Sagunto Roman Theatre steps into the future with Ayrton Rivale Profile
The Sagunto Roman Theatre, one of Spain’s most iconic open-air venues with over 2,000 years of history, has chosen to modernize its stage lighting with nine Ayrton Rivale Profile units, exclusively distributed in Spain by Stonex.
Every summer, this unique space hosts Sagunt a Escena, a festival that brings together theatre, music, and dance in front of thousands of spectators. Working in such a historic and open-air venue is a challenge: lighting must be powerful enough to cover large distances, resistant to changing weather conditions, and at the same time discreet, so as not to interfere with the aesthetics of the monument.
That’s where Rivale Profile has proven to be the perfect choice. With its IP65 rating, the fixture is built for outdoor conditions while maintaining a compact design that blends seamlessly into the theatre’s architecture. According to Ramón Jiménez the technical director, “they don’t break the aesthetics of the venue; they integrate perfectly and deliver more light than other fixtures that are theoretically more powerful.”
The improvement is not only visual but also technical. Rivale Profile provides an impressive uniformity of light, even at the long throws typical of the Sagunto stage. The director points out that, compared with other units previously installed, the Rivale achieves greater brightness and consistency across the performance area, offering a significant step forward in the audience’s visual experience.
Installation has been carefully planned to maximize coverage: the nine units are now part of the theatre’s permanent rig, placed in the main front positions, the wide sides and key support spots. This ensures that visiting companies always have access to a solid lighting base, versatile enough to adapt to any kind of production.
On the operational side, Rivale’s user-friendly interface and fast access to multiple functions represent a clear technological leap for technicians working with tight schedules. As the team notes, “there’s a noticeable technological step forward; everything is easier to access and faster to work with.”
Rivale Profile: the new choice for theatres
Although it was originally conceived as an all-terrain fixture for tours and outdoor use, Rivale Profile is increasingly making its way into theatre spaces. With an output of 30,000 lumens, it can easily compete with much larger fixtures. On top of that, its optimized energy consumption aligns perfectly with today’s efficiency requirements in cultural venues.
Creatively, it offers a precise framing system to shape scenes, high-definition gobos and a wide colour range, making it the perfect tool for lighting designers who want to dramatize atmospheres with subtlety or deliver maximum impact in a musical performance.
Ultimately, Rivale is a very attractive option for theatres because it combines the best of both worlds: the ruggedness of a fixture designed for outdoor use with the precision, versatility and creativity demanded on stage.
For Stonex, bringing Rivale Profile to the Sagunto Roman Theatre is a way of uniting innovation and heritage, ensuring that a venue with centuries of history continues to inspire audiences with state-of-the-art lighting technology.
Credits:
Text: Courtesy of Stonexsl, translated by Julie Harper
Photos: © Adrián Martín, Stonex
