Stay up to date with the latest happenings in the live events and technical production industry. From product launches and training sessions to behind-the-scenes stories and project highlights, our news section is where you’ll find it all.
Get the scoop on what’s new at DWR, follow our journey with industry partners, and discover the people and moments that make our community so unique. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, information, or innovation — this is the place to be.
DirectOut appoints DWR Distribution as South African Partner
(Above): DWR’s Duncan Riley, Kyle Robson and Kyle Freemantle. “We received a phone call from Ian Staddon at DiGiCo, introducing us to Lorenzo Sassi and the team at DirectOut,” he says. “A lot of DiGiCo distributors across the globe also represent DirectOut, as it’s the audio backbone to signal flow, so I’m very excited about our new appointment! The company manufactures incredibly powerful solutions for
Inside ROXX’s Journey: Catching Up in South Africa
You only truly understand the sweat, grit, and tears that go into starting a new company if you’ve done it yourself. When German lighting pioneer Thorsten Sattler, Managing Director at ROXX Light, visited South Africa earlier this year for client demonstrations and an Open Day—his second visit following the first
Robe Launches New Products at LDI
Robe lighting added to the energy and excitement of the 2025 LDI expo in Las Vegas last week by launching five exciting new products in its versatile T-Series, the T10 Profile – available with rapid-change objective system for PC and Fresnel options, together with the T3 PC and T3 Fresnel
TT+ Audio showcases next-generation solutions at ISE 2026
Reggio Emilia, Italy – TT+ Audio returns to ISE 2026 with a focused showcase of high-performance solutions for installation and live sound, featuring next-generation cardioid systems and advanced control technologies designed to simplify integration while raising audio quality standards. “At ISE 2026, we are introducing TT+ Audio solutions that give
DiGiCo Quantum 338s Escape to Europe with OneRepublic
Formed in 2002, OneRepublic have enjoyed huge international success, with over 18 billion streams on Spotify alone. Their current tour, Escape to Europe, continues until the end of the year before escaping into the rest of the world in 2026. Accompanying the band are Justin Ripley at the front of
grandMA3 User Training, Johannesburg
You are invited to attend a three-day grandMA3 User Training Workshop, presented by Jaques Pretorius, from 20 to 22 January 2026, from 9am to 5pm at DWR Distribution’s Johannesburg office. This three-day programme is designed to familiarise participants with the essential functions of the grandMA3 software and lighting consoles,
Rugby fever at Silverstar with new Absen Outdoor LED Screen
If there’s one thing South Africans love, it’s putting on a green shirt and cheering for the Springboks. Silverstar Casino & Entertainment Complex, part of the Tsogo Group, in Krugersdorp, knows this well—and they’ve just made watching the big games even better. “The Square,” Silverstar’s outdoor hub surrounded by
Robe Blinds Friedrichstadt-Palast with Delight
One of Berlin’s most iconic venues, the Friedrichstadt-Palast, AKA Palast Berlin, a revue theatre in the city’s Mitte district, has made a substantial investment in Robe moving lights to help facilitate its newly launched Grand Show production, BLINDED by DELIGHT, created by Oliver Hoppmann, complete with a vibrant new lighting
DWR Closes for the Festive Season
Thank you to our clients and suppliers for a wonderful 2025. We hope that it’s a well-deserved break for everyone, and we trust that you will travel safely and have a chance to rest and enjoy this time. Please see the notification for our office closure, and we look forward
AIG 100 Event Dazzles with Robe
A special Afrikaans is 100 Jaar Groot (Afrikaans celebrates 100 Years) centenary concert was staged at the DHL Stadium in Green Point, Cape Town, South Africa, a magical location with breathtaking views of Table Mountain in the background. Produced by Coleske Artists and featuring over 30 special collaborations by leading
Clear-Com Showcases Critical Communications Solutions in South Africa
“Quite often, the person building a facility doesn’t think about communications,” says John Sparrow of Clear-Com. “But if you put the comms in first, you can use them throughout the build. It’s absolutely crucial—when you’re running a show, you simply can’t do it without comms. You can have graphics,
Showcom Clear-Com at Red Bull Shay’iMoto
When tyres screeched, and engines roared through Durban on 10 August, Red Bull Shay’iMoto lit up the streets — a motorsport spinning showdown born from South Africa’s township culture and fueled by pure adrenaline. (Above): Nick Chapman Behind the scenes, Nickolas Chapman from Showcom had just the right gear
Mastering the Art of Robe
Mastering d.o.o. is a busy Croatian rental and show production company based in Đurdevac in eastern Croatia, founded in 2018 by Đuro (Djuro) Kucelj, who was – and still is – also running a successful construction business and has been an active musician for the last 40 years, playing
YASTREB-Sound provides DiGiCo Quantum consoles for Uzbekistan’s first visit from A-list star, Jennifer Lopez
In August, the Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan hosted Jennifer Lopez’s Up All Night: Live in 2025tour. The show was watched by over 31,000 attendees and marked the country’s first performance of an American A-list artist. With a DiGiCo Quantum 326 at front of house and Quantum 338 at the
Arts House Group’s Drama Centre Theatre upgrades to LED with Robert Juliat
(Above): Robert Juliat Dalis 860 cyclorama lights and Oz followspots installed at Singapore’s AHG Drama Centre Theatre as part of its LED upgrade. Photo credit © SRT The Little Company Singapore’s Drama Centre Theatre has invested in new Robert Juliat LED cyclorama lights and followspots as part of an ongoing
Lyric Theatre Belfast Becomes First on Island of Ireland to Deploy L-ISA Immersive Audio for World Premiere of Denouement
(Above): L-Acoustics partners with Forfey to install the first theatrical L-ISA deployment on the island of Ireland L-Acoustics partners with Forfey to realise first theatrical L-ISA deployment on the island of Ireland Belfast, Northern Ireland – November 2025 – The Lyric Theatre Belfast has become the first theatre on
Robert Juliat success at PLASA London with Live Technology
Robert Juliat enjoyed a successful and very busy time at PLASA, London, where it exhibited on the stand of its exclusive UK distributor, Live Technology. The RJ Bizet range of LED profiles and Fresnels were on show in pride of place, alongside the Tristan LED followspot and SpotMe followspot tracking
RCF Academy – Online Courses
Discover your new destination for expert-created online training courses, tailored for audio professionals and enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re looking to master your skills, build precision subwoofer arrays, or optimize complex systems like a pro, RCF Academy brings top-tier audio education right to your screen — in multiple languages, at your
Hippotizer Delivers Real-Time Control on MasterChef Live
San Francisco, California, USA — Green Hippo’s Hippotizer Media Servers fired up a central role in the U.S. touring production of MasterChef Live, providing real-time video control, camera integration, and playback management in a compact touring package. The system was specified, supplied, and operated by VUE Show Design Group, led by production designer Charles
L-Acoustics Opens Expanded APAC Headquarters in Singapore, Featuring New L-Acoustics Creative Studio
Expanded headquarters reflects company’s rapid APAC growth; new L-ISA Creative Studio empowers artists to create spatial audio experiences SINGAPORE – November 2025 — L-Acoustics, a leading global creator of professional audio technology, announced the opening of its expanded Asia-Pacific regional headquarters in Singapore. The new facility includes a dedicated L-Acoustics
SSL Media Rolls with More Robe Investments
Mumbai-based SSL Media Technology & Solutions is one of India’s largest event and entertainment technology production providers, and a company known for thinking innovatively and outside the box to provide clients with the very best and most appropriate technical production solutions. They have also made major investments in Robe moving
AVU at Tata Motors’ South African Relaunch
After a six-year pause, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) has returned to the South African passenger vehicle market. Earlier this year, Tata Motors celebrated its relaunch with a high-profile event at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg. Four new models—the Harrier, Curvv, Punch, and Tiago—were unveiled on a bold, visually striking
L-Acoustics Debuts New Middle East Application Team at Dubai Technology Event
Newly formed regional team showcased L-ISA immersive audio and vertical market solutions at Theater of Digital Art L-Acoustics debuted its recently formed Middle East, Africa & Eurasia Application Team at an exclusive technology showcase on November 5 at Dubai’s Theater of Digital Art. The event marked the first major regional
Millions watch live German TV AR-enhanced visuals powered by Hippotizer
Leipzig, Germany — Multimedia visual production house LUPIXX GmbH tackled a combination of AR, large-format LED design, and synchronized playback for this year’s Goldene Henne entertainment gala, harnessing the power of Green Hippo Hippotizer Media Servers. The televised production, broadcast by MDR, celebrates Germany’s entertainment movers and shakers. It returned with a bold visual overhaul combining
Guelph Comes to Life with Anolis
Nine individual buildings magically come to life after dark as part of the Canadian city of Guelph, Ontario’s eye-catching ongoing public lighting initiative, “Illuminate Downtown Guelph,” in lighting schemes that utilise Anolis Eminere LED luminaires. Lighting for each individual building in this stylish and eye-catching urban transformation project has been
AJD’s 40 HEX PANEL IP
Bring your stage to life with 40 HEX Panel IP — a powerful, IP65-rated wash, blinder, and strobe designed for the demands of live production. Its rugged all-metal housing stands up to dust, rain, and humidity — ideal for theaters, churches, and live event rigs. The ADJ 40 HEX Panel
Want to buy a LED Screen? Latest updates from Absen Global
Absen Strengthens Global Presence with Professional Expertise and Innovation As a global leader in LED display technology and solutions, Absen has consistently demonstrated long-term commitment and innovation in the industry. From technological breakthroughs to market insights, Absen continues to drive industry progress while enabling partners, clients, and industry peers worldwide
International Rigging Training 2026 at DWR Distribution
DWR Distribution announces that renowned rigging specialist Ruud de Deugd will present the International Rigging Training from 26 to 31 January 2026, daily 9am to 5pm, at DWR Distribution, Johannesburg. As the founder of T & E Support, Ruud is celebrated globally for his expertise in rigging and safety standards.
L-Acoustics House of Worship Tour comes to South Africa
L-Acoustics House of Worship Tour comes to South Africa The L-Acoustics House of Worship Tour, which visits churches and worship spaces around the world, is coming to South Africa. Church technical teams, volunteers, consultants, and anyone interested in PA design or building audio systems are invited to attend the workshop in Johannesburg
Coldplay Circles the Globe with DiGiCo Desks on Music of the Spheres World Tour
Solotech supplies a Quantum852 for the FOH mix, while a Quantum7 serves at monitors LONDON, UK – November 2025 – Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour is a global concert trek without peer. Kicking off in San José, Costa Rica on March 18, 2022 and taking a hiatus
Lightweight Quick Trigger wins at Plasa
At this year’s Plasa Show in Olympia London, Doughty Engineering entered the Plasa Awards for Innovation, putting forward our new Lightweight Quick Trigger. Competing against 36 other entries, there was a lot of ingenuity on display for the 11 expert judges to assess. We are very proud to announce
Fourier Audio’s transform.engine Flies High with the Eagles at the Las Vegas Sphere
The live plugin platform lets FOH engineer Tom Evans keep his carefully crafted settings for history’s biggest hitmakers steady while it hosts key new plugins that adapt their performance for the Sphere’s one-of-a-kind environment (Pictured Above): Eagles FOH engineer Tom Evans, pictured at the Sphere’s house mix position, joins a
Southern Lighting invests in grandMA3 compact & compact XT
Southern Lighting, a well-known film lighting rental company in Johannesburg, has added MA Lighting’s grandMA3 compact and compact XT consoles to its inventory, supplied by DWR Distribution. Southern Lighting has been a trusted name for more than fifty-five years, providing specialized lighting equipment for TV, film, and events of any
DWR Distribution and Epson Celebrate Partnership with Projector Showcase
DWR Distribution officially welcomed Epson to its product portfolio on October 1st with a vibrant launch event that combined expert training, live demonstrations, and engaging activities. The highlight of the day was Epson’s cutting-edge projector technology, which took center stage as guests explored its capabilities and versatility. Held at DWR
ADJ Lighting Roadshow Impresses Across South Africa
The ADJ Lighting Roadshow toured Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban in July, and was hosted by DWR Distribution. The event provided a comprehensive and hands-on demonstration of ADJ’s latest lighting innovations, leaving a strong impression on everyone who attended. Led by ADJ’s Jos Reulen and Rob Lang, the showcase highlighted the performance, design, and value of ADJ’s product
Visual Productions SPI Webinar – Available until 30 November
Visual Productions successfully hosted its first-ever live webinar last week, attracting over 200 registrants from 46 countries. With attendees watching more than 80% of each session on average, the SPI protocol and SpiNode topics clearly resonated globally. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this milestone event. While
Momentum Aardklop 2025
Momentum Aardklop Nasionale Kunstefees, held in Potchefstroom, has wrapped up another fantastic festival, and we’re so glad it was a success. A big thank you to Pieter-Jan Kapp PJK Project Management Pty Ltd, Technical Manager, for sharing these amazing photos of the crew in action. Kappie shared, “A wonderful and
ART Visuals Deploys All-ADJ Rig for Stacey Pullen’s Marathon Detroit Homecoming Show
A compact yet extremely effective lighting rig, comprised exclusively of ADJ fixtures, was deployed for a hometown performance by world renowned techno DJ Stacey Pullen. Taking place on the patio outside Detroit’s iconic TV Lounge nightclub, Pullen played a mammoth ‘open to close’ DJ set with dancefloor illumination provided by
Omega Award Presented to DWR
Known as the Collaboration Experts, Omega Digital has spent more than two decades building powerful workplace solutions and innovation-driven environments. At an event hosted by Omega to acknowledge trusted suppliers and clients, as well as to celebrate their new office space, DWR Distribution was honoured to receive the Omega Support
Zvezdara Theatre Belgrade Invests in Robe
Zvezdara Theatre in downtown Belgrade is the first theatre in Serbia to take delivery of Robe lights since Light and Sound Design (LSD) took on distributorship of the brand in late 2023. The bustling 300-capacity space is now the proud owner of four Robe LEDBeam 350 moving lights and four
zactrack enjoys first show in Iceland
FLÆKT, an intense and highly visual dance performance piece created by artist Juliette Louste, premiered at the Tjarnarbíó Theatre and utilised a zactrack mini automated tracking system for the first time in Iceland to track lighting, audio, and video cues. Juliette is truly multi-skilled. In addition to being a talented
Robe Helps Spin Skulerevyen at Det Vestnorske Teateret
Lighting designer Jon Eirik Sira thought outside the box when tackling an interesting visual conundrum for Det Vestnorske Teateret in Bergen’s recent and acclaimed production of Skulerevyen (School Review). The show was a raw, visceral, no-nonsense take on the issue of violence in schools through the decades, peppered with wit,
Historic Stockholm Concert Venue Nalen Gets a Modern Audio Upgrade – Solving Nearly 140 Years of Acoustic Challenges with L Series
JLE Audio AB deploys L2D and KS21 to solve unique acoustic challenges at Sweden’s legendary music venue STOCKHOLM, Sweden – For nearly 140 years, Nalen has been hosting the performances that shaped Swedish culture – from the legendary artists who graced its stage in the 1950s and 60s, to the
Core Productions invests in CHAINMASTER CELLMASTER to ensure rigging safety
As events increasingly feature heavier rigging setups—particularly large LED screens—Cape Town-based Core Productions has taken a proactive step to enhance safety by investing in a CHAINMASTER CELLMASTER load cell monitoring solution, supplied by DWR Distribution. The new load monitoring system was immediately put to use mainly focused on rigging LED
Howard Events presents: Jonathan Roxmouth – My Favourite Broadway
L-Acoustics’ L-ISA Hyperreal technology makes its South African debut, integrated seamlessly into a glittering tribute to the golden age of musical theatre. Peter Iantoro, TPiMEA Magazine, reports: The South African live events industry has had to be patient when it comes to L-Acoustics’ L-ISA technology, with the COVID-19
Hilton Arts Festival 2025: Honouring the Legacy of Sue Clarence
The Hilton Arts Festival (HAF) in KwaZulu-Natal, one of South Africa’s most celebrated cultural gatherings, returned this year with its hallmark mix of theatre, music, visual art, and family-friendly activities. Behind the performances and creative energy, however, was a quiet but profound tribute to the festival’s founder, Sue Clarence.
Fourier Audio “Still Counting” With Volbeat On The Road
FOH engineer Dennie Miller pairs his transform.engine with a DiGiCo Quantum852 console on the band’s latest global conquest, “The Greatest Of All Tours Worldwide” COPENHAGEN, Denmark – September 2025 – Fifties-influenced metal band Volbeat recently wrapped up a North American tour, supported by Halestorm and The Ghost Inside, and
L-Acoustics L2 Delivers Future-Ready Professional Sound System at Arènes de Grand Paris Sud, Europe’s First Official E-Sports Team Home Arena
Fleik and Concept K design a versatile audio solution for one of France’s most dynamic multipurpose venues following €35 million renovation Évry-Courcouronnes, France – October 2025 – Originally built in 1975 and previously known as Les Arènes de l’Agora, the Arènes de Grand Paris Sud has been transformed into a
Grace for the World Relies on Graceful DiGiCo Consoles to Deliver Global Message of Human Fraternity
Co-directed by Andrea Bocelli and Pharrell Williams, St. Peter’s Square’s first-ever music concert featured award-show-worthy sound throughout via a pair of Quantum852 consoles ROME, Italy – On September 13, Rome’s Vatican City hosted Grace for the World, the first-ever music concert held in St. Peter’s Square, reportedly drawing more
Robe is Just the Ticket
The launch season of new Romanian TV talent show The Ticket premiered in September and is being recorded at Castel Studios just outside Bucharest. It is produced by Imagic and Antena 1 and lit by lighting designer / DoP Dan Andrei and lighting director Marius Matyas, using a large Robe
Vari-Lite launches compact, long-throw VL3200 IP
Dallas, TX, USA – Vari-Lite, the originators of the modern moving head light fixture and Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) entertainment lighting brand, is today announcing the VL3200 LT Profile IP, a compact, long-throw production profile fixture with over 20,000 lumens of output in a small, outdoor-rated format. “Smaller outdoor-rated moving lights