Morocco marked the 70th anniversary of its General Directorate of National Security (DGSN), with a massive outdoor event that combined the military precision of a traditional parade and the visual appeal of a high-level live production. With the event celebrating the country’s national police force, lead agency Delight Event Management once again turned to Concept K to produce a lighting design befitting the production, with Novelty supplying the extensive lighting package.
Led by French lighting, set, and multimedia designer Frédéric ‘Aldo’ Fayard, the Concept K team collaborated closely with the project’s Artistic Director, Stéphane Thiodat of SC Production to create the lighting design. Novelty – part of Groupe Novelty – also played a crucial role after being commissioned directly by Project Director Brice Jakubowicz of Delight Event Management to develop a technical solution capable of meeting the ambitious artistic vision of the show.
“The first challenge was simply the scale,” explained Aldo, founder and Lead Designer at Concept K. “We had to illuminate an area equivalent to two football fields filled with people, vehicles, horses, and military equipment. At the same time, we needed to provide sufficient brightness for the thousands of VIP guests and meet the requirements of the broadcast team and their cameras. It was essential to highlight and enhance the police forces during this important 70th anniversary celebration.”
With a huge stage, six towers, and a large guest tent all needing to be integrated into the lighting and effects system to highlight the parade showcasing various DGSN squads, the lighting design became increasingly complex as the project progressed. “During the creative process, the concept evolved and we adapted accordingly,” Aldo commented. “As always, we had to work within budget restrictions and, thanks to our long-lasting collaboration with Stéphane, the process was very smooth and efficient.”
To support the creative vision, Concept K expanded upon the original scenic design, using the entire structure as a platform for lighting and laser integration. The incorporation of fountain effects into the setup, as well the fact that the show was staged outdoors on open ground adjacent to the ocean, meant that weatherproof fixtures were a necessity. “We needed fixtures that were completely dust-tight and waterproof,” Aldo explained.
Novelty’s Director of Business Development, Ben Mechta, also cited the operating environment as the project’s primary challenge. “Installed on a vast outdoor site exposed to significant dust and high humidity, the lighting system also had to withstand potential adverse weather conditions, as this time of year can bring periods of heavy rain,” he noted. “To meet these demanding conditions, the lighting design naturally relied on IP65-rated fixtures, ensuring maximum reliability regardless of the weather.”
To this end, Novelty supplied an extensive lighting inventory including 180 Elation Proteus Maximus, 80 Proteus Hybrid and 160 Sōl I Blinder fixtures, as well as 160 SGM P-6, 30 Martin MAC Aura XIP, 80 Astera FP1 Titan Tubes, two Robert Juliat Cyrano Followspots, and six Look Solutions Viper NT Smoke Machines.
“For key and side lighting, we were looking for a very powerful fixture with narrow zoom capable of covering long distances,” Aldo described, explaining the selection of Elation Proteus Maximus. “Our conditions were demanding because the performance space covered approximately two football pitches. At the same time, for backlighting across the expansive performance area, we required a very wide beam angle to cover as much surface area as possible with a limited number of fixtures. Although it’s not the newest fixture on the market, it remains highly competitive compared to many more recent products,” he added.
The Proteus Hybrid fixtures complemented the design by providing versatile beam and spot effects throughout the production. “We’ve worked with the Proteus Hybrid many times before,” Aldo said. “Its IP65 rating and true hybrid functionality were its key criteria. There are very few fixtures capable of delivering both beam and spot performance while also offering the reliability needed for outdoor events.”
Concept K was among the first to use the Sōl I Blinder, thanks to Novelty’s early investment in France, and Aldo has been a fan of the multi-use blinder and effect light ever since. In this case, some 160 of the fixtures were used throughout the space for visual accents, rhythm cues, colour washes, and dynamic backlighting. “It’s lightweight, easy to rig, efficient, RGBLAW, offers a wide beam angle, carries an IP65 rating, and delivers exceptional value,” Aldo commented. “We used it for backlighting, effects, colour rendering of each sequence, and to reinforce the rhythm of the show. The Sōl I is a true multitool – we love it.”
The wider production team included: Technical Director, Philippe Pero; Head of Audio, Brieuc Bourgeois; Director of Photography, Theo Broche; Lighting Programmer, Kelian Sevrée; Laser Programmer, Santi Fernandez; and Fountain Programmer, Paul Simon; -Novelty Project Manager, Sylvain Ponte; and Site Manager, Benoit Fontenaille.
“The event went very well,” Aldo concluded. “A huge thank you to Stéphane Thiodat for his trust on this very special project, and many thanks as well to Delight Event Management. We were also very happy to work with the Novelty team, who provided full support from project preparation through on-site execution. A good result is always the outcome of a collective effort, and that was certainly the case here.”
Photos: Concept K
