Glastonbury 2023
NRG's Jack Barlow joins Arcadia Spectacular's lighting crew!
Robe moving lights were in action across multiple stages at the 2023 Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, including the spectacular fire-breathing Arcadia Spider 360-degree arena.
The lighting rig was designed by Dave Cohen from design studio MIRRAD and co-ordinated by Arcadia’s technical manager, Katie Davies.
When specifying lighting for the Spider, Katie highlighted how elements like tourability, local availability and rider friendliness are all critical, together with Robe’s commitment to sustainability which is in tune with Arcadia’s own green strategies.
Added to that, there is the “fantastic” long-term and worldwide technical support which Arcadia has received from Robe when working in the UK and elsewhere.
“Our partnership with Robe continues to thrive, allowing us the creative flexibility and technical certainty to bring out the best in the Spider. Robe's ongoing support is invaluable, both at Glastonbury and at our international shows, and as we look to explore new frontiers for next year, we look forward to working even closer together,” commented Pip Rush.
“The Spider has always been a symbol of positive change, repurposing what was once the machinery of war into a unifying totem. Now with a recycled fuel source, it has that same spirit of transformation running through its veins,” stated Pip and Bert.
Robe NRG (Next Robe Generation) student Jack Barlow from Confetti in Nottingham worked onsite supporting the Arcadia team, including during the build and break down periods, which offered excellent insight and great first-hand experience as he pitched in on a variety of tasks including running the lighting console, patching, and rigging.
He also assisted in assorted other technical areas of the Spider over a two-week period on this, his first ever festival, almost guaranteed not to be his last! Jack also supported Robe at PLASA London last year and at the 2023 TPi Awards and will be going on to work at Neg Earth Lights as a placement technician.
The Arcadia lighting and SFX crew comprised Matty O’Toole - SFX pump operator (Diesel Weasel), Jeb Hawkins - production manager & head of power, Rhi Pallister - power, Jack Barlow - Robe NRG, Charlie Knight, Jack Coffin, Nat Archer and Rupert De-Renzy Martin - lighting techs, Louie Hodgson - Saturday night covering LD / operator, Katie Davies - technical manager, Dave Cohen - LD, Stu Barr - dimmer tech, Tim Steer - FOH manager, Tom Rush - SFX manager, Lucas White - SFX operator, Nathan Purcell (SXF intern) and Sian Mole - lighting intern.