Despite celebrating its 18th birthday in 2017, Protec continues to show growth while retaining its position as one of the Middle East’s leading event solutions provider. The Dubai-based company, which owns one of the world’s largest event rental stocks, including lighting, video, audio, rigging and trussing, scenic and staging, automation and SFX, conference equipment, robotics and motion tracking, has invested heavily in further technology and equipment during a busy 2017 period. The season has seen Protec at the core of some of the largest events place in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. 2017 began with the multiple award-winning IDEX…
Author: tpi intern
After 18 years of producing some of Dubai’s most memorable shows, Protec, a technical and staging solutions company, continues to deliver extraordinary experiences through its creative technical skills. Since its first production in 1999 the company has morphed into one of the Middle East’s largest production company, consistently producing live events. Stephen Lakin, Protec Founder and CEO said: “We have seen the events industry evolve considerably over the last 18 years since I started the company. Technology has grown, creativity has become bolder and audience engagement now plays a crucial role in every event. Our clients are spending more time…
An extraordinary Sci-Fi Portal on the DWR Distribution stand caused more than a stir at the 2017 Mediatech Africa expo held at the Ticket Pro Dome in Johannesburg, where DWR also received a platinum award for their stand. The project was a giant leap and learning curve for DWR’s Dylan Jones who mapped content, supplied by Provisual Media, onto the portal using Hippotizer Media Servers. Hippotizer was also used in DWR’s newly renovated spaceship themed demo room, which formed part of the Mediatech attraction. DWR’s initial concept was to create a small bus station at the expo where show goers…
A fresh and provocative season of television dating show Take Me Out aired on South African television screens in July, courtesy of Vuzu Amp and local production company, Rapid Blue. A long-term relationship between Rapid Blue and technical supplier Gearhouse Group has resulted in top notch delivery standards on previous collaborations on Strictly Come Dancing, SA’s Got Talent, X-Factor and Crazy Games, amongst others, so it was evident that Gearhouse was more than capable to take on the project. In the process, the team outdid themselves, lifting the bar on quality and technical delivery on all levels. Take Me Out…
The Melody Queen and Queen of Bollywood in India, Shreya Ghoshal, took to the stage at Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg on 20th August. Rental company Bass Mechanics supplied the full technical solution which included sound, AV and lighting, the predominantly Robe lighting rig controlled with a grandMA ultra-light. “One of the huge advantages of working on a rig with mostly one brand makes programming and designing simpler and easier to implement during a short period of time,” commented Sushil Patidar, Owner and Technical Director of Bass Mechanics. “Time is always a challenge and as a lighting designer, we only have a…
Set, Lighting and AV Designer, Wilhelm Disbergen, relied on a Hippotizer Boreal and a giant mirror to create something utterly extraordinary for the ballet production Big City, Big Dreams, staged at the Joburg Theatre. The original showcase, directed by Fiona Ramsay, was a collaboration between three dance companies – the Joburg Ballet, Vuyani Dance Company, and Moving Into Dance Mophatong. Over 40 professional dancers adorned the stage as classical ballet infused with contemporary and street dance. The love story, with the city of Johannesburg as the backdrop, portrays a young man in the corporate world who falls in love with…
The Sneddon Theatre was host to a charity event to raise funds for medical expenses for Themi Venturas, a local theatre practitioner and an industry legend based in Durban. The event was well attended by many key industry players, who generously donated money towards the drive. South African comedian and actor, Aaron Mcilroy, wore two hats on the night, one as friend to Themi and the other as a performing artist. “I had the privilege of sharing the stage with my long-time friend John Vlismas,” said . Mcilroy. “It’s incredible to think even though we have known each other for…
South Africa’s Gearhouse recently purchased two Avid Venue S6L-32D systems to add to their existing Avid Audio inventory in their Johannesburg operation. “Gearhouse South Africa bought Avid Profiles back in 2010 and they have proven to be a hugely popular console specified on almost every touring rider coming to South Africa, since then” said Audio Departmental Head, Llewellyn Reinecke. “We used Avid on the World Cup 2010 and on numerous annual local festivals with international artists. The successful fit of the Avid systems with Gearhouse’s demanding rental requirements, makes it a natural choice to continue the legacy with its successor,…
The shareholders of Losberger Holding GmbH (“Losberger”) and De Boer Structures Holding BV (“De Boer”) have reached an agreement with respect to the acquisition of De Boer by Losberger. This agreement has the full support of the management of both companies, and is subject to customary regulatory approvals for a transaction of this kind. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2017. The combination of Losberger and De Boer, which will have a joint turnover of approximately €330 million and employing c. 1,200 employees, will result in a leading company in the rental and sale of…
The Opening Ceremony of the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, produced by Catherine Ugwu’s “Betty Productions”, featured spectacular visuals throughout the show and what was arguably the world’s brightest outdoor scenic projection imagery. Responding to an initial brief to deliver projection across the back wall and floor of a stage covering half an athletics stadium, Creative Technology (CT) specified 78 Panasonic DZ21 projectors driven with VYV’s Photon Media Server system. While the original brief and specification regarding the projection area and projector count was a little smaller than the Rio Olympics ceremony that CT were involved in last year, many of…
With a joint commitment to continue providing superior live entertainment experiences to people in the UAE, telecommunications service provider du and FLASH announced an extension to their pioneering deal for the naming rights to the iconic du Arena and du Forum in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The companies made history in 2012 when they conceptualised and signed the region’s first ever venue naming deal. The renewed deal will now additionally offer a number of exclusive benefits to du customers including priority tickets with a 20% discount available 48 hours before general release, access to the du Live! VIP Lounge and competitions…
One of the largest AV and system integration companies in the region Pulse Middle East have seen project success with Base Dubai. Locally run audio-visual & lighting architects Pulse Middle East delivered this thoroughly immersive audio-visual experience within just 23 days. Joe Chidiac, Managing Partner for Pulse Middle East said, “The speed and quality of this project is a testament to the boundary-pushing capabilities, technical knowledge and passion provided by our expert team of engineers, designers, integration specialists and project managers. Base Dubai is a shining example of a world-class project, completed on schedule and executed within budget.” Chidiac continued:…
