Elation Lighting Transforms Theater De Binding into a Modern Community Cultural Hub

	The compact Fuze Wash 250 proved especially attractive for the theatre environment.

The Cultural and Educational Centre De Binding in Zuid-Scharwoude, the Netherlands, home to Theater De Binding and part of Cool kunst en cultuur, has completed a lighting upgrade with a new LED system of Fuze and KL Series fixtures from Elation, delivered in close cooperation with Dutch distributor Rolight.

The 275-seat multi-use theatre serves as a vibrant gathering place for the local community, hosting performances, presentations, workshops, courses, and social initiatives for audiences and participants of all ages. As part of a broader refurbishment initiative by the city, the venue was transformed into a fully equipped theatre space with new seating, curtains, and a modernized lighting infrastructure.

Leading the project was Rob Scheeren, who oversaw the technical transition and worked closely with Rolight to specify a lighting solution that would not only meet the demands of a modern, multi-purpose theatre environment, but also be flexible and easy to use for visiting productions, community groups, and educational users with varying levels of technical experience.

"The previous lighting system was old-school halogen from 2008," states Scheeren, manager of theatre technical operations and facilities management at Cool kunst en cultuur. "It was time to transition to LED."

The new rig includes eight Fuze SFX, four Fuze Profile, ten KL Fresnel 8 FC, 12 KL Profile Compact, six KL Fresnel 6, and 14 of the latest Fuze Wash 250 fixtures, providing greater creative flexibility, higher output, and simplified operation compared to the previous system. Data distribution is handled by Netron nodes (NS8, EN4, EN12) from Obsidian Control Systems.

With the electrical infrastructure already in place, Scheeren focused on creating a practical and versatile design together with his technical crew and Rolight.

"I wanted as many fixtures as possible for our budget so there could be enough lights in enough positions that you don't need to move fixtures around. That makes it easier for those who come in and use the space. I also wanted to keep it simple with everything from one company -- no use to make things more complicated than they need to be."

Following extensive fixture demonstrations organized by Rolight, the venue selected the Elation fixtures and chose to move forward with Rolight.

The compact Fuze Wash 250 proved especially attractive for the theatre environment. Delivering more than 8,000 lumens through a classic Fresnel lens, the fixture combines smooth and even wash coverage with quiet operation -- a critical requirement for theatrical applications. Its 6 to 50-degree zoom range allows designers to create everything from narrow beams to broad, soft washes, while fast and precise movement supports both theatre productions and live events.

The Fuze SFX offers a unique hybrid approach as a multi-purpose LED Spot FX moving head capable of projecting tight aerial beams and wide washes alike. The Fuze Profile adds precision framing, gobos, and animation effects, while the KL Fresnel 8 FC provides soft, high-quality front light with excellent color rendering and precise color temperature control.

The shared RGBMA light engines across the Fuze Wash 250, Fuze Profile, KL Profile Compact, and KL Fresnel 8 FC ensure consistent color reproduction throughout the rig.

"We made the decision that the front light would be non-movers and we would use the moving lights for specials," Scheeren says. "We wanted everything LED so you don't have to switch on and off dimmers. We tried to simplify everything. No gels, no filters, and no more bulb changes."

Ease of operation was another key priority for the venue. In addition to the lighting upgrade, the theatre installed a wall-mounted touchscreen tablet with intuitive push-button controls, enabling visiting users to operate the system without requiring a dedicated technician.

Rolight supported the installation process throughout the project, which was completed during summer 2025.

"The cooperation with Rolight was very good throughout the entire process," adds Scheeren. "They helped us find the right balance between performance, usability, and budget, and together we created a system that really works for everyone who uses the space."