The Father is one of the most successful theatre productions to have opened in recent times. Following an initial run at Theatre Royal Bath and The Tricycle, the play made its West End debut last year and received five star reviews from The Guardian, Sunday Times, Financial Times, The Observer, Daily Telegraph, The Times and London’s Evening Standard. Due to popular demand, the show is returning once again, with both a West End run at the Duke of York’s Theatre and a UK Tour. Following its previous work on the production, along with its reputation as the West End’s leading lighting supplier, WL is once again providing the lighting equipment for the show, with ETC products playing a significant role.
Written by Florian Zeller, The Father tells the story of 80-year-old Andre who lives with his daughter Anne and her husband Antoine. Or does he? Still in his pyjamas and becoming increasingly unaware of his surroundings, Andre begins to wonder whether he’s losing control…
The play has been translated by Academy Award-winning writer Christopher Hampton and stars Tony Award nominated actor Kenneth Cranham, who once again reprises his role as Andre. The lighting for the show is designed by Guy Hoare with Barry Abbotts re-lighting on the tour. The Production Manager for the show is Mark Carey, who comments: “On The Father, my role entails overseeing the final delivery of the production, which means ensuring that the designers’ initial concepts are fully achieved on stage. As with any piece of theatre, lighting plays a fundamental part in this”.
The Father takes place entirely in the single setting of Andre’s flat and the lighting design had to be based around this. Mark states: “The set is essentially a white room which makes the balance of lighting a particular challenge. With both a ceiling piece and front portal, the angles became critically important”.
To achieve the exact lighting required within the space, the production utilised several ETC Source Four luminaires along with an ETC Ion 2K Console. Mark adds: “The equipment we used was predominantly ETC stock, which has proved itself to be highly reliable – exactly what you require for a show like this. We also used multiple Source Four Mini fixtures to poke around the walls of the set to ensure that all of the action was being lit yet in a controlled and discreet manner”.
Mark White, ETC’s Regional Manager in the UK, comments: “We are very pleased that WL has yet again provided a primarily ETC LED rig to a West End show. The Father joins a string of current productions using Source Four LED fixtures chosen by lighting designers because of their ability to meld into a tungsten lighting rig. We also know that WL’s high level of customer support will ensure that the production will remain at its best during the performance run”.
In London, the show will run for just 38 performances and ends on 26th March. It then tours the UK, visiting venues in Birmingham, Brighton, Cornwall and Newcastle.
Andy Cullen, WL’s Senior Hire Co-ordinator, comments: “What’s great about this production is that we have already supported it once and have been called to do so yet again. This signifies the trust and confidence our clients have in us to deliver the best equipment, suited to their needs, on multiple occasions”.
Mark adds: “I had another great experience working with WL. The service was quick and efficient as always and we are delighted to be working with them for this latest production of The Father”.
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