When Brighton College unveiled The Richard Cairns Building, its new cultural hub, the centrepiece was a 400-seat multipurpose theatre equipped with an advanced technical infrastructure based around five series of GLP LED fixtures, supplied by Stage Electrics with the support of GLP UK.
These include the impression X5 Wash, WildBar 16, JDC Burst 1 and GLP Creos. In addition, the venue also uses 60 highly flexible GLP Nexus wireless battery-powered RGBW panels, which the college had already integrated into its wider inventory.
The new building also houses a dedicated drama and dance studio, 13 music rooms and an adaptable foyer area for impromptu performances, among other spaces. Therefore, one of the key considerations for Joe Wailes, Performing Arts Technical & Facilities Manager — and an experienced touring lighting designer and production manager — was the need for portable equipment with an IP65 rating. GLP delivered on both fronts.
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However, one of the fixtures that has remained permanently installed in the Cairns Theatre as an overhead and backlight wash is the first batch of X5 Wash units.
They have become our main wash fixture and, thanks to their incredible depth, I believe they are the best colour fixtures we have, he said.
The project originally went out to tender in 2019, but underwent a lengthy development process, during which part of the original lighting package was reassigned to the black box dance studio. When Joe Wailes arrived in the summer of 2024, he selected his preferred suppliers based on experience. “I would always choose GLP for my wash lights”, he stated.
Although the project went out to tender, he already had a close relationship with Stage Electrics from a previous collaboration. “I was very keen to work with them and was extremely satisfied with the equipment and service provided. They also organised a demo day featuring a wide range of fixtures to help us with the selection process”.
The installation was carried out by the college’s own in-house team. Following several opening phases, the Cairns Theatre officially became accessible to the public in September this year.
Speaking about his preference for GLP, Wailes explained: The reason I chose them was to support productions across the building and the wider campus, which is why I opted for the WildBars (high-output motorised bars) as well as the Creos (3 x 6-row stacked wash lights).
Both feature IP65 protection ratings, and the Creos recently demonstrated their versatility by illuminating the exterior of the building in a deep red to enhance a performance.
When selecting the products, another important factor for Wailes was achieving the best value while also considering the students’ needs. “If they want to pursue technical theatre professionally, they should be working with current industry-standard equipment. That is another reason why I chose GLP fixtures”.
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Also a big fan of the Nexus system, Wailes frequently deploys the 60 modular units backstage and around the foyer performance area, where their magnetic strips allow them to be easily attached to steel structures to create atmosphere. All productions in the versatile Cairns Theatre — ranging from opera to musical theatre — will be controlled via an ETC Eos Apex console.
Reflecting on his fixture choices now that the theatre is fully operational, Joe Wailes stated: “I believe the impression X5 delivers the best colour mixing we have in the theatre. It was essential that it handled skin tones exceptionally well, especially for ballet and straight drama productions. Then, just a few hours later, we might host a rock ’n’ roll night where we need really bold colours. The beauty of the X5 is that it does both extremely well”.
Finally, he highlighted another major advantage in terms of lighting consistency: “The fact that the WildBar and Creos use the same LED chips as the X5 gives my designs far greater versatility, because I don’t need to worry about colour matching”.
At Stage Electrics, we were delighted to support Joe and his team throughout this project. From the earliest conversations and hands-on demonstrations through to final delivery, our goal was to ensure they had the right tools to achieve the result they envisioned. We have worked with Joe for many years and it is always a pleasure collaborating with someone who knows exactly what they want from a space. We also have a long-standing relationship with Paul and the team at GLP, and we always enjoy working with them. GLP products continue to be a strong part of our portfolio, and this project is an excellent example of how their reliability and performance deliver real value when combined with the right support. We are proud to have played a role in bringing this design to life, concluded Paul Roughton, Head of Key Accounts & Partnerships at Stage Electrics.
Photo credits: Brighton College
