Built in 1929 and meticulously restored in the 1990s, the Plaza Ballroom is renowned for its opulent Spanish Rococo design, featuring a grand staircase, high ceilings, intricate plasterwork, red carpets, blue silk windows, and spectacular chandeliers. As part of the heritage-listed Regent Theatre, the ballroom presents a unique blend of architectural and theatrical lighting challenges, demanding both subtle ambient coverage and bold performance-grade illumination.
The venue is now utilising state-of-the-art Infinity and Showtec fixtures from Highlite International thanks to the comprehensive lighting overhaul supplied by Clearlight Shows. The upgrade enhances the venue’s flexibility, energy efficiency, and visual impact—while carefully preserving its architectural heritage.
Having worked closely with Marriner Group for many years, Clearlight Shows was invited to deliver a solution tailored to the venue’s specific needs. “Colour accuracy, flicker-free performance, and warmer colour temperatures are crucial in a space like this — especially for live events and broadcasts,” said John McKissock, founder of Clearlight Shows. “We brought in Infinity and Showtec fixtures for the venue team to evaluate, and they were immediately impressed.”
After a decade-long search for viable LED replacements, including years of trialling fixtures with insufficient output or unsuitable colour profiles, the venue finally found a breakthrough with Highlite’s advanced product lines. Key to the decision was the ability to reuse existing Selecon SPX lens stock with Infinity TS260C7 Profile Engines, thanks to lens adapters—freeing up budget for a more comprehensive upgrade.
One pivotal discovery was the Showtec Performer Profile Zoom 150 Q6 RGBACL. “We were sceptical at first, relying only on spec sheets,” noted Michael and Janet. “But once it was rigged, the performance blew us away. After an extended trial, we committed to a full redesign of our lighting system—moving away from our traditional Fresnel and PC-based rig to a more focused, profile-driven approach.”