Products Tested In-House
Titaníque: The Musical At Criterion Theatre
Titaníque: The Musical made its debut at London’s historic Criterion Theatre, with Ultra LEDs partnering with Starlite Electrics Ltd to deliver bespoke lighting solutions for the production.
Sonic Harrison at Starlite Electrics was tasked with creating a reliable and programmable lighting setup to realise the vision of Lighting Designer Paige Seber.
Paige specified RGBW LED tape for its vibrant, dynamic capabilities, integrating it into custom-built light boxes to deliver seamless colour transitions and immersive scene changes.
Combined with Ultra LEDs’ Mean Well Power Supplies and L-Tech DMX Controllers, the components delivered programmable, dynamic lighting effects that transformed the stage and brought Titaníque’s ambitious vision to life.
Photography credit to Mark Senior for providing the stunning images of Titaníque at the Criterion Theatre.
Titaníque: Criterion Theatre
When Titaníque made its debut at London’s Criterion Theatre, the production required custom-built light boxes to illuminate the stage and deliver dynamic lighting effects.
Ultra LEDs worked closely with Sonic Harrison from Starlite Electrics Ltd, who was tasked with providing the set electrics installation and running the production lighting team. Together, we collaborated with the original creative team from America to meet the production’s high technical demands.
Central to the requirements were individually controllable horizontal runs of RGBW LED tape, integrated into the light boxes to deliver vibrant colours and uninterrupted lighting transitions.
By pre-installing over 700 metres of Ultra LEDs’ Tagra Essentials 24V RGBW LED Tape into custom light boxes off-site, the team minimised on-site complexity and ensured a flawless final setup
What Is Titaníque?
Titaníque is a satirical musical that reimagines James Cameron’s Titanic with humour, original music, and a fresh theatrical approach.
Following successful performances in America, Canada, and Australia, the production arrived at London’s Criterion Theatre, requiring a tailored lighting solution to meet its technical and creative demands.
"This was the biggest set electrics project we’ve delivered so far, and I’m very pleased and proud of what we achieved."
"It was a lot of work for a small business, but I had an amazing team working with me. They braved sub-zero temperatures in the warehouse soldering LED tape and spent a couple of days in the theatre connecting and commissioning all the panels."
- Sonic Harrison, Starlite Electrics Ltd
History of the Criterion Theatre
Located in the heart of London’s West End, the Criterion Theatre is an iconic venue with a rich history dating back to 1874. Renowned for its stunning Victorian architecture and intimate underground auditorium, the theatre has hosted countless acclaimed productions over the decades.
The venue’s unique subterranean design presents specific technical challenges for lighting and staging, requiring innovative solutions to ensure seamless integration without compromising its historic features.
For Titaníque, the Criterion provided the perfect backdrop to showcase the creative and technical brilliance of the production.
The Vision Behind The Lighting
Starlite Electrics worked with Ultra LEDs to bring the lighting for Titaníque to life, combining technical expertise and high-quality components to meet the production’s ambitious goals.
Paige Seber, the Lighting Designer leading the vision, envisioned a dynamic, immersive lighting experience that would elevate the storytelling of the production.
Central to her concept were custom-built light boxes integrating vibrant, programmable LED lighting to actively shape the mood and narrative of each scene.
Together, the teams delivered seamless colour transitions and intricate lighting effects, ensuring the lighting became an integral part of Titaníque's humour, drama, and visual brilliance.
About Starlite Electrics
Starlite Electrics Ltd specialises in production lighting for theatre, corporate, and live events.
Known for delivering exceptional results across the UK and internationally, their team fabricated plug-and-play DMX-controlled LED drivers to streamline the installation process, ensuring the demanding schedule at the Criterion Theatre was met without compromise.
"I have been using Ultra LEDs for at least 8 years and working with Dave Stirling, a Senior Account Manager, for the last 18 months as our projects have gradually grown in scale."
"It’s been reassuring to know there’s always ample stock available for next-day delivery. With projects becoming more ambitious and timelines tighter, Ultra LEDs as a primary supplier provides peace of mind, allowing us to accommodate last-minute changes seamlessly."
Lighting The Set
The Starlite team pre-installed over 700 metres of Ultra LEDs’ Tagra Essentials 24V RGBW LED Tape into the light boxes at a scenery workshop, maximising efficiency ahead of the on-site setup.
By pre-assembling modular driver racks and wiring components off-site, the team minimised connection errors and reduced commissioning time, keeping the production timeline on track.
"We needed RGBW LED tape that could deliver consistent brightness and even illumination across the diffused acrylic panels of the light boxes. With runs up to 5m and multiple joints, durability and consistent intensity were crucial, which is why we chose 24V tape."
"The large quantity required also had to fit within budget constraints, making Ultra LEDs’ tape the ideal choice."
Products Used
The Titaníque lighting installation relied on carefully selected components from Ultra LEDs to achieve consistent, high-performance results:
- Tagra Pro Low Voltage Cable (5 Core, 0.5mm², Black, 100m Reel): Durable and easy-to-use cable with colour-coded insulation for simplified installation and troubleshooting, suitable for complex wiring.
- Tagra Essentials 24V RGBW LED Tape (3000K & 6000K, 60 LEDs/m, 19.2W/m, 5m Reels): Over 700 metres of LED tape were installed, offering high brightness and precise control for dynamic and vibrant lighting effects across the stage.
- Tagra Professional IP67 Constant Voltage LED Drivers (320W): Robust drivers that ensured efficient power delivery to the LED systems, ideal for high-demand theatre applications.
- Meanwell UHP Series 24V 1000W LED Driver: Reliable and long-lasting, these drivers handled the high power requirements, maintaining consistent output for the entire setup.
- L-Tech DMX512 Decoders (32 Channel & 12 Channel): Provided precise control over hundreds of lighting channels, enabling the programming of intricate lighting sequences with seamless transitions.
- Advatek PixLite E4S MK3 Pixel Controller: Delivered advanced pixel control capabilities, ideal for achieving complex lighting effects in sync with the production's needs.
- Mi-Light 3-in-1 Wireless LED Controller (12-24V): A versatile wireless controller supporting additional adjustments and remote management for flexible operation.
"With DMX 512 as the standard theatre protocol, we required a high number of DMX controllers to meet the level of control specified for the LED tape. Due to limited space behind the scenery, we opted for high-output power supplies and modular DMX controller boxes, which were placed in racks under the band platforms."
The Role Of DMX Programming
To bring the lighting design to life, the L-Tech DMX Controllers were programmed to manage over 700 channels, enabling intricate effects and seamless colour transitions.
This allowed the lighting team to synchronize dynamic scenes with the production’s fast-paced narrative and musical elements.
The controllers’ flexibility ensured precise execution of every cue, delivering a flawless visual experience.
Overcoming Installation Challenges
With a tight schedule to adhere to, Starlite pre-assembled modular driver racks to streamline the on-site setup. This approach minimised connection errors and reduced commissioning time, ensuring the production stayed on track.
"The main challenge for us was the timescale of the project - It was a very short schedule in the theatre so everything had to be geared to making the build as swift and smooth as possible."
"We are used to these kinds of schedules so try to be as organised and prepared as possible in advance of arriving at the theatre. However this meant that it was a very short period from receiving the final spec to get everything in place in the way we wanted to."
Impact Of The Lighting
Starlite Electrics programmed over 700 channels of RGBW LED tape to deliver precise, dynamic lighting effects tailored to Titaníque's scenes. Colours shifted seamlessly from warm, ambient tones for emotional moments to bold, vibrant hues for musical numbers.
DMX controllers ensured smooth transitions and synchronized effects, enhancing the storytelling and bringing the set to life. Pre-assembled driver racks allowed for efficient adjustments during rehearsals, ensuring the lighting remained adaptable and consistent throughout the production.
This streamlined approach enabled the team to achieve complex lighting effects efficiently, contributing to a visually engaging and immersive audience experience.
More Photos From Show
Ultra LEDs is proud to have partnered with Starlite Electrics Ltd to deliver this incredible production.
Visit ultraleds.co.uk and follow @ultraleds on Instagram. Check out @sonic_4051 on social media for more of his work or visit his website here.
Get in touch with Ultra LEDs today
Need LED solutions for your next project? From theatre lighting to custom installations, our team is ready to help.
Keep Up To Date
Don’t miss out on any fantastic offers or important news by subscribing to our FREE Exclusive Newsletter.
Your data will be held in accordance with our privacy policy which can be found here.
You will receive an email to confirm your subscription.