When Lighting Designer, Simon King, took on DreamScapes, the latest production by Joburg Ballet, he was presented with the opportunity to integrate Robe T1 Profiles and T11 fixtures into his creative vision.
Staged at the Roodepoort Theatre, DreamScapes marks Joburg Ballet’s first production of the 2025 season. A dynamic triple bill, the show highlights the company’s dedication to artistic innovation, cultural celebration, and technical excellence. It also marked a homecoming, as this was Joburg Ballet’s first performance at the Roodepoort Theatre in a decade — a return made even more memorable by a beautiful and precise lighting design.
To help bring the production to life, King deployed two Robe T1 Profiles and six T11, supplied by DWR Distribution. “Simon had worked with the T11s before, and I knew they’d be a perfect fit for this kind of setting,” said Kevin Stannett of DWR. “Both the T1 and T11 are equipped with multispectral light engines and additive colour mixing, which is phenomenal for theatre applications. The T11s deserve their moment on stage, and they really delivered.”
King used the T11s exclusively as side lights, rigged on booms, while the T1s were placed overhead, dead centre. “The T1 is a magical light,” King said. “It’s incredibly versatile, quiet, and has a very easy to use shuttering system. The T11s were perfect as side lights — powerful, with an amazing zoom range. In fact, they were the only side lighting I needed.”
A regular collaborator at Roodepoort Theatre, King also praised the venue and its team. “The theatre is predominantly staffed by women, and I believe it’s one of the best run theatres in the country,” he noted. “Melony Eksteen, the Technical Manager, leads a tight ship. It’s always a pleasure working here — the team always go above and beyond.”
