Utopium Runs Like Clockwork At The Alice Through The looking Glass Premiere

May 24, 2016 at 11:32 AM

Supplying a range of its lighting and rigging equipment to the European Premiere of Alice Through The Looking Glass, Utopium helped recreate the whimsical world of Underland at the Odeon Leicester Square, 10^th May 2016. 

Complete with giant clocks, mirrors and magical foliage, a wonderland was created to welcome fans and celebrity royalty, including Johnny Depp, Sacha Baron Cohen and film producer Tim Burton, as they celebrated the release of the Alice in Wonderland sequel. 

Utopium supplied a bespoke ground support truss system, specifically designed to fly the scenic stage set which included an impressive display of gold cogs and a large LED video wall. To support the on-stage action and the ‘blue carpet’ lighting, Utopium also installed a 10m lighting tower in the flower bed that surrounded the central garden fountain. To protect the lighting from the elements, a bespoke waterproof cover was fitted to the 52cm header truss. 

Utopium’s rigging team installed 50 quirky 750mm diameter clocks within the trees which surrounded the blue carpet, helping bring a magical look to the event. Two arched truss structures were also erected over the entrances; these were clad with gold scenic elements and dressed with foliage to reflect the theme. Two other truss structures were installed to support the photo wall, as well as lighting truss gantry to suspend the lighting situated throughout. 

Utopium supplied SGM P5 RGBW wash lights to illuminate the celebrities along the blue carpet and at the photo wall. The entrance arches and other scenic features were lit using SGM P2s. To ensure optimum lighting for the stage interviews, Chauvet Hybrid RH1 moving lights were installed 25m away on the 10mtr tower to project a perfect flat field of light onto the stage. The stage set was lit using Prolight Z8 battens and Chauvet 419 moving wash lights. 

Utopium’s Colin Bodenham comments: “Recreating the magical world of Alice Through The Looking Glass within Leicester Square was a really fun project to be involved in. But it was hard hatters rather than mad hatters as our riggers worked tirelessly in wet, windy conditions to ensure all the elements required for this impressive premiere were installed on-time and to the highest standards. The main stage install was achieved in a particularly tight time-window to get the tech production, scenic and LED elements in place ready for the spectacular premiere.”