HOFtheater in the Netherlands welcomes a new era with Elation Lighting

The HOFtheater, a prominent cultural venue in the Dutch town of Raalte, has taken a major step towards the future by investing in cutting-edge LED lighting technology from Elation. The investment, facilitated through Elation’s Dutch distributor, Rolight, has elevated the theatre’s creative capabilities, and opened up new possibilities for both artists and technicians.

After an extensive search to find lighting that met their high standards for quality, versatility, and energy efficiency, the HOFtheater selected a combination of 24 Elation KL PROFILE FC ellipsoidals, 16 FUZE PROFILE moving heads, and 24 KL PAR FC. The new fixtures are now providing high-quality overhead, front, and backlighting for performances, offering a substantial upgrade from the theatre’s previous conventional halogen fixtures, some of which dated back to 1965!

Hans Blokpoel, Head Technician at the HOFtheater, who has worked at the venue for over 30 years, explained the benefits of the new system: “The more we use it, the more we see the possibilities. The lights are quiet, user-friendly, and the output is outstanding. We no longer need to change color filters or purchase new lens tubes, and the reduced power consumption is a huge cost-saving. We’re thrilled with the results.”

The transition to LED was an obvious choice for the theatre, especially considering the growing difficulty of sourcing replacement parts for the old halogen system. After securing funding for the upgrade, the theatre turned to Rolight and Elation for a solution that would meet their specific needs as a small theatre with a relatively low ceiling.

Staff at the theatre set high standards: the lights had to be handy, quiet and user-friendly, with significant output. After an extensive demo at the venue, during which the team explored the possibilities, the choice quickly fell on the Elation fixtures. The quality and features exceeded expectations and offered more features than the competition. Rolight’s on-site demos and hands-on guidance helped make the decision easy.

The HOFtheater hosts a wide variety of events, including plays, live music, stand-up comedy, and school performances. With a seating capacity of 300, it’s crucial that the lighting system be flexible enough to adapt to different event needs while maintaining high-quality, uniform lighting. The KL PROFILE FC, KL PAR FC, and FUZE PROFILE fixtures deliver just that, offering advanced color control and dynamic lighting effects.

The KL PAR FC, a full-spectrum PAR light with RGBMA LED engine and adjustable CCT, replaced outdated PAR Can 64s as overhead lighting and backlights. Additionally, it incorporates Elation’s innovative ColourTune Technology, a lighting fixture software that allows for unprecedented control over output vs color accuracy. Add in a choice of four supplied lenses and optional barndoors and the KL PAR FC is a multifunctional all-rounder.

The KL PROFILE FC, a full-spectrum ellipsoidal framing fixture with high CRI and TLCI values, are used for front lighting and in overstage electrics as replacements for old PC fixtures. Housing an integrated zoom, no additional lens tubes are required for faster beam angle changes.

The FUZE PROFILE, a moving head with remote focus and framing capabilities, allow for positioning to other parts of the stage. It is perfect for creating specials and effects, especially in live music settings, and are positioned downstage with additional fixtures over the stage. The fixture allows for remote focus while also providing wider control over color temperature and the ability to frame out parts of the stage using its zoom and framing system.

The integration of RGBMA LED engines across all three fixtures ensures consistent output and color matching, creating a visually cohesive lighting system, while the beam manipulation options allow for more precise illumination. Additionally, technicians no longer need to climb up on a ladder to change color filters or swap out lens tubes, and the system consumes much less power than the old system.

The lighting installation was completed in August of 2024 with the first events using the new lighting taking place in September. The HOFtheater technicians, along with the many volunteers who support the theatre, are enthusiastically looking to the future. This investment promises not only an improvement in the quality of the shows, but also offers new creative freedom for artists and technicians.

“The new lights have elevated the quality of our productions and we are very happy with it,” Hans concluded with satisfaction.

Image courtesy of Rolight/HOFtheater.