LONDON - “To create one’s own world takes courage.” So, Georgia O’Keeffe said before she went on to redefine modern art in the 20th century with her abstract distortions of familiar objects. Arthur Hill possesses such courage in abundance, as he has dipped deep into his own private well of inspiration during his incredible rise from music-comedy podcaster to internationally acclaimed touring star.
Creative Director Liam Griffiths and the team at Vision Factory celebrated Hill’s fertile creative world this March when the 26-year-old phenom appeared before a sold-out house at OVO Arena Wembley with a deeply evocative and immersive production that somehow managed to create the intimate feeling of a private space in the giant venue.
Working with talented collaborators that included Scenic Designer Flora Harvey, Content Creator Midnight Movement Studio, and Tour/Production Director Joseph Carter, the Vision Factory team created a transformative environment on stage that, thanks to scenic flourishes like a verdant garden and an isolated red door, was dreamlike in its power to captivate the audience.
“Rather than leaning into the size of the venue, the design pulled focus inward, centered around a surreal landscape,” said Griffiths. “The elevated garden platform and singular architectural elements like the door, created a sense of isolation, allowing the performance to feel personal and grounded despite the scale. It was all about framing Arthur within his own world, with the audience looking in rather than being overwhelmed by spectacle.”
Accentuating this scenery was dynamic lighting managed by LD Desk Job, lighting programmer/Video Louis Choisy, and the lighting crew (James Hind, Ben Beverly, Rob Kovacs, and Ellis Canwel) that featured 86 CHAUVET Professional fixtures supplied by Colour Sound Experiment.
Included in this collection were 37 Maverick Storm 4 Profiles and 49 Color STRIKE M motorized strobe-washes. “We flew the Mavericks upstage above the video screen, and had them mirrored on the floor, and also extended downstage left and right,” said Griffiths. “They worked as both a key and effects source, providing key light when needed, adding scenic texture, and delivering strong, punchy moments that carried into the audience.”
As for the Color STRIKE M units, they were arranged on the diamond truss that mirrored the design’s primary platform. At different points in the show, they were used as scenic eye candy and to frame the space.
“Lighting was the key to creating the intimate atmosphere, said Griffiths. “We employed contrast, direction and negative space to define the stage. A strong backlight and low sidelight silhouetted performers, and isolating moments, while diffused washes added a cinematic quality. The balance between exposure and shadow was crucial, never fully revealing everything but guiding the audience’s focus.”
Also adding to the narrative power of the production were the deep monochromatic washes that at times obscured the background, while leaving on the performers on stage visible. “By using deep monochromatic washes, we could strip away the environment,” explained Griffiths. “Those moments were about intimacy and clarity, especially in a large venue. Everything else falls away and the audience connects directly with the performance. This also creates a contrast within the show, so when the space opens back up into larger, more dynamic looks, it feels more impactful.”
Pulling off a show of this magnitude required a dedicated team effort, and Griffiths is quick to acknowledge everyone who worked behind the scenes, including FOH Engineer Simeon Clark, Monitor Engineer Nat Hopking, Rigger James Box, Systems Techs Mark Pantlin and Matt Benton, Flanagan Camera Director Jonathan Chard, and Video Crew Chief lan Lidstone, as well as the video crew/camera ops Sam Osbourne, Ashley Harris, Pete Wilms, and Paul Barry. So, while Arthur Hill’s world may have been private, it took many hands to bring it to life brilliantly on stage.
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CHAUVET Professional offers innovative professional lighting fixtures for the production and touring market as well as permanent installation in theaters, hospitality venues, cruise ships, clubs, television and architainment applications. For more information, please visit www.chauvetprofessional.com
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