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.
Robe LEDBeam 150s are a Perfect Match for Baxter Theatre
Robe LEDBeam 150s are proving the perfect match for Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre, where they are in use nearly every day, providing powerful, flexible and handy lighting solutions for all types of performance … to the delight of the technical team. The acclaimed Baxter Theatre has five performance spaces
Astera Launches SolaBulb
The creative geniuses in Astera’s R&D department have been busy again … This time developing another completely cool and unique product – SolaBulb – the only bulb on the market with an inbuilt 15º – 50º zoom range that is optimized for maximum lux output. The SolaBulb project first germinated
Astera Titan Tubes Illuminate at 2025 Athens Epidaurus Festival
Lighting designer Christina Thanasoula of Athens, Greece-based creative design studio, Creative Lighting, has a penchant for invention and thinking out-of-the-box while crafting her art, and was recently a keynote speaker at the 2025 Showlight symposium in Dijon, France. The 2025 Athens Epidaurus Festival provided an opportunity for Christina to demonstrate
BirdDog Unveils Its Most Powerful Lineup Yet
BirdDog is raising the bar at IBC 2025. Join us at booth 7.C13 and experience three groundbreaking PTZ launches designed to deliver cinematic quality, seamless flexibility, and ultimate reliability: X1 30x The award-winning X1, now with a 30x optical zoom for unmatched reach and versatility. Perfect for lecture halls, houses
EVH Events invest in Absen, Prolyte and ADJ!
PartyBros, a dynamic company founded in 2022 by brothers Emil and Etienne van Heerden, has recently launched its corporate division, EVH Events. Building on their experience in the events industry, EVH focuses on delivering high-end solutions for large-scale and corporate events. The company has invested in an Absen NT3.9W
DWR Distribution Opens Training Centre Honouring Aubrey Ndaba
DWR Distribution officially opened the Aubrey Ndaba Training Centre on 5 September with a ribbon-cutting ceremony honouring the late industry legend. Aubrey Ndaba’s family attended as special guests, making the day especially meaningful. Training has always been at the heart of DWR, and as it has
Creative Kilowatt Invests in RCF HDL 30-A Line Array
Creative Kilowatt, the Bloemfontein-based technical supply company that has been making waves this year, has invested in RCF’s revolutionary HDL 30-A Line Array, supplied by DWR Distribution. “We wanted a scalable PA to grow with our events,” said Stefan van Biljon, owner of Creative Kilowatt. “The value, technology, and DWR’s
Tee Off at Epson Open Day at DWR
DWR Distribution is pleased to invite you to the official Epson Open Day on 1 October from 2pm – 5pm. Test your swing and compete for the Longest Drive while networking with industry peers on a Golf Simulator! The Open Day, with guests Lee Harrison and Zane Cretten from
Epson Training – JHB
DWR Distribution is delighted to welcome Zane Cretten to South Africa for Epson Training on 1 October from 9am to 1pm. This practical session is designed for all professionals who would like to strengthen their knowledge of Epson’s latest projection technologies and applications. Booking Link: https://forms.gle/SRssiX6fwduyhtfp6 For
Robe Turns It Up Loud for Peach Pit Tour
Popular Canadian indie rockers Peach Pit completed the North American section of their “Long Hair, Long Life” tour with a brand-new lighting design from George Gorton from Vancouver-based creative design studio Loud Entertainment Design Group. The visual concept relied heavily on lighting for impact – there were no video elements
1117 Robert Juliat lighting fixtures delivered for a major project supported by Belgium public authority La Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles
Robert Juliat is proud to announce its major participation in an ambitious investment project led by the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, as part of a European programme to renovate the energy efficiency of cultural infrastructures in Belgium. Ten emblematic French-speaking theatres have benefited from the renewal of their lighting systems: Les
Robe at PLASA 2025 – The Preview
Robe will have a big presence at the PLASA London expo in Olympia next week – on stand A70 – and will be launching six fabulous new products – T3 Profile, iPAINTE LTM, SVOPATT Classic, Footsie1 MC and Footsie2 MC plus the super cool new PowerDolly. These will
Drake’s $ome $pecial $hows 4 U Tour $ounds $pectacular with DiGiCo Quantum852 Consoles
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada – September 2025 – Drake is getting his steps in. On his current $ome $pecial $hows 4 U Tour, currently on its European leg through mid-September, he not only closes his own show but opens it, as well, bookending performances by co-bill Party Next Door. And Drake
Two DiGiCo Quantum 338s deliver storybook success for Yunhe Fairy-TaleTheatre
For over 20 years, the town of Yunhe in Zhejiang Province, China has held the title of Wooden Toy Town. Deep in its heart stands the beautiful Fairy-Tale Theatre, which has recently benefitted from investment into DiGiCo’s Quantum series, a testament to the venue’s commitment to the highest quality
Clear-Com Powers Star-Studded Communications at Houston’s Alley Theatre
ALAMEDA, USA – September 2, 2025 – Clear-Com is proud to support the world-class productions of Alley Theatre, one of the oldest and largest nonprofit resident theatres in the United States. With a storied history dating back to 1947, the Tony Award®-winning Alley Theatre produces acclaimed classics, bold new works,
GigaCore 10i is the answer for Lighting Designer Andre Siebrits
South African lighting designer and programmer Andre Siebrits has steadily built his expertise on grandMA3 consoles, contributing to large-scale productions across the country and even abroad. With a deep understanding of the system, Andre recently added a Luminex GigaCore 10i — a Gigabit Ethernet switch supplied by DWR Distribution —
Grant Olivier Upgrades to grandMA3 Light for Cape Town’s Busy Season
Lighting designer, Grant Olivier, founder of Distinct Technical Solutions in Cape Town, has taken delivery of a grandMA3 light, joining his trusted grandMA3 onPC setup. The upgrade comes just in time for the busy corporate season in Cape Town, with exciting festival work also on the horizon. The sale was
Prolyte Campus – Johannesburg & Cape Town
You are invited to the Prolyte Campus presented by Eric Laanstra from Prolyte and Robert Izzett from DWR Distribution. Join us in Johannesburg on 22 and 23 September or in Cape Town on 25 and 26 September, from 9am to 5pm each day. Prolyte is committed to promoting education and
MGG Productions Debuts New L-Acoustics K2 System at Toyota Innibos 2025, South Africa’s Premier Afrikaans Arts Festival
MGG’s strategic K2 investment powers comprehensive professional sound system for 78,800 festival-goers NELSPRUIT, South Africa – August 2025 – MGG Productions has successfully deployed its newly-acquired L-Acoustics K2 sound system at the Toyota Innibos Lowveld National Arts Festival, marking a significant milestone as the company celebrates its 25th anniversary
Robe for Nuova Scena Launch Party
The latest series of Italian talent show Nuova Scena – Rhythm + Flow Italia – which scouts out some of the best rising star rappers – kicked off to an electric start with a launch party staged at famous Milan live music venue and nightspot, Fabrique, complete with a dazzling
Introducing ADJ’s Vizi Pix Z19 Pixel-Mappable LED Wash Zoom
Designed To Dazzle: Introducing the Vizi Pix Z19 Pixel-Mappable LED Wash Zoom Fixture with Three Effects in One! Conceived to help lighting designers unleash their creativity, ADJ’s new Vizi Pix Z19 is a versatile automated wash-zoom luminaire equipped with 19 pixel-mappable, lime-infused primary LEDs. These can generate everything from a
Claypaky Shines on Mexico’s Riviera Maya with its Aqua Line During Shield Family Open Day with Hermes Music Profesional
Claypaky, in collaboration with Hermes Music Profesional, its official exclusive distributor in Mexico, held a spectacular Shield Family Open Day in a unique setting at the Bombay restaurant on the shores of the Nichupté Lagoon in Riviera Maya, Cancun. Claypaky’s Shield Family of IP66 fixtures is designed to ensure effectiveness and
grandMA3 User Training, Johannesburg
You are invited to attend a three-day grandMA3 User Training Workshop, presented by Jaques Pretorius, from 16 to 18 September 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, as
DWR Distribution joins TUT’s Inaugural Career Expo
The Faculty of Arts and Design, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) held its first Career Expo on the Arts Campus on Wednesday, 13 August. The event connected senior students with potential exhibitors to showcase career pathways in the creative and technical industries. DWR Distribution was pleased to be
Claypaky Skylos Fixtures Add Stellar Effects to King’s Cup Final 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
August – Sixty-two thousand people witnessed the King’s Cup Final 2025 at King Abdullah Sport City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where Claypaky Skylos fixtures delivered piercing beam effects. A sea of light and color enveloped the sold-out stadium in a visual spectacle created by SLS Production, which provided 498 lighting
Koltech Gets the ESPRITE Spirit
Be’er-Sheva, Israel-based lighting rental specialist Koltech has invested in 24 new Robe ESPRITE moving lights to add to its ever-expanding rental inventory, which now includes over 150 Robe moving lights. The company was founded in 2007 by Yossi Bendavid – better known industry-wide by his nickname ‘ZakZak’, which means talkative
DWR hosts training for Ghana delegates
After months of planning, DWR Distribution is thrilled to welcome Iamadinkra, a company based in Ghana, to South Africa for private training taking place this week! With expertise spanning audio-visual design, conferencing, interactive media, and system integration, Iamadinkra has partnered with clients across many industries, delivering outstanding projects in the
IJS breaks new ground DiGiCo Quantum 852
For over three decades, Brisbane-based company IJS has helped clients navigate the often-complex landscape of technical production, providing high-end audio, lighting, staging and backline for concerts, festivals, corporate events and beyond. Further strengthening its technical capabilities, IJS recently welcomed DiGiCo’s latest digital mixing console, the Quantum 852, into its ranks.
zactrack helps deliver the magic of Souk Wonder show
A substantial zactrack PRO automated tracking system – with 32 x active trackers in use, and arguably the largest to date – was used by lighting designer Ben M Rogers from A Loud Minority (ALM) to deliver an automated follow spotting solution for the spectacular immersive “Souk Wonders” performance show
Clear-Com to Spotlight Broadcast Solutions and Special Events at IBC2025
ALAMEDA, USA – 13 August 2025 – Clear-Com® will showcase a full lineup of intercom innovations for broadcast professionals at IBC2025, taking place September 12-15 in Amsterdam, NL. On display at Stand #10.D29 will be the latest addition to the FreeSpeak wireless family, the award-winning FreeSpeak Icon™ beltpack, the adaptable
Robe for De Roma
De Roma – originally Kinema Roma – is one of Antwerp’s best-known and loved music venues, and has recently added new Robe moving lights to its house rig, comprising 12 x LEDBeam 150s, 12 x LEDBeam 350s and 24 x TX1 PosiProfiles, all specified by lighting technicians Hans Lodewijckx and
DiGiCo Quantum 225 amazes at Hangzhou Butterfly Theatre
Yue Opera is a popular Chinese opera genre that features women in all roles. For Hangzhou Butterfly Theatre’s successful premier of My Grand View Garden the audio team chose to invest in a DiGiCo Quantum 225, supplied by Rightway Audio Consultant (RAC) to deliver the required clarity and immersive experience
Timeless Elegance Meets Modern Performance: Introducing The ADJ Vintage Bar
Designed to ignite lighting designers’ creativity, the new Vintage Bar from ADJ is a decorative blinder packed with potential. Fusing vintage charm with contemporary sophistication, this eye-catching fixture offers a potent central strip of amber blinder COB LEDs surrounded by a textured reflector illuminated by RGBL color mixing LEDs. With
Vectorworks Training Durban
Join Jade Manicom for a training session focused on Vectorworks Spotlight 2025 in Durban in September. Whether you’re new to Vectorworks or an intermediate user, this small-group course (limited to just 12 participants) offers personalised guidance to help you get the most out of the software. By the end of
Network Training with Kyle Freemantle – JHB
A specialised Network Training Course, led by Kyle Freemantle, will take place at DWR Distribution in Johannesburg on 4 and 5 September from 9am to 5pm. In the world of live events, maintaining a stable and reliable network is essential. This requires careful planning of network topology, VLANs, redundancy, and
Basic Rigging Training, Durban
You are invited to join Robert Izzett from DWR Distribution for a two-day Basic Rigging training course held from 3 to 4 September from 9am to 5pm the Vineyard Church in Morningside, Durban. The two day course aims to equip delegates with the rigging laws applied in South Africa according
FENIX training kicks off in Johannesburg with Durban, and Cape Town coming next!
FENIX training kicked off in Johannesburg with delegates gaining great insight from Alex Bryan from FENIX Stage! The theory delved deep into topics like technical advise, loading capacitities, safety practises and maintenance. The fun part really was the practical side just showing how fantastic these lifting towers are and
Anolis Calumma Brings on the Carnival Mood
Two hundred and thirty-two Anolis Calumma M MC RGBCW LED fixtures – with 65-degree lenses and including a custom rear-mounted IP rated junction box modification for easier installation – are now in place on seven out of eight Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) ships! This started with Carnival Horizon in
ADJ Expands PAR Z Series with Four New LED-Powered, Wireless-Enabled Fixtures
Classic Design Meets Modern Innovation: ADJ Expands PAR Z Series with Four New LED-Powered, Wireless-Enabled Fixtures ADJ’s popular PAR Z Series fuses the timeless look of traditional PAR cans with the advantages of cutting-edge C.O.B. LED technology. Building on the success of the existing lineup, the series now welcomes four
Nina Pušlar Show Impresses Slovenia
Slovenian singer, songwriter, and superstar Nina Pušlar rocked her picturesque hometown of Ivančna Gorica, 40 kilometres out of Ljubljana, for a showstopping homecoming concert at the football stadium, celebrating 20 years of success in the music industry. Her career, like so many, started via a talent competition, and her energising,
AV Unlimited with Robe!
We mean that literally, of course … as Robe’s LEDBeam 350 unlocks some cool creativity for the team at rental company AV Unlimited in Johannesburg, South Africa! The busy rental production and technical specialist has added 12 x Robe LEDBeam 350s to the lighting inventory that join its existing stock
A Dream Come True – the DiGiCo Quantum 852 makes its debut in Africa
When the DiGiCo Quantum 852 first launched at an exclusive event in England in 2023, it caused a stir with its unrivalled capabilities and sheer size! At the time, Kyle Robson and Duncan Riley of DWR Distribution attended the launch and were blown away by DiGiCo’s new flagship console leaping
Mandela Day 2025: A Small Gesture, A Big Dream
For Mandela Day 2025, DWR Distribution chose to support an organisation close to our hearts—the South African Roadies Association (SARA), founded by Freddie Nyathela. Tucked away in Newtown, Johannesburg, SARA is more than a training centre. It’s a safe space, a second home, and a launchpad for young South
Absen ACE Training for the Rental and Staging Market
We are excited to invite the rental and staging market to attend Absen ACE Training, taking place on 19 and 20 August from 9am to 5pm at our offices. We are able to accommodate up to 40 delegates per class. This is for technicians and those in the rental and
Absen ACE Training for the Pro AV market!
We are excited to invite the ProAV market to attend Absen ACE Training, taking place on 26 and 27 Augustfrom 9am to 5pm at our offices. We are able to accommodate up to 40 delegates per class. This course is specifically designed for System Integrators and professionals in the Pro
Joyful Night as Brixton lights up
Brixton, Johannesburg once again lit up for a fabulous community event, bringing together residents, artists, and supporters in a vibrant celebration of community and creativity. The Working Dog’s Fried Wilsenach called on the help of friends from Gearhouse Splitbeam and DWR Distribution to light up the neighbourhood he proudly calls
France’s first touring pair of DiGiCo Quantum 852 join Indochine for massive tour
Formed in Paris during 1981, Indochine have combined single and album sales of 10 million. Their latest tour sold out in hours, with 105 dates across France, Belgium and Switzerland. Over one million people will experience these shows and, in a first for France, powering every performance will be a
Positive Feedback from June’s Clear-Com Training
Nick Chapman from Showcom and Kyle Robson from DWR Distribution presented Clear-Com training in June at the DWR offices in Johannesburg. The two-day session covered everything from basic 2-wire communication systems to the full Clear-Com range, including ICON Beltpacks and hardware components that integrate with Arcadia—resulting in a complete multimedia
Gearhouse Splitbeam expands and updates its followspot inventory with Robert Juliat Arthur LT
Gearhouse Splitbeam of Johannesburg, part of South Africa’s Gearhouse Group, has updated and expanded its followspot inventory with the addition of 3 Robert Juliat Arthur LT 800W LED 4°-10° (Long Throw) followspots, supplied by Robert Juliat’s exclusive distributor for South Africa, DWR Distribution. Founded 15 years ago by Alistair Kilbee,
Aurras Group Invests in grandMA3
Aurras Group is a busy, energetic and innovative technical production – embracing lighting, audio, video and AV, power, staging & rigging and event supply – company based in Cape Town, South Africa. It is owned and headed by Justin Heyman and Gareth Aitken, who merged their respective companies, TechX and
ADJ Focus Flex L7
The Focus Flex L7 offers lighting designers the creative flexibility of generating vibrant washes, punchy beams, and eye-catching pixel effects from one compact and quick automated luminaire. Powered by an array of seven potent 40-Watt 4-in-1 RGBL color mixing LEDs, each of which can be controlled independently, it offers