In the vibrant Quarry Hill campus of Leeds, an ambitious educational and technological project is shaping the future of the performing arts: the Chroma-Q Theatre. This versatile, 200-seat venue not only serves as a modern performance space but also stands out as a dynamic training laboratory for young industry professionals. Within this fast-paced and continually evolving context, the Astro 250 LED followspots by Luci Della Ribalta (LDR) have found their perfect place, becoming an essential part of the theatre’s educational and production experience.
“The Chroma-Q Theatre was inaugurated in 2020 within Leeds City College. The venue doesn’t have a fixed stage, which allows for great flexibility in staging, and it’s used not only by students but also by prominent organisations like Leeds Playhouse and Leeds College of Music,” explains Mandy Williams, Sales Executive at GoboPlus, LDR’s UK distributor.
Mandy Williams boasts over fifty years of experience in the lighting sector, with solid expertise gained both in rental and in the sales of lighting systems. Her collaboration with Luci Della Ribalta began in 2004 and has continued since 2019 with GoboPlus, the current LDR distributor for the United Kingdom. For this reason, it was particularly interesting to learn about this prestigious installation by listening to her story…
Designed to offer students cutting-edge tools and workspaces, the theatre features motorized lighting bars that allow fixtures to be mounted and focused from the ground, eliminating the need for ladders—a practical, safe choice that encourages hands-on learning right from the start.
Two units of Astro 250 5600K LED followspots, fully equipped with iris, spigot, 5-colour colour changer and clamp-on digital dimmer represent the latest addition to a lighting system originally installed by A.C. Entertainment Technologies, a long-term partner for both equipment and student training. The choice was deliberate.
“Ben Taylor from A.C. Entertainment Technologies contacted us about supplying a pair of LDR LED followspots, believing that their excellent performace coupled with compact size and affordable cost would be perfect for the theatre’s needs,” says Mandy. “After consulting with Ben, we arranged a demonstration directly at the theatre, and it immediately became clear that the Astro 250 was exactly what the students required.”
But it’s not just about adding equipment: LDR followspots have become didactic tools, helping to develop skilled operators ready for the professional world.
“I’ll continue to visit the college periodically to train students on followspot functionality and present short lectures on their history,” Mandy adds. “Our goal is to equip them with concrete know-how they can apply immediately, even in work experiences alongside their studies.”
Mandy underscores the importance of providing students with intuitive, high-performance tools, describing the hallmarks of a quality followspot:
“Excellent optics are crucial, as are rapid adjustments for height and focus, plus easy access to dimmer and color-changer controls. Everything should be within arm’s reach when tracking performers on stage. A well-balanced unit is just as essential; if the operator has to use their own weight to balance the followspot, tracking won’t ever be truly smooth.”
The institution’s response has been enthusiastic. Paul Graham-Bell, Production & Programme Manager of University Centre Leeds and Leeds City College, comments on the added value brought by LDR and GoboPlus:
“Thank you for the personal delivery and such wonderful interaction with the students! Leeds City College and University Centre Leeds provide technical theatre training in partnership with A.C. Entertainment Technologies, targeting students aged 16 and up. With over 40 events a year at the Chroma-Q Theatre, the new followspots and professional training from GoboPlus will ensure that students are thoroughly prepared for their backstage careers.”
Once again, the installation of Astros 250 LED followspots at Chroma-Q Theatre proves LDR’s ability to deliver the right product in a niche market—a market in which truly specialist companies are now rare, yet LDR continues to offer the widest range of followspots, in both LED and incandescent versions, of varying sizes and outputs.
