It is said that the creative drive has no reverse gear. Although building on what has been done in the past and echoing themes, it never repeats itself, but instead is constantly looking forward, rejuvenating itself with original ideas at every turn. The iconic Belgian duo Clouseau has embodied this concept in stellar fashion since they first appeared at CC Sint-Genesius-Rode in December 1984, as they have continually expanded their horizons, singing in different languages, and exploring new musical concepts.
Luc Peumans, head of the award-winning design studio Painting With Light, is no stranger to this creative philosophy himself, having pushed the envelope of innovation for years with his widely acclaimed designs.
Starting with Clouseau in 1995 on the Oker Tour as a light tech, Peumans became the duo’s lighting and production designer in 2001. Since that time, he has worked on all Clouseau tours and Sportpaleis shows. Remarkably, he has enlivened each one with a vibrant, new vision that resonates with contemporary audiences of the day.
This innovative spirit is beautifully evident in Clouseau 40, the year-long tour throughout Benelux that celebrates the band’s 40 years of making music. Just as Clouseau hasn’t lost a step (and indeed has added several new ones) on the tour, the impressively versatile production supporting their music is bold, dynamic, and full of visual surprises.
A potent rig, featuring 137 CHAUVET Professional fixtures supplied by Ampli has been critical in helping Peumans and his Painting With Light team endow the tour’s production with its contemporary flair.
In keeping with his commitment to change, Peumans himself has taken on a somewhat different role in this tour, handing the role of touring designer and programmer to Jeroen Opsteyn from PWL, so he could focus his attention exclusively on the stage and lighting designs. The results have been impressive. Framing the band in a jewel box of brilliantly coloured light, the design is creating a visual feast of powerful, multi-dimensional looks in a variety of venues regardless of their size.
“Our set was highly adaptable in size, an essential feature for Clouseau’s long-running tours, as they strive to bring fresh, innovative elements to each show by incorporating new technologies,” said Peumans. “With the tour appearing in venues and festivals of varying sizes, this flexibility was key to preserving the show’s unique identity. The lighting setup featured a range of fixtures to create dynamic effects.”
Playing a key role in conjuring up new levels of visual excitement, are 24 STRIKE Bolt 1C units that are being used as strobe and colour accent lights. While the STRIKE Bolts are creating eye-popping looks, a group of 41 COLORado PXL Curve 12 motorized units are creating a variety of pixel mapped effects. The titling battens are arranged in three lines—one on the back truss and two on the floor, a configuration that adds depth and versatility to the stage.
Also featured in the rig were 48 Maverick Storm 1 Hybrid fixtures, which serve as powerful spotlights for beam and effect lighting that connected the legendary band to the audience. Adding more power to rig are 24 STRIKE Array 2C units, which not only serve as blinders, but also provide stunning colour accents.
Given the wide range of venues on the 30-city tour, including festivals, the lighting setup was created for flexibility and adaptability. (At times, the production team has had to be fast enough to build and update all the presets in a changeover within 30 minutes!) Custom-built dollies helped make load-ins as quick as fast as possible. The setup also includes a back truss that can assembled behind the backdrop for festival performances.
“Innovation and flexibility have long been central to Clouseau’s shows,” said Peumans. Every lighting cue and effect is thoughtfully timed. Since this show does not run on timecode, it requires a lighting operator with a rock-solid sense of timing and rhythm – and Jeroen has done an excellent job.
During the Clouseau 40 tour, shows have continued to evolve, observed Peumans. New effects or song adjustments are made regularly, incorporating feedback from both the band and PWL’s own observations to keep the experience fresh and engaging.
“Each Clouseau show is memorable and unique,” he said, noting that no two performances ever the same…. For a band and a design team driven by the true, constantly-evolving spirit of creativity, one would expect nothing less.
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