MSA Supplies Automation for Lewis Capaldi Tour Denmark-based touring and movement experts Motor Stage Automation (MSA) supplied a complete automation system to the recent Lewis Capaldi tour, comprising six custom pantographs and a special Austrian curtain, all running on 50kg V-MOTION 40E drives and controlled via a Moveket "EXPERT" console. The automation elements were integrated into the show by Cassius Creative, led by Squib (Chris Swain) and Dan Hill, the production designers (set and lighting), working closely with creative director Beki Mari. As soon as production manager Nick Lawrie confirmed MSA as the automation supplier, project manager Jimmy Johnson started the prep with the production's automation crew chief/technician Ben Hammett, who was out on the road with the tour together with operator/technician Jody Diaz Francis, also working directly for production. The pantograph design was a collaboration between MSA's Christian Vigso and Italian engineering and manufacturing company, Alfasystem. The pantographs were hung beneath a 15m-long jointed curved truss, trimmed at 17m, forming an arch around the upstage edge of the oval-shaped stage. A 500kg Moveket variable-speed hoist, hanging from the truss, sat inside each pantograph and was connected to the bottom of each one, making it load-bearing. Below each pantograph on this tour was a bar of three Ayrton Rivale moving lights. The pantographs have a 10m reach and can accept loads up to 250kg on the bottom. They are prewired for powerCON TRUE1 and EtherCON data, enabling use for either lighting or video components. The lights on the bars were supplied by Neg Earth, the tour's main lighting and rigging rental provider. Pantographs proved to be a simple, elegant, and dramatic solution that allowed the performance space to be transformed into different environments, looks, and shapes, the company says. The Austrian drape is 15m wide by 15.5m tall and made up of grey fabric. It was in at the start of the show, during which time it was used as a projection surface, then Qa lifted up. The requirement here for MSA was to specify a graceful and fluid method for raising and lowering the curtain, for which the company's M-Drop system was used. M-Drop, designed and engineered by MSA and Alfasystem, comprises a long barrel with ribbon drums integrated with a Moveket V-MOTION 40E drive for the lifting action. Hammett says the system's ribbon drums needed to be extended to accommodate more tape. The MSA team designed extension sidewalls, 3D-printed prototypes in-house, then had a local fabricator laser-cut and deliver the 100 pieces plus spares in under 24 hours. "I was impressed," he says, "and with the added pre-tour support and equipment handover overseen by Jimmy at Motor Stage Automation, our touring automation system was flawless." After consultation with Mari, Swain and Hill discussed cues directly with Diaz during rehearsals and at the start of the tour; he programmed the Moveket console accordingly and ensured that his show file was kept updated correctly. Meg Oakland, a touring carpenter, assisted Diaz and Hammett day-to-day in assembling the Austrian drape during load-ins. "Her work and attitude were very much welcomed," Diaz Francis says, also citing the spirit and teamwork of the Neg Earth crew. Diaz Francis is based in Cadiz, Spain, where he runs his kinetic design company, The JoJo Studio. This was the first time he worked with MSA as a supplier. Hammett and Johnson prepped the gear, as he was busy on another project. Lewis Capaldi toured Australia and New Zealand in November and December and has already announced an extensive schedule of gigs for 2026, including major festivals. 
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