
White Light (WL) is proud to have once again supported Gilded Balloon at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, delivering full lighting and rigging across 18 venues in celebration of the company’s 40th anniversary.
As one of the Festival’s “Big Four,” Gilded Balloon transformed university buildings and cultural spaces into vibrant performance venues. With Teviot Row House undergoing refurbishment, the 2025 programme spanned Adam House, Applegate Tower, and the National Museum of Scotland; each presenting unique technical challenges that WL met with precision, creativity, and collaboration.
“Working with Gilded Balloon is always a rewarding experience,” said Dan Last, WL’s Key Account Manager. “Their ambition and adaptability push us to innovate, and this year was no exception. From custom truss structures to advanced LED rigs, we tailored each solution to meet the demands of the space and the vision of the team.”
Highlights included the transformation of one large workshop space in Adam House into separate venues—’Nip’ and ‘Dram’—using soundproofed truss boxes and LED rigs to reduce heat output. In ‘Other Yin,’ we overcame rigging limitations by deploying lightweight ETC ColorSource Pars, enabling a thrust stage layout without compromising on theatrical coverage.
A major technical milestone was the rollout of a unified lighting control system across all venues. WL engineered a cost-effective solution using ETC Nomad running Eos software paired with third-party hardware, streamlining operations and enhancing technician mobility. The system has since been adopted for West End and opera productions, underscoring its versatility and impact.
WL’s Project Manager Tom Tomkins shares his highlight collaborating with the team on-site: “One of the real joys of working at Gilded Balloon is collaborating with such a diverse and enthusiastic team of technicians. You meet people from all over the world. As a platform that opens doors into the industry, Gilded Balloon attracts a lot of new talent, and it’s incredibly rewarding to support their development. We often begin the build by guiding them through safe rigging and installation practices, and by the end of the install period, they’re confidently operating lighting desks and running their own shows. Watching someone go from handling a light for the first time to leading a full production in just a few weeks is what makes this work so special.”
Sustainability remained central to WL’s approach, with 17 of the 18 venues operating fully on LED rigs. The final venue retained a hybrid setup due to legacy infrastructure, with plans in place for a full transition.
WL has partnered with Gilded Balloon since 2014, growing from nine venues in one building to 18 venues across three. This enduring relationship reflects a shared commitment to technical excellence, creative storytelling, and building communities through live performance.
As Gilded Balloon marks four decades at the Fringe, WL looks ahead to 2026 and the reopening of Teviot Row House; ready to adapt, innovate, and illuminate the next chapter of this iconic institution.
Photo courtesy of White Light, Photo by Tom Tomkins