WUNSIEDEL, GERMANY –  “The spectacle of nature is always new,” wrote Goethe. The great poet, philosopher and playwright undoubtably felt this way in 1820 when he first encountered Luisenburg-Felsenlabyrinth (the Luisenburg Rock Labyrinth), declaring that the massive, irregular formation of granite rocks created “an impression the like of which I have never come across on all my walks.”

The evocative beauty of this natural wonder has always appealed to creatives, especially those who, like Goethe, were connected to the world of theatre. Plays were being staged at the site as early as the 16th century. Building on this tradition, the Luisenburg Festival was born here in 1890.

Lighting theatrical productions at this festival, which has grown to become one of Germany’s most renowned annual theatre events, would be a dream come true for any designer. But as is so often the case with dreams, there are challenges that must be met for them to come true.

For example, when lighting the Luisenburg Festival, one must deal with resin from the surrounding tall trees, which can cause LEDs to overheat. What’s more, the weather is often cold and damp when the lighting is setup at the open-air site in April. Then there is blistering heat in the summer, followed by cool wet conditions in September, when the festival draws to a close.

Technical Service Provider, Colito Productions, a recognized IHK training company, which installs and maintains equipment at the event’s 1,898-capacity open-air theatre, helped the festival meet these challenges for the 2023 season with help from a collection of IP65 rated Maverick Storm fixtures from CHAUVET Professional.

“Because of the environment, we have what we call special features here,” said Michael Lindner, assistant technical director of the Luisenburg Festival. “Sometimes it does snow in April. If not, then you’ve got the wet conditions. When it’s summer you have the real heat, sometimes 35 to 40 degrees (Celsius). Then, sometime in September, you have the cold and the wet — and on top of that, you have the dirt from the trees. So, the fixtures go through a lot. We had ten other fixtures hanging over the last few years, but only 5 were working at the end of last season.

“So, I said I wanted to change, but there was nothing like what I wanted, until I saw the Chauvet products,” continued Lindner. “There was a CHAUVET product presentation at Colito, and that’s when I saw the Maverick Storm 4 Profile. It was exactly what we were looking for in terms of performance, especially with the dimensions we have to work within. The fixture was just right for us. The Chauvet team also showed me the Maverick Storm 2 BeamWash, and I was immediately sold on it as well. The wash does not lose power when it is open. I am very, very happy.”

Lindner had ten Maverick Storm 4 Profile units, and eight , Maverick Storm 2 BeamWashes installed at the venue. He created the overall design of the lighting rig, and positioned the fixtures, while Markus Seemeier from Munich did the programming this season.

“We rehearsed all of May,” said Lindner “The first play performed was a children’s play. That had its premiere at the end of May. Then, the next plays came in stages. The Cologne Opera and the Landesbühne Sachsen also came to us. The program was like the stage, which means it was very mixed.”

The CHAUVET Professional fixtures in the rig offer more than outdoor ready ruggedness and dependability, they also possess the versatility needed to handle the diverse range of shows performed during the Luisenburg Festival. Regardless of the nature of the show, the fixtures have contributed to the excellence of the festival’s performances through the quality of their light, precise directional control, and rich, realistic colors.

Known for its impressive staging and stellar productions, the Luisenburg Festival attracts visitors from throughout Germany. This season, as they sat in the bleachers embedded in the famous rocks, audiences were able to enjoy shows being performed on stage on an even deeper level, thanks to the new lighting system.