Early adopter, Paul Anderson reports major uptake on West End shows
London-based Sparks Theatrical Hire, who are renowned for keeping many of the UK’s leading production designers supplied with the latest lighting tech, is reporting a large uptake in GLP’s latest X5 washes on West End shows.
Set up by Paul Anderson, himself a lighting designer, at the end of the last millennium, Sparks now have several hundred GLP fixtures in their hire fleet — including around 100 of the impression X5 Wash and Compact washes, and X5 IP Bar 1000.
Most notably, Anderson’s company have long been regular suppliers to the influential Bridge Theatre at London’s Tower Bridge, and an early breakthrough for the X5 was when Paule Constable requested the first batch of fixtures for her ground-breaking lighting on the multi-award winning Guys & Dolls, having previously used them on Broadway. “That show was a big coup for us,” he says … and her peers immediately started to take notice.
But the Bridge is not alone, as Anderson acknowledges. “We seem to be punching above our weight at the moment and we’re now getting a lot of West End shows, which is great.”
He admits to having been a fairly late adopter to GLP.“ As a small company we have to be careful how we invest. But we’re always looking for good reliable products and GLP is at the forefront. Their range of kit is incredible, the attention that’s gone into the manufacture and the build quality … it’s proven its reliability time and time again, and the X5 has been a very welcome addition to our fleet.
“GLP proved itself with the X4, and every product we have bought subsequently has been brilliant.” While he knows the X4 is now “aging with dignity”, designers are appreciating “the extra intensity and refinements of colour and dimming in the X5.”
So what is the appeal? “With those designers, subtlety is as important as anything and so the pastel shades are important. The dimming as well; at the bottom end you don’t want anything ‘blipping’ out and GLP just knocks that out of the park; they are sublime products.”
He also stresses the importance of IP ratings, currently a hot topic in lighting. In fact Paul Anderson has been in conversation with other vendors about co-investment in IP products to boost cross-hire potential. “It seemed a sensible way to go as it can be used both inside and outside, but because it’s a sealed unit in many ways less maintenance is required — and so we’ve invested quite heavily.”
Finally, there is the support he receives from GLP UK. “It’s just been brilliant,” he exclaims. “Simon [Barrett] really looks after us and I have nothing but praise for GLP.”
His customers clearly think the same and GLP is one brand Anderson is happy to steer them towards. Aside from Constable he singles out several leading LDs, including Jon Clark, Neil Austin, Mark Henderson and Aideen Malone as adopters of GLP technology.
There are clear examples of where LDs have promoted the brand, notably Mark Henderson with Standing At The Sky’s Edge which, by the time it transferred to the West End (via the National Theatre, in a co-production with Various Productions, having originated at Sheffield Theatres), had adopted the X5 Wash. “I believe it was the first time he had used them … but he was very impressed,” states Paul Anderson.
Aideen Malone has also specified them — along with the X5 Bar 1000 linear battens — for Into The Woods at the Bridge Theatre.
The Sparks MD is happy to cite many other examples of dynamic X5 stage deployments. He singles out two recent shows for praise. One is the highly-acclaimed The Comedy About Spies from the Mischief Theatre Group at the Noel Coward Theatre. “This was lit amazingly by Jo Town” he enthuses. “She did a beautiful job, using a lot of the X5 washes.” The other is 50 First Dates at The Other Theatre, lit by Aideen Malone. “Once again, she uses X5 Washes to brilliant effect.” And there is no sign of the momentum dropping anytime soon.
GLP UK’s Simon Barrett, adds, “There is no customer quite as supercalifragalistic as Sparks and Paul Anderson, who is always a delight to work with. I am deeply grateful they have chosen the X5 range to add to their inventory. Having seen every show the Bridge has put on for the last few years I can confirm that the X5s are glorious.”
