Singapore’s Drama Centre Theatre has invested in new LED cycloramas and followspots from Robert Juliat as part of an ongoing project to upgrade the theatre’s lighting to LED technology.
Earlier this year, 18 RJ Dalis 860 LED cycloramas and 2 RJ Oz followspots were installed, supplied by Total Solution Marketing (TSM), RJ’s exclusive distributor for the region.
The Drama Centre Theatre, a 615-seat performing arts venue equipped with state-of-the-art lighting, rigging and sound systems, is managed by Arts House Group (AHG), a non-profit organisation in Singapore. In addition to overseeing major arts and heritage institutions such as The Arts House, Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, Aliwal Arts Centre, Stamford Arts Centre and Goodman Arts Centre, AHG also organises nationally significant festivals including the Singapore International Festival of Arts and the Singapore Writers Festival.
The Drama Centre Theatre team worked closely with TSM to thoroughly research which cycloramas and followspots best suited the scale of the theatre, seeking options that fit within the budget without compromising the necessary technical requirements.
The Dalis 860 was our choice for many reasons: its compact size, lightweight design, high light output, excellent colour rendering index, and impressive short-distance coverage. The experience has been excellent! Dalis 860 stands out for its brightness, wide colour range and optical reflectors that ensure uniform and abundant coverage. We have 8 Dalis units installed at the top of the cyclorama and 8 at the bottom, positioned at a distance of 125cm, from where they provide perfect coverage across our 8m × 12m cyclorama. We have also received very positive feedback from the technicians, who report that the Dalis units are very reliable and easy to operate. They are also very impressed with their compact size and consistent performance throughout productions, explains Mr Fazil, Head of Technical Production at Arts House Group.
The pair of 600W RJ Oz LED followspots was purchased for the theatre’s front-of-house lighting bridge and is installed at a distance of 24 metres from the stage. “Like all Robert Juliat followspots, they feature impressive characteristics, including a powerful light source, smooth variable dimming, precise iris and shutter control, and a compact and ergonomic design that enhances operator comfort and manoeuvrability. Visiting lighting designers, as well as the venue’s own followspot operators, have praised their precision, smooth operation and versatile features that adapt easily to a wide range of production styles”.
“We are very familiar with Robert Juliat technology and have experienced first-hand the excellent performance and reliability of their products, having previously installed RJ Aramis followspots and 329H Fresnels”, says Anwar, Lighting Technical Coordinator at Arts House Group. “They have given us many years of great service, so we were happy to return to RJ when we decided to upgrade our equipment to LED. Total Solution Marketing was as reliable and responsive as ever in supporting us with this project, providing effective technical assistance and fast after-sales service”.
Founded in 1919, and with R&D and manufacturing facilities still proudly based in France, Robert Juliat continues to maintain its leading market position through the use of cutting-edge technology. In recent years, the company has developed complete ranges of LED profiles, Fresnels, followspots, cycloramas, footlights and washlights, designed for all types of applications and venue sizes.
The introduction of the Sully range has made RJ an even more sustainable and cost-effective choice, as it includes a replaceable LED module housed in a single compartment that instantly transforms existing Robert Juliat 600SX Series profiles into LED versions, without the need to invest in new bodies or discard the old ones.
Photo: © SRT The Little Company
