Venue Cymru elevates production capabilities with major lighting upgrade from White Light

Venue Cymru in North Wales has completed a transformative upgrade to its lighting infrastructure, partnering with White Light, a d&b solutions company, to deliver a future-ready, energy-efficient solution that meets the demands of modern touring productions, local performances, and broadcast events alike.

The project, Part one funded by Arts Council Wales, and Part 2 funded by the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns initiative, marks a significant step forward for the council-run venue, which hosts everything from West End touring shows and opera to conferences and TV recordings.

With original fixtures dating back to the venue’s opening in 1994, the need for a modern, flexible lighting system was clear. “We’re a multi-purpose venue with a very busy programme,” comments Steve Cridge, Venue Cymru’s Technical & Facilities Manager. “From pantomimes to rock and roll, opera to conferences, we needed a rig that could do it all, and do it well.”

Following extensive demos, trade show visits, and consultations with touring companies, the team selected a combination of ETC, Chauvet, and Martin fixtures. ETC’s high-end profiles now form the backbone of the front-of-house rig, delivering the brightness and colour rendering required by top-tier productions. Chauvet and Martin fixtures were chosen for their exceptional value and versatility, particularly in overhead and arena applications.

The move to LED and intelligent lighting has already delivered impressive results. “We’re seeing up to 80% savings in energy consumption from our lighting rigs,” the manager noted. “That’s huge for a venue like ours, especially with rising energy costs and our commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.”

Beyond sustainability, the upgrade has unlocked new creative possibilities. “Programming is faster, the heat from the rig is significantly reduced, and our clients are thrilled with the results. There’s a real buzz among the team, it feels like we’ve finally made the leap we’ve been working toward for years.”

White Light worked closely with the in-house team to ensure the solution met the venue’s technical and artistic needs. “The support from White Light has been fantastic,” Cridge comments. “They really understood what we were trying to achieve and helped us get there seamlessly.”

The rollout is being phased to accommodate the venue’s packed schedule, with training sessions planned for both ETC and Chauvet systems to ensure the team is fully equipped to maximise the new technology.

WL’s Business Development Manager for the North, Paul Botham comments: “Collaborating with Steve and the team at Venue Cymru has been a real pleasure. Their vision for the space was clear from the outset, and we’re proud to have supported them in delivering a lighting solution that meets both their creative and technical ambitions.”

As Venue Cymru continues to expand its capabilities, the lighting upgrade represents a bold investment in the future. Cridge adds: “We’re the biggest venue in North Wales, and we want to stay at the forefront of what we can offer. This project is certainly a huge step in that direction.”

Photo courtesy of Venue Cymru.