Motor Stage Automation (MSA) supplied a complete automation system for the Lewis Capaldi tour, comprising six custom pantographs and a special Austrian curtain, all driven by 500 kg Moveket V-MOTION 40E motors and controlled via a Moveket “EXPERT” console.
The automation elements were integrated into the show by Cassius Creative, led by Squib (Chris Swain) and Dan Hill, the production designers (set and lighting), working closely with creative director Beki Mari.
As soon as production manager Nick Lawrie confirmed MSA as the automation supplier, their project manager Jimmy Johnson began preparations together with the production’s automation chief and technician, Ben Hammett, who joined the tour alongside operator and technician Jody Diaz Francis, both working directly for the production.
The pantograph design was the result of a collaboration between Christian Vigsø of MSA and the Italian engineering and manufacturing company Alfasystem. The pantographs were suspended beneath a 15-metre-long articulated curved truss, trimmed at 17 metres, forming an arch around the upstage edge of the oval-shaped stage.
A 500 kg variable-speed Moveket hoist, suspended from the truss, sat inside each pantograph and was connected to its lower section, making it load-bearing. Below each pantograph, a bar with three Ayrton Rivale moving lights was installed.
The pantographs feature an impressive 10-metre reach, can support loads of up to 250 kg at the bottom and offer a striking visual aesthetic. They are pre-wired with powerCON TRUE1 and EtherCON for data, enabling their use with both lighting and video systems.
The luminaires mounted on the bars were supplied by Neg Earth, the tour’s main lighting and rigging rental provider.
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The pantographs proved to be a simple, elegant and highly visual solution, allowing the performance space to be transformed into different environments, configurations and shapes.
The Austrian curtain measures 15 metres wide by 15.5 metres high and is made from grey fabric. It appeared at the start of the show, where it was used as a projection surface, before being raised.
In this case, MSA’s brief was to develop a curtain lifting and lowering system that was smooth and fluid, for which its proprietary M-Drop system was used.
M-Drop is another ingenious device designed and developed by MSA in collaboration with Alfasystem. It consists of an elongated barrel with ribbon drums, integrated with a Moveket V-MOTION 40E motor, which performs the lifting action.
Ben recalls that when the system arrived at production rehearsals, the ribbon drums needed to be extended to accommodate more tape. The MSA team therefore designed extension side panels, produced in-house 3D-printed prototypes and then had a local fabricator laser-cut and deliver 100 pieces plus spares in less than 24 hours.
I was impressed, and with the pre-tour support and equipment handover overseen by Jimmy at Motor Stage Automation, our touring automation system worked flawlessly, says Ben.
After consulting with Beki, Squib and Dan discussed the various cues directly with Jody during rehearsals and at the start of the tour. From there, Jody programmed the Moveket console and ensured the show file was kept correctly updated.
Meg Oakland, one of the touring carpenters, assisted Jody and Ben with the daily assembly of the Austrian curtain during load-ins. “Her work and attitude were very much appreciated”, comments Jody, adding that they also enjoyed the positive atmosphere and teamwork of the Neg Earth crew.
Jody is based in Cádiz, Spain, where he runs his kinetic design company The JoJo Studio, and this was the first time he had worked with MSA as a supplier, although he was already familiar with their track record and significant investment in Moveket systems. He found the experience very positive. Ben and Jimmy prepared the equipment while he was out on another tour, but once on the road everything was straightforward and ran smoothly.
Jimmy and the team at MSA also recall the positive and welcoming attitude of the Lewis Capaldi production, as well as its forward-thinking approach to modern touring.
Lewis Capaldi toured Australia and New Zealand in November and December and has already announced an extensive schedule of shows for 2026, including major festivals, as his popularity continues to grow.
Image credits: Luke Dyson and Jimmy Johnson
