Innovative wireless lighting solution empowers students and elevates creative storytelling in Channing School's staging of Hadestown.
Channing School, renowned for its commitment to creativity and excellence in performing arts, recently captivated audiences with its ambitious musical production of Hadestown. Known for its bold storytelling and immersive staging, the school's Performing Arts team sought a solution that would bring the industrial, underground aesthetic of the West End show to life, while empowering students to lead on technical execution.
To achieve this, Channing School's Theatre Manager, Simon Maliphant-Gray turned to White Light (WL) for specialist guidance. He explains: " Our challenge was to create wireless, controllable head torches for the cast to enhance dynamic movement sequences and lighting cues. After discussions with the director and choreographer, we knew simple battery-powered torches wouldn't give us the creative control we needed. We wanted full integration with our lighting control system to enable precision and flexibility."
WL's Sales Key Account Manager, Antony Vine, collaborated closely with Simon to identify the optimal solution. "Simon had a clear vision," Antony notes. "He wanted the head torches to form an integral part of the lighting design, not simply act as props. Having already supplied the City Theatrical Show Baby wireless control system for another project in 2018, it was beneficial for the school to be able to utilise this further when looking for solutions for the current project. Making use of the existing stock of transmitters also saved on budget, as well as providing a known, tried-and-tested solution for the venue. To this end, we recommended City Theatrical's Multiverse wireless dimmers, which provide complete control from the existing lighting desk. This approach gave the team the creative freedom they were aiming for while ensuring the reliability the production required."
The resulting system features Swedish military‑grade head torches retrofitted with LED lamps and integrated wireless dimmers, enabling seamless control and synchronised effects across the stage. Simon adds: "This innovation not only elevated the visual impact of Hadestown, but also gives us sustainable, reusable tools for future productions."
Earlier in the year, WL also supported Channing School by upgrading its main theatre projector to a state‑of‑the‑art Epson laser model, improving image quality and ensuring quieter operation for both day‑to‑day use and key school events. Beyond technical enhancements, these investments reflect Channing's collaborative ethos, with students working alongside professionals to gain hands‑on experience with advanced technologies.
Reflecting on the project, Simon concludes: "The production was a huge success. Everything looked incredibly polished, and both audiences and staff commented on the higher level of production value. We're very pleased with the support we've received from WL, and from Antony in particular, whose knowledge and guidance ensured we sourced the right technology for our show."
Photography by Matt Pereira