This week, we celebrate the 7th anniversary of LUMINOUS Show Technology! Join us as we look back at our journey of innovation, growth, and milestones. Here’s a snapshot of our path, from our founding in 2017 to the remarkable achievements of 2024.
2017: The Beginning
LUMINOUS was launched in late 2017, founded by Ed and Mike, both seasoned experts in event production. They saw an opportunity to bring some seriously cool effects to the industry. That first year, LUMINOUS made a bold entrance, providing some special effects (SFX) for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in New York which officially opened the following year.
2018: Expanding Horizons
In 2018, LUMINOUS took on exciting new projects. We powered up Ozzy Osbourne’s performance at Download Festival and designed custom effects for The Phantom of the Opera: Pearl UK tour. We also brought our SFX expertise to the Harry Potter theatre show again, which officially opened the following year in Melbourne.
It was this year that LUMINOUS developed our very own range of flame effects. This included the Stadium Flame, Arena Flame, Arena 5, and the Fuel Station. We went on to produce custom flame systems for the likes of Image Engineering and Event FX. LUMINOUS also provided Pyrojunkies with a high-capacity flame system for Westlife at Croke Park!
2019: New Partnerships
2019 was a great year for both our local and global ventures. We were honoured to receive Exeter Living’s Creative Company of the Year award and we moved to our current headquarters in Sowton, which provided much-needed space for our expanding operations. Highlights from 2023 also included beginning SFX installations for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Hamburg and San Francisco, along with a huge project for The VOID VR experience.
This year, we also formed a very important partnership with Magic FX. The team approached us to co-design and manufacture their liquid flames, a collaboration that continues to thrive!
2020: Rising to the Challenge
The pandemic brought unique challenges, but we adapted quickly. Responding to a call to arms from the UK government, we pivoted to produce hand sanitisers and face shields, supporting the nation’s PPE supply. LUMINOUS quickly became one of the primary suppliers of sanitiser to the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital. We were able to produce these by using chemicals that were originally used in our flame systems. LUMINOUS modified our HYDRA-TECH rain system to fill the bottles quickly and efficiently with sanitiser! We also developed sanitiser solutions such as dispensers for the likes of London’s Science Museum, Kensington Palace, and the Hurlingham Club, amongst many other high-profile event locations.
With aid from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund for the entertainment industry, we remained resilient and prepared for the industry’s revival.
2021: New Ventures
In 2021, we joined Experience UK, highlighting our FX expertise for themed entertainment. The team was invited to Saudi Arabia alongside the association on a trade delegation to visit the Qiddiya project, an upcoming mega-experience of attractions, sports, and culture. During the year, we also exhibited our services at the trade show events MAPIC in Cannes and IAAPA in Barcelona.
As well as working on SFX for the Beauty and the Beast UK tour, LUMINOUS brought out some important products. We launched the HYDRA-TECH Digital Rain Curtain, a huge milestone for us that continues to be a cutting-edge piece of equipment for stages worldwide! 2021 was also the year that the Magic FX Flameblazer and FX Arm Controller were created. We spent a lot of time developing and manufacturing these products that remain the top choice for flame SFX today.
In 2021, we also took on a new project, pivoting our skillset towards a different industry and showcasing our technical ability beyond traditional show tech. We collaborated with DeGould, who had just received considerable investment for their car scanning technologies. Our work here involved working with their design team to produce a solution for their advanced lighting and camera systems.
2022: Recognition and Major Projects
LUMINOUS received the Innovate UK Smart grant to develop FXMotion in 2022, which helped us create some crazy effects. Most notably, this was the year we contributed to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. This year was a busy one, with our work spanning different continents. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child premiered in both Tokyo and Toronto using our equipment. We also brought our flame effects to the MDL Beast Festival.
2022 was also an important year for product development in our partnership with Magic FX. The Liquid Pump Station, Hell Fire and External Fill Pump were created during this year. The ground-breaking innovation of the Liquid Pump Station is one that continues to provide advanced performance and safety to technicians all across the world.
2023: New Products and Industry Acclaim
In 2023, more products were brought into the industry by LUMINOUS. It was this year we unveiled our versatile SMOKE-TECH Cryo Curtain. In our partnership with Magic FX, we developed the popular Flameblazer Head to accompany their large range of flame effects.
Our SFX equipment was featured in the UK & Ireland Aladdin theatre tour, Terhal by Dragone, and Stranger Things: The First Shadow. What’s more, we supported the Wicked UK & Ireland tour with our gas and fuel management service. FXMotion also achieved 2nd place at the Blooloop Innovation Awards!
2024: Our Biggest Year Yet
2024 has been monumental. Our team has grown, and we proudly received the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. This achievement brought amazing opportunities such as attending a reception at Windsor Castle and Downing Street.
LUMINOUS has engaged in exciting and confidential projects this year, delivering a magical and innovative special effect for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Watford. Behind the scenes, we also started to provide gas and fuel management for MJ the Musical, a service that we officially opened up this year.
Our team has been busy developing and perfecting new technology. If you would like to see what comes next in the HYDRA-TECH family, or you like the sound of high-powered wind systems, then keep an eye out for all the exciting projects to come in 2025!
As we reflect on these seven years, we’re grateful for our partners, clients, and team members who have been part of this journey. Here’s to many more years of innovation, creativity, and unforgettable experiences with LUMINOUS Show Technology.
