Gearhouse Splitbeam Invests in Robe iFORTES

	"In terms of high-powered long throw fixtures, we think iFORTE is the best available right now, especially in color and output quality," says Lewis. Photo: Chris Duys

South African theatrical technical production specialist, Gearhouse Splitbeam, has invested in 16 new Robe iFORTE moving lights, which are out on a new GWB Entertainment production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Cats.

Presented in collaboration with Peter Toerien Productions by arrangement with The Really Useful Group, and in association with Cape Town Opera, the production kicked off in South Africa, playing 77 performances at Artscape in Cape Town and Montecasino's Teatro in Johannesburg between December and February. It will be on the road in Asia for a minimum of 18 months.

The original 1981 assistant lighting design was created by Howard Eaton, who came out to coordinate and oversee relighting the show in Cape Town. The production's lighting features contemporary styling together with new technologies, while its conceptual and creative essence remains the same.

For this version, the lighting director and programmer was David Totaro, and when Splitbeam's CEO Alistair Kilbee suggested utilizing iFORTES for front and back lighting, he and Eaton agreed. When it was determined that, given the tour's length, investment was the preferred option, Splitbeam's head of lighting, Mathew Lewis, started looking at the available options, taking his recommendations to Kilbee. The luminaires were delivered by South Africa's DWR Distribution, in time for the prep for Cape Town.

The company already has 48 Robe ESPRITE Fresnels, purchased in 2025 with the HCF (high color fidelity) LED engines installed, together with a set of HP (high power) TRANSFERABLE ENGINES -- ready for swapping out according to show requirements -- and a set of PC lenses to offer a choice of ESPRITE Fresnels or PCs. It also has 22 Tetra2s, which, together with the ESPRITES, are frequently used.

"International LDs are generally happy to work with Robe products," notes Kilbee. Lewis comments, "In terms of high-powered long throw fixtures, we think iFORTE is the best available right now, especially in color and output quality."

Kilbee also says that iFORTES are ideal for pairing with GHSA's RoboSpot systems, which "we see appearing more and more frequently on riders and tech specs."

For the Cats shows in South Africa, the iFORTES are positioned on the balcony rails and advanced trusses to the front and over the stage to the rear, and provided key lighting and specials in addition to effects.