The Reimagined Dutch Edition of Musical 40-45
Stunning, overwhelming and unprecedented were the three words that captured the essence of the Musical 40-45 premiere at the renovated Midden Nederland Hallen on September 21st.
Six years after its original debut in Puurs (near Antwerp), the musical was reimagined with a storyline that tailored historical facts and locations to connect more personally with the Dutch audience.
Once again, PWL was delighted to be part of this production, collaborating with the dedicated teams that already contributed to the original version.
PWL played a central role in the production, overseeing the lighting and video design while implementing several enhancements. To capture the audience's attention more effectively, the immersive lighting plot was updated to include new fixture types, retaining the PRG Icon Stage and replacing all GLP X4L washes with GLP X5 units. This change enhanced the show's dynamics and emotional impact. The GroundControl follow spots were upgraded to an LED version of the Best Boy, comprising four control units and twelve spots, allowing for greater precision in highlighting the cast and their movements on stage. PWL also utilized the PosiNet Stage protocol to track the motion features alongside the lighting.
The entire musical show was reprogrammed on the Grand MA3 console, utilizing advanced control software and the expertise of Tibo Spiessens and Paul Heijkens.
Additionally, the visual content needed to be adapted to reflect the story set in Rotterdam and its historical context. Menno Broere worked closely with musical set designer Carla Jansen-Höfelt to create new video content for the eight automated prop wagon LED screens on stage. These screens were upgraded to 10-bit HDR and connected to the new Disguise EX2C media server, resulting in significantly improved image quality and innovative virtual sets that complemented the Dutch storyline of 40-45.
Luc Peumans, CEO & Creative Director of Painting With Light, concludes: “It has been a true pleasure to collaborate with the creative production team of 40-45 once again for this Dutch edition. Drawing on the experience we gained seven years ago, we've revisited, improved, and refined the technical features, incorporating the latest upgrades and innovations. This journey has fostered a remarkable sense of teamwork and collaboration. I want to take this opportunity to thank Studio100 for their unwavering trust, as well as the amazing creative and production team led by @Tijl Dauwe (associate director and creative director of motion), Frank Van Laecke (director), Bert Veris (technical director), and, last but not least, the PWL team for their exceptional teamwork!”
