EDITOR’S WELCOME
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EDITORIAL Editor Verity Butler +44 (0) 1223 492246 veritybutler@bright.uk.com Senior staff writer Katie Kasperson Features writer Oliver Webb Chief sub editor Matthew Winney Junior sub editors Tabitha John & Kezia Kurtz Editorial director Nicola Foley ADVERTISING Sales director Sam Scott-Smith +44 (0) 1223 499457 +44 (0) 7875 711967 samscott-smith@bright.uk.com +44 (0) 1223 499462 +44 (0) 7376 665779 emmastevens@bright.uk.com Account manager Kurran Jagpal +44 (0) 1223 492244 kurranjagpal@bright.uk.com DESIGN Design director Andy Jennings Magazine design manager Lucy Woolcomb Senior designer Carl Golsby Junior designer and ad production Holly May PUBLISHING Managing directors Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck FOLLOW US linkedin.com/company/livemagsocial @livemagsocial Sales manager Emma Stevens
Swing to page 14 to go behind the scenes of Lana Del Rey’s dream-like tour
A s a self-confessed ‘theatre kid’, I jump at any chance I can get to highlight the extraordinary technical innovations that are taking place in the theatre landscape right now. One of my favourite playwrights, Arthur Miller, once said: “The mission of theatre, after all, is to change, to raise the consciousness of people to their human possibilities.” This perfectly encapsulates our issue’s theme, as we dive into how stages no longer consist of painted backdrops and rusty pulleys, but are now immersive canvases offering a bounty of creative opportunities. From concert halls to cruise ships, discover how the modern stage has taken on a life of its own on page 26. Elsewhere, over on page 14, senior staff writer Katie Kasperson takes a front-row look at how Lana Del Rey’s latest UK and Ireland tour blended cinematic soundscapes, projection and lighting to form an atmosphere that’s as emotionally charged as her music itself. Speaking of light, features writer Oliver Webb’s creative lighting piece on page 42 explores how designers are rewriting the visual language of performance. Despite once being a purely functional element, lighting has now become a storytelling tool in its own right, capable of shaping emotion, texture and narrative in bold new ways. Meanwhile, for
our projection mapping story, we travel to China’s Doupotang Waterfall, where technology and legend collide to prove that nature is its own kind of stage. Our expert round table gathers some of the industry’s brightest minds to share their keen insights on adapting sound design for both modern and heritage venues alike. These luminaries offer their practical advice for achieving sonic balance in even the most challenging spaces. While our buyers’ guide rounds up the must-have rigging and stage accessories to make certain your next production is as seamless as it is spectacular. Since this is our final issue of LIVE for 2025, we want to extend a huge thank you to all of our readers, contributors and partners for your ongoing support and passion for the industry. We’ll be back in 2026 – and we promise to return with a bang, with our bumper ISE Show edition. Until then, here’s to the people, the performances and the power of AV that keep the world’s stages shining bright.
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Verity Butler Editor veritybutler@bright.uk.com
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