currently playing at Theatre Bobino, Paris until the end of June, La Clique can be seen across several festivals and venues worldwide throughout 2010.
Photos: Alastair Muir, courtesy of La Clique
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