6 August 2026
[UK] A treasure chest of vintage <a href="https://comicvibe.com/bda-appoints-kristin-massoth-national-account-director-of-sports-entertainment-licensing/” title=”BDA Appoints Kristin Massoth National Account Director of Sports & Entertainment Licensing”>entertainment technology is returning to PLASA Show for the fifth time, as LSi writer Rob Halliday brings the magazine’s long-runningClassic Gearcolumn to life alongside Chris Hewitt’s CH Vintage Audio collection.
The feature brings together remarkable lighting, audio and production equipment from across the decades, offering a rare opportunity to see the technology that helped shape some of the world’s most memorable shows, tours and venues.
This year’s collection will include: vintage lighting and control technology; lighting control systems used throughout the history of the National Theatre; the original automation console from the Olivier Theatre; a prototype model of the Olivier Drum Revolve; Vari-Lite’s Artisan control console; rare VL2, VL3, VL4, VL5 and VL6 fixtures; and Betty, the Strand System CD lighting console used at London’s Palace Theatre from 1956 to 1980.
Vintage audio technology on display will include the mixer used on David Bowie’s 1973 Ziggy Stardust tour; Pink Floyd’s quadraphonic mixer from The Dark Side of the Moon and Live at Pompeii; The Who’s 1970s Mavis quadraphonic mixer; Slade’s 1970s WEM Stereomaster 24-channel touring mixer, a 1970s Kelsey mixer used by Soft Machine, plus many more rare items from the CH Vintage Audio collection.
Vari-Lite pioneers Jim Bornhorst and Tom Littrell will appear at PLASA Show on Sunday and Monday, offering visitors the chance to hear the history of moving lights directly from two of the people who helped shape it.
Classic Gear Live will also contribute to two sessions in the PLASA Show seminar programme, exploring the history of Vari-Lite and five decades of technology at the National Theatre:
Sunday 6 September – 14:30: Vari-Lite:The Lights That Changed Our World
Monday 7 September – 14:00: The National Theatre At Fifty – Five Decades Of Technology In Support Of Theatre.
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