The show Rock Circus Volume 2, a renewed version of this fascinating circus format produced by the company Productores de Sonrisas and directed by Sheila García, has returned once again to the IFEMA fairground in Madrid, with lighting by Juanjo Llorens, choreography by Albert Sala, and set design by Anna Calvo.
The show has merged the spectacle of extreme circus with a selection of the most iconic and unforgettable rock themes.
10 dancers, a rock band of 18 musicians, and over 100 Robe moving heads have been responsible for livening up the acts, covering 40 musical moments of legendary artists such as AC/DC, Kiss, Metallica, Miguel Ríos, Iron Maiden, GNR, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Tequila, Queen, David Bowie, and Rosendo, among others.
Juanjo, involved in the first edition of Rock Circus in 2022, has once again enjoyed working in collaboration with a great creative team that has included video designer Romera Infografía, technical director Flavio Bañuelos, and producers Manu and Rafa González; who have combined their creativity and imagination to choose the best themes from different eras of rock history that have been featured in the show.
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The lighting has been treated from a more theatrical perspective with light changes that blend the precision and drama of the circus show with the emotion and energy of rock music.
Llorens has always sought a relationship between different musical genres, hard rock, heavy metal, rock and roll, and extreme circus shows, where the acts performed have a more musical show aesthetic than circus.
With his extensive experience and being well aware of the challenges and peculiarities posed by rigging and location, the size, weight, and assembly of the lights have been decisive factors, and the MegaPointe and LEDBeam 150 from Robe have immediately emerged as the preferred solution for the lighting design.
Thanks to their size and weight, these two fixtures are very versatile and offer many possibilities for placement, he commented.
The moving lights have been mounted on the set elements where the musicians are located and also on other tent structures, respecting the weight limitations and visibility of the audience.
The left, right, and central side sections of the tent have each been illuminated with 4 MegaPointe and 4 LEDBeam 150, to which 13 MegaPointe, 20 Spiider, and 21 LEDBeam 150 have been added on a 12-meter square structure above the stage.
Above the square structure, a circular truss of 14 meters loaded with 12 Pointe and 4 Spiider has been seen, and on the ground, another 2 MegaPointe and 6 LEDBeam 150.
In the background of the set, on a series of scenic trusses, another 6 MegaPointe, 6 Spiider, and 14 Pointe. An important part of the project has been to achieve sufficient haze in the air to enhance the lighting without anything being obscured.
The biggest challenge in lighting the show has been to convey all the energy of live rock with the language of dance while simultaneously creating a circus spectacle, for which Juanjo has fully relied on the versatility and versatility of Robe products.
Although he has enjoyed lighting each of the 40 songs in the show, the standout has been Killing in the Name by the group Rage Against the Machine, as it included a number featuring an artist walking upside down and jumping from 14 meters high without any kind of protection, neither cable nor net.
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Juanjo has also delighted in lighting Maneras de Vivir, a song by the Spanish rock legend Leño that marked the 80s generation. For Rock Circus 2, they have integrated a Korean seesaw act into a rock party atmosphere.
Productores de Sonrisas has acquired the Robe equipment through the distributor in Spain EARPRO&EES. The rental company Smart Fussion has been in charge of technical support and coordination for this project.
As a result of their good relationship, in 2021, they worked together on Camino a la Vida in Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid. In this acclaimed outdoor lighting installation, 200 MegaPointe and 40 Pointe were used to tell a story about Covid on the facade of an iconic building in Madrid's most famous and striking square. He highlighted the "excellent" support and dedication he has received from Mario Ortega and Alfonso Pintado for the Rock Circus project.
To carry out his work on stage, Juanjo has had the support of his programmer Rodrigo Ortega, lighting chief and operator Fernando Berzosa, as well as Blanca Roldán and Jorge Olalla, his assistants and cannon operators. And, of course, he also mentioned how great it has been to work with the González family, Manuel, Rafa, and María (Productores de Sonrisas), "for providing the facilities and means necessary to carry out their work in such an exceptional show concept".
For Llorens, Rock Circus 2 has been an incredible opportunity to use his talent and skills as a lighting designer to bring together two of his great passions, the hardest rock and roll and the circus, and be part of an extreme entertainment concept that delights audiences of all ages. Grandparents, parents, and grandchildren have enjoyed a lively, energetic, and original environment with a compilation of music that will always remain relevant.
