The PLASA Show has announced the first confirmed sessions in an extensive program of seminars, masterclasses, and panels taking place throughout the show at London's Olympia in September.
Located across three sector-specific theatres covering Lighting & Production, Audio & AV, and Business & Industry Initiatives, the program is sponsored by exhibiting company Vectorworks, who will present two sessions themselves during the three-day show.
The sessions have been curated to include audio and comms specialists like Brew (James Henry Breward), who will outline the systems and equipment deployed at the All England Lawn Tennis Club to deliver the annual Championships at Wimbledon; and Dan Crompton from Tate Galleries, who will discuss audio-visual arts and the challenges of the evolving technology landscape for these globally renowned museums to meet their artists' and visitors' expectations.
Other expert contributors include Frankie Boyle, who will discuss how lighting affects human behavior; Jon Burton, who will present HELA's support of the World Health Organization's 'Make Listening Safe' initiative and certification; Gareth Owen, known as "Broadway's King of Pop," who will discuss theatre sound with the pioneer of modern sound design, Martin Levan; and Tom Harper from Unusual, who will present a detailed case study on the circular economy in relation to their new HQ and research center.
Complex issues challenging the industry, including the continuous development of new technologies, will also be addressed. The complexities of AI and the use of drones in lighting design will be debated. XM Automation will call out to the theatre automation industry to consider common working standards; and the program will be packed with presentations on new product environmental reports, EU Digital Product Passports, and cybersecurity in the entertainment technology sector.
Meanwhile, Vectorworks sessions will cover production plans, CAD skills, and streamlining design processes. White Light will present an enchanting session on bringing illuminated outdoor trails to life; Hire Hop will discuss the best equipment tracking solutions for projects; TiMax will explore issues of spatial audio; TAIT will deliberate on a new paradigm for show control systems; Area Four Industries will present two sessions addressing best practices for the stability of temporary structures and the benefits of cooperative design procedures, while Nexo will discuss the challenges and successes of audio systems for sports arenas.
From a people perspective, "future-proofing the industry" continues to be an important buzz phrase, so the topics of neurodiversity, general well-being, pay and conditions, health and safety, apprenticeship pathways, and diversity in the backstage crewing world will be discussed in open forums, panels, and presentations, undoubtedly generating lively debate among the trade show crowd.
With a number of sessions still to be announced, PLASA's Head of Events, Sophie Atkinson, comments: "We are thrilled by the breadth of subjects being covered at this year’s show. Ensuring relevant, informative, and educational seminars are delivered alongside inspiring masterclasses and engaging panel sessions from some of the most respected industry experts continues to be an incredibly important aspect of the show."
