Rob Halliday

So we are celebrating the life of Richard Pilbrow today, May 17th, at 2pm UK time.

If you're joining us at the National, see you there.

If you can't make it but want to be part of it, we're live streaming it!

https://youtube.com/@richardpilbrowmemorial?si=uNnDW8PpldvRheSS

Don't think so, no. Why........?

Hey Allie,

Looking forward to seeing everyone there! You're welcome to help answer questions..... 😉

Rob.

Always interested, not always room.... send pics!

Hey Alister,

It's the same stuff, with a few additions, but just much more beautifully arranged and presented!

And with better explanatory signs.... when I finish writing them! 😉

Rob.

Sorry for the lack of notice. It all came together in a bit of a rush, for various reasons.

But the collection is there full time now and I'm sure you're welcome any time to have a look - WL are just figuring out a booking / 'tour guide' system now...

Rob.

So popular was the 'Classic Gear Live' stand at PLASA last year, that I thought you might all be interested in another chance to explore some lighting history.

We're calling this one the 'Old Technology Showcase'. It's at White Light in Wimbledon, this coming Friday (16th Feb), 2-5pm.

This is really the 'launch event' for the beautifully organised new museum space that White Light created over Christmas, to showcase the collection of classic gear that they hold for the Backstage Heritage Collection, Jim Laws and others.

Why not come along and see, in no particular order:

From Strand:
Light Console; System CD; Chromolux (the invention of colour libraries?), the Glyndebourne console, IDM, DDM, MMS, Duet, M24, Richard Pilbrow's Lightboard for the National Theatre, Lightboard M (which is something entirely different!), Gemini, Galaxy, 500-series.

From others:
Alderham, Arri, Avo, Colortran, ETC, Zero88 including the cartridge-based 'effect engine' system.

Fixtures from Patt 23 to 264, Sil 30, Altman Leko and assorted others, including the Patt 252 projectors and effects discs the likes of which you've probably never seen before.

Moving lights because yes, these are old enough to be considered 'classics' now. Not quite confirmed yet, but there might even be a guest appearance from a VL1...

And a bunch of lovely people who built, used or rented all this stuff all here to reminisce and swap stories and memories (including me!).

It'd be great to see you there. 

If you're planning on coming, WL just ask that you sign up at the link below so they have an idea of how many people are going to show up!!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/old-technology-showcase-tickets-815100847577?aff=oddtdtcreator

See you there?

Rob.

Quick reminder: the Kickstarter for this ends TONIGHT, 11.59pm. 26th December 2023.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/asot/a-sense-of-theatre

Go look now whether you want to buy the book or, particularly, want to become part of the book....

Thankyou - and Merry Christmas one and all!

Rob.

I am extremely sad to have to report to you all, the passing of Richard Pilbrow yesterday evening (Nov 6th). 

While not a surprise, it is nonetheless a shock, and feels like the passing of an era rather than just the passing of a life - though that is perhaps a reflection of just how much Richard crammed in to that life.

Theatre Projects have a good page up about this now:

https://theatreprojects.com/richard-pilbrow-remembrance/

Rob.

Hey Bryson,

Shipping to Canada is interesting because we haven't actually specified that anywhere, so some Kickstarter pixies are doing that calculation all on their own, or it's defaulting to the 'rest of the world' price which is really based on some places that really are a long way away, particularly Australia/NZ. Let me investigate because as you say, there should surely be a better price for where you are.

However just to note that there's a lot of book in this book 500+pages, hardcover, which makes it quite heavy... and of course, good value once you get it... 😉

Rob.

Hello All,

For the last eight years, the lighting designer and theatre consultant Richard Pilbrow has been working on a book about the National Theatre. What started off as an attempt to explore what he's always perceived as the challenges of the National's two main theatres has blossomed into rather more than that - a history of the National company from its creation in 1963, the remarkable meetings of the great-and-good of the theatre of the day trying to define exactly what the National building should be, the planning of the building itself and the remarkable equipment designed and built for it, the struggles to get all of that cutting edge gear working, and the building open, and then the history of the building and company since, including the thoughts of some of the key people who have worked there over the years.

The book is called 'A Sense of Theatre'.

You can't get it just yet.... but as of today, if you want to help support it via Kickstarter, by just buying a copy or in a number of other ways, you can. 

Please do take a look...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/asot/a-sense-of-theatre

I've been helping Richard on this and so am lucky enough to have read it. It is a unique perspective on the National Theatre, from perhaps the last person standing who was part of helping to bring the new building to life. 

😉

Some views from today... joined by a bunch of lovely people some expected, some wonderful surprises.

And for anyone in the area on the last day (Tues), a special treat - Vari-Lite programming legend Mike 'Oz' Owen, of Pink Floyd, Genesis and so much more, is coming to be re-united with the Artisan, VL2 and VL4. There will, I'm sure, be stories told...

Rob.

10 hours ago, gareth said:

MMS! I remember you had some of the modules, and possibly even an electronics crate, at the event in the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley a few years back - is this now a working system?

Hey Gareth,

Same modules plus a few more- labels show some are from Chichester, some from the Piccadilly. 
 

Sadly this is the only bit of the exhibit that isn’t alive, in part because we don’t have the frame for it, in part because I’m not brave enough  

John Wright was doing good work explaining it to people today, though, and it was all attracting great interest from visitors of all ages…

Rob  

Last bit of temptation...

Some more teasers from the load in yesterday.

And there's a confirmed line of up of visiting 'experts' now, with a few more still to come:

https://www.lsionline.com/plasa-show-2023-classic-gear-live-meet-the-experts

A tour you say? What a fine idea.... but for now, if you're at PLASA, come say hi!

Rob.