Huon Valley Theatre ~ Carols by LED-light

Sat, 19 Dec 2009, 06:11 am

mike raine6 posts in thread

Huonville used to have a "Carols by Candlelight" event in past years. However, tiredness on the part of the previous organisers and complications associated with public liability insurance led to its demise. Huon Valley Theatre thought that Huonville could do with an event like this, because there had been little else to give the town a senses of the Christmas spirit, speically in recent years. HVT also thought that it would be a nice way to thank the people who had supported the theatre through their attendance at and participation in its productions. We had planned on a traditional outdoor event. However, there were some difficulties. Insurance wasn't our problem, but the cost of getting good quality staging, lighting and sound was, particularly as HVT is self-funded. Our efforts to get sponsors raised some, but not enough, funds to cover the costs. Adding to this was the unpredictability of the weather and the risk that all the effort would amount to nothing if the weather was bad. HVT moderated its aspirations, and we decided on a smaller-scale indoor event, at our 'home', the Huonville Town Hall. Real candles and an old building do not make a good combination (specially as far as our insures are concerned) so we opted for glo-sticks and LED candles. HVT's inaugural 'Festival of carols' was held last night . . . and was a great success, much to the relief of everyone! The smallness of the hall (with a capacity of about 200) created an intimate and friendly atmosphere. The glo-sticks and candles looked wonderful in the dark of the hall, the performers were great, and everone had a good time. We were snug in the hall while the wind gusted furiously down empty streets. It looks like we will be doing it again next year . . . and we will stick to the hall. Big is not always better!

Thread (6 posts)

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mike raineSat, 19 Dec 2009, 06:11 am

TaureanSun, 20 Dec 2009, 08:12 am

Festive Season Magic

A large majority of the Yuletide events are opting to go with electronic or chemical light rather than candles due to fire and personal injury risks. The choreographed use of "area coordinated" coloured lights looks fabulous from the stage.

I have seen one event where the "MC" of the night re-arranged the revellers into "Patterns" that he could see from the stage, The usual things, Christmas trees, snowflakes even seasons greetings being spelled out by the audience members themselves holding their respective LED lights. The finished overall effect then being shown to everyone through the use of video onto a large screen, accompanied by the obligatory "ooh's and ahh's" from the group.

Worked quite well, pretty patterns and messages led to new people being met and added to the general bonhomie of the show. A great night had by all.

"Each morning is the dawn of a new error" - anon.

Noel ChristianSun, 20 Dec 2009, 01:49 pm

And inside means that outside is there stil for fun

Well done Huon Valley Theatre!

I played at an event like this in the south of WA a few years ago. The history ws very similar, although the group that rescued the town's event was a coalition of community groups, the School Chaplaincy and (I think) the Community Health Centre. They used their local Shire Hall - which is huge and was designed for dances rather than as a theatre. They also used glow-sticks, and they they used them lavishly - so lavishly that half the town's kids spent half their evening ducking outside into the park to glow mysteriously at each other through the trees (and do other things).

There had been considerable doubt about an inside venue, but in the end inside turned out to be fun because outside was fun, too.

Noël Christian

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mike raineSun, 20 Dec 2009, 02:52 pm

thank you for your kind words

Our carols event was not as spectacular or as lavish as those you can attend in the cities, but it was friendly and intimate. Holding it indoors solved many problems . . . we had a stage, our theatre lighting and good sound . . . and we did not have to worry about the weather. Although staging a musical concert is not exactly a theatrical event as such, it does give us exposure to the community, and that's helpful in attracting new members and audiences.

JoeMcMon, 21 Dec 2009, 07:10 am

This might help mike?

This might of helped mike? http://www.woolworthschristmas.com.au/karaoke

JoeMcTue, 22 Dec 2009, 10:35 am

The last & only CBCl I

The last & only CBCl I worked on was years ago at the Supreme Court Gardens Shell.

The thing was orginised by a commitee of well meaning 'PAX" followers of Girl Guide HQ Commissioners.

It took a number of meetings to convince them that the street lights on River side Drive, would not be adaquate to illuminate the event. They finally agreed to hire in a lighhting rig. However I forgot about the audio, as they said this was all contracted to a reputable sound cxompany.

On the day the noiz bod fronted up with just 2 speaker bins, desk & a mic. Then parked his van about 3 metres from the shell stage & attempted toset up his desk there.

After I had a tow toe to toe with him for an hour or so, he reluctantly brought in more gear & set up in front of the lighting tower.

While it was not all his fault, as the commitee only ordered a PA system? I won the argument by pulling the old 'Your a pro - you should have realised, this gig ineeds an event sound & the punters need to see the show, not the side of your van.

I still had to keep on at him about to ride the niose down & keep up the quality of audio during the show. But all in all, it ended up ALRIGHT ON the end of THE NIGHT!

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