The Brief
To upgrade handheld flame FX
This beloved ‘tale as old as time’ has been brought to life on stage like never before, spectacularly reimagined using the latest theatrical innovations. 28 years after its Broadway debut, members of the original creative team have reunited on this new production that features all of the spellbinding songs.
Early into the tour, Disney Theatrical UK approached LUMINOUS to see if we could help them upgrade their existing handheld flame effects. Aptly named the ‘Handlesticks’; these props form part of Lumière’s costume and are a focal point of many scenes throughout the live stage performance.
The Challenge
The production was previously using equipment sourced from America, which had performed well but was subject to down time due the rigours of touring. After a number of component failures and challenges in sourcing bespoke parts, the LUMINOUS technical team was presented with an opportunity to redesign and improve both the performance and safety of operation. Our job was to deliver a reliable flame effect capable of performing day in day out and where safety was paramount to protect the performer, crew and audience.
The Solution
We firstly considered the needs of the performer in the ergonomic design of the handle and the safe operation of the ignition. The actor needs to know that when they press the button, the Handlesticks will ignite every time, and more importantly they will stop immediately when the button is released. To achieve this we utilised an industry standard dual-valve design which meets global safety standards and allows ease of onward certification for customers. The dual valve design is tried and tested in many of our other flame products.
It was important to provide a longer run time of the Handlesticks during each performance, so we designed in a larger payload 100g gas cartridge which also helps to reduce the change-over time. Being a standard cartridge size also means greater availability. The complex pipework was refined into a more elegant solution to minimise leaks. Topped off with a 3D printed, self-extinguishing Nylon candle to finish the overall look.
Special effects of this nature are sophisticated pieces of engineering and have to be protected and stored safely so they can keep performing as intended. We supplied 2 x robust flight cases with custom foam cut outs to store the effects with their consumables and accessories.
With more than 20 years’ experience designing and building custom special effects hardware for the live entertainment industry, LUMINOUS are the perfect partner to help bring your ideas to reality.
The Stats
