ShowTech Productions – based in Riffa, Bahrain – has recently added to its extensive Robe moving light stock with the purchase of 12 iFORTE LTX luminaires. Currently Robe’s most powerful hard-edged LED moving light, these were delivered by Robe Middle East in Dubai. The company is a leading event production and technical services provider working across multiple sectors including concert touring, live events, and corporates. They also have a base in Saudi Arabia, and work across the GCC region.
These join several hundred Robe products including Spiiders, MegaPointes, and BMFLs already owned by ShowTech, following steady investments in recent years. “Robe products have consistently been on all the international riders we have seen in the last 10 years” commented owner and CEO Lawrence Rodricks, adding that this plus the brand’s reputation for quality and well-made products has driven the purchases. This was also the motivation for the first iFORTES to join the inventory.
ShowTech’s clients include the 10,000 capacity Dana Amphitheatre which is the main concert arena in Bahrain. Visited by numerous touring artists since its inauguration in 2018, it has helped put Bahrain on the international ME touring circuit. “Typically, we will supply Robe moving lights for shows in this venue,” explained Rodricks, “The brand is very often on their specs already, and if it’s not, then lighting designers and directors are always happy to use Robe.”
The iFORTE LTXs utilize Robe’s newest LED innovations and the range is an obvious successor to the flagship BMFL series of the last decade – which are still going strong. These iFORTES are the first hard-edged LED luminaires for ShowTech. With eight RoboSpot systems already part of the Robe inventory, this is another reason to have iFORTE LTX onboard as this fixture works perfectly as a remote-controlled follow spot as well as for general use, boosting the versatility of the purchase.
ShowTech’s chief lighting engineer Rasha Mihalek is equally as enthused about the arrival of the iFORTE LTXs, as he was pushing for them as well. Mihalek will design the lighting set up once an artist rider has been received, based on the kit available, which then goes back to the production LD or operator for approval. If it’s a touring show, sometimes they will bring in elements of their own production – typically a floor package – but invariably, ShowTech will supply full production – including audio and video – for all the Amphitheatre’s major shows, currently averaging two per month.
Rodricks is confident the iFORTES are a “great investment and an amazing, super bright, excellent quality and popular product that ticked all our boxes and also has value as a cross-rental item.” The iFORTE LTX’s were delivered to ShowTech immediately after the recent SLS expo in KSA, and their first show will be the Scorpions (Lighting Designer Manfred Nikitser) whose rider contains 50 iFORTES, complete with additional fixtures from dry hire specialist Perfect Ovation.
Rodricks and his team also underline the importance of and appreciate the excellent service and support available from Robe Middle East which is based in Dubai. Headed by general manager Elie Battah, the subsidiary provides next-level service to Robe customers and end-users across the Middle East and GCC. ShowTech Productions was started in 2002 by Rodricks specifically to specialize in offering the very best show and event production values. Prior to that, Rodricks had cut his industry teeth at Maestro Music Equipment, an acclaimed music tech enterprise founded by his father Vincent in the 1980s. Music has always been a big part of Rodricks’ life. Vincent was a drummer and DJ who then started renting out equipment, so Rodricks was born into the fabulous world of production technology and has inherited his father’s passion and zest for the industry, plus a commitment to ensuring audiences embracing all performance genres enjoy the thrill and excitement of the very best shows.
Further information from Robe: www.robe.cz
Photos by Louise Stickland.
