Harlow Playhouse lights up with sustainable upgrades from White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company

Established in 1971, Harlow Playhouse has since been a cornerstone of the cultural landscape in Harlow, Essex. The venue hosts an array of performances across two theatres: a 400-seat main auditorium and a 120-seat studio theatre. Showcasing a variety of events, from music and comedy to musicals and drama, Harlow Playhouse plays a pivotal role in the local arts scene.

Following the success of two capital funding bids, the venue was first able to enhance its audio system, a project successfully managed by sister company d&b solutions. To further its commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency, Harlow Playhouse secured a second capital bid to upgrade its lighting system. The venue approached White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, to oversee this major investment.

Operations Manager Emily Parsley spearheaded the lighting overhaul. She explains, “As part of Harlow Council’s initiative to enhance energy efficiency, we were very happy to receive funding to upgrade our lighting rig, reducing both our energy consumption and operating costs. Our aim was to replace outdated traditional lighting, including high-wattage tungsten fixtures and discharge lamp moving lights, which consumed around 1500 watts per unit. Transitioning to LED fixtures not only cuts down energy usage and expenses but also increases flexibility. The old tungsten fixtures also generated significant heat and incurred high maintenance costs.”

Emily and her team had specific lighting solutions in mind but were also keen to explore alternative options in collaboration with WL’s Senior Business Development Manager, Jonathan Haynes. They ultimately incorporated a range of ETC fixtures including Halcyon Titanium, Source Four, ColorSource Spot V and ColorSource Fresnel V, as well as GLP Impression X4 Bar 20 Battens, and Martin MAC Aura XB. Emily notes, “The new rig offers us greater versatility. Previously, we relied on a standard four-color wash with LED backlights and a few moving lights. Now, with all colour-changing units, we’ve expanded our creative possibilities. Where we once needed three different units, we can now achieve the same effect with just one. This upgrade also impacts our infrastructure, allowing us to handle more data through our lighting desks. As part of this transition, we invested in the ETC Eos Apex 10 console, which has been fantastic—far surpassing our previous system in functionality.”

Recognising the significance of this investment, Jonathan Haynes facilitated multiple product demonstrations to help Emily and her technical team assess the best solutions. She recalls, “The WL Sales team was incredibly supportive and always available. They provided comprehensive demonstrations to ensure we made the right choice. Their expertise and responsiveness were invaluable throughout the decision-making process.”

This project highlights WL’s long-standing collaboration with Harlow Playhouse. Jonathan Haynes comments, “WL has worked with Harlow Playhouse on numerous occasions, and I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Emily for many years. It was fantastic to support them in selecting the right fixtures and to continue building our strong partnership.”

Beyond improving efficiency and sustainability, the lighting upgrade also had a positive impact on the wider arts community. Emily adds, “Upgrading our rig allowed us to donate some of our older fixtures to local performing arts groups, including a circus company and an amateur theatre. As we continue upgrading equipment in our second space, we anticipate further opportunities to pass on useful resources to other local organisations.”

These latest investments have cemented Harlow Playhouse’s status as a premier regional venue, attracting larger audiences and enhancing the quality of its productions – especially its annual pantomime. The new lighting rig made its debut in the theatre’s co-production of Dick Whittington, earning outstanding reviews from audiences.

Emily concludes, “We are absolutely thrilled with our new rig, as are all the visiting productions that use it. We’re immensely grateful to WL for their guidance and for providing exactly the fixtures we needed.”