Dream Team at the Republic of Extra Cold

Republic of Extra Cold

Republic of Extra Cold

 

Welcome to Castle Lite’s Republic of Extra Cold, Stanley Island, Plettenberg Bay. It sounds exotic, and it is! On 28 Dec 2015, three thousand hip and savvy revellers gathered to enjoy SA’s top acts and many unique and unexpected experiences in the extraordinary country which is the Republic of Extra Cold.

Stanley Island, the only private Island in South Africa, features an indigenous milkwood forest, pristine wetlands and private beaches. The task of transforming the Island into a ‘Country’ was in the hands of Set- and Technical provider Dream Sets and their project manager Riaan Jacobs, guided by their client OMAGE and the creative by Peter Blond.

Stanley Island

Stanley Island

 

Access to the island is only by ferry boat, ensuring the unique logistical challenge of moving 230 tons of gear, dealing with tides, river crossings, thick beach sand and an average daytime temperature of 30 degrees Celsius. A challenge which the crew took in their stride, working together and enjoying the unique and beautiful surroundings.

Crew on their way to the Island on a barge.

Crew on their way to the Island on a barge.

 

Riaan points to a picturesque photo. “This is the view of the island on beautiful Keurbooms Lagoon, Plettenberg Bay. For three weeks every day, we got to experience sunrises and sunsets in one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa.”

plett photo1

Sunset on the Kurbooms Lagoon. Photo: Plett Tourism

 

plett-photo3

Sunrise on Lookout Beach. Photo: Plett Tourism

 

One more Plett sunrise. Photo: Plett Tourism

One more Plett sunrise. Photo: Plett Tourism

 

While the setting is spectacular, the equipment moves from the mainland to the Island in stages, made possible by two barges, four 4×4 vehicles, ten 2-ton trailers and a tractor. The load-in takes the efforts of 20 crew members and an additional 60 casual staff per day and lots of sunblock!

IMG_2733

Riaan explains: “Every day is a fight with tides, which means you can’t necessarily load a barge with 8 tons because you can’t actually get over the sandbanks to get to the Island. “So your timing on load-in is crucial. Some days you will be able to load for four hours at a time and on others you will be able to load for just an hour depending on the tide. If there’s a riptide or ebb tide, the strong tidal flow affects the load-in. You might receive a Pantech full of gear and your plan was to get it to the Island on the same day, but then you can’t because you cannot physically get the stuff across the river. The wait then has an effect on the next day’s load in, so logistically it’s very challenging. If you can’t think on the go you shouldn’t be on this job because things change every single day.”

The equipment is loaded onto the 2-ton trailers, which are driven onto a floating barge. The barge travels for about two minutes to get to the Island. On the Island Dream Set built a wooden semi-submerged ramp in the water. “We drive 4×4’s onto the barge and pull the trailers off the ramp through soft sand up the beach and then it’s a 1km drive to where equipment needs to be set up.” The empty trailers are sent back onto the barge for the next load, rotating throughout the day. The three “bakkies” based on the Island during this period covered mileage of 1 500km’s!

Load-in began on December 11th, show day was on the 28th and the island was back to its original state by January 5th.

Day-by-day the island was transformed into the various unique event spaces consisting of 4 dance floors and 4 bars ready for the line-up of major musicians including Good Luck, Craig De Sousa & Fresh – the Republic of Extra Cold was set to be an unforgettable Plett adventure!

IMG_2943

DSCN3390

IMG_2892

Lazers and haze created a lovely effect in the Forest Experience, also on the island.

Lazers and haze created a lovely effect in the Forest Experience, also on the island.

“It’s a party, it’s epic and it’s just such a cool gig, really it’s the highlight of the year for me.” said Robert. Dream Sets were assisted by technical partners CCPP, a Cape Town based company, and Richard Smith of Joburg’s Sound Harmonics assisting on Audio.”

DSCN3333

Rob Hoey programming at his favourite gig

 

DSCN3336

DSCN3351

Finally show day arrived and the party goers swarmed to the Island!

DSCN3362

DSCN3365

And as the sun set, the island’s new ‘citizens’ migrated to the Ice Cold Core area where their experience was taken to the next level with out of this world performances by some of SA’s top DJs. Lighting Designer Robert Hoey wowed on a grandMA2 full size, having access to a generous Robe lighting rig.

DSCN3425

DSCN3453

For Riaan, who has project managed this event for three years running, Castle Lite’s Republic of Extra Cold remains one of his most rewarding projects. “Three weeks away from home coupled with the challenges of this venue can be taxing at times, but then you sit on the beach with the sun shining down on you, and you know it’s okay because you could have been in a convention centre somewhere in the city.”

Riaan Jacobs of Dream Sets

Riaan Jacobs of Dream Sets

 

Lighting Gear:

12 Clay Paky Sharpy

8 Robe BMFL Spot

18 Robin 800 LEDWash

24 Robe 100 LEDBeam

6 Robe ColorWash 700

16 Robe ColorSpot 700

6 Robe ColorBeam 700

16 ColorWash 2500

6 Robe CitySkape 48

172 LED Parcans

12 LED Longman Battons

6 Strobes

72 Philips Selecon SPX Profile

grandMA2 full size

70 squares of LED

9 generators

Other cool stuff:

4 sets of DJ gear

120 gum poles

240 stage decks

31 k flood lights to light up the surrounding foliage and forest

To get the guests across the lagoon, two walkway bridges were built by Dockpro.

To get the guests across the lagoon, two walkway bridges were built by Dockpro.

 

One of the unique props of the event, the giant headphones built by Dream Sets. Speakers are placed inside so it is actually a working piece.

One of the unique props of the event, the giant headphones built by Dream Sets. Speakers are placed inside so it is actually a working piece.

 

DSCN3419