AUSTRALIA: Melbourne-based Front of House Productions (FOHP) has made a decisive investment in its lighting inventory, expanding its moving light stock with the purchase of 50 Claypaky Ultimo Sharpy fixtures in a single order. Supplied through Show Technology Australia & New Zealand Claypaky’s official distributor in the region, the acquisition reflects FOHP’s focus on scale, impact and practical performance in demanding touring and event environments.

For Michael Eather, Lighting Director at FOHP, the decision was driven by the realities of modern show design. “For many of our shows, quantity matters,” he commented. “LDs want impact through numbers, so purchasing 50 units was simply a logical decision.” The brief was clear from the outset: a next-generation beam fixture that could deliver serious output while remaining practical for touring, with IP rating, CMY colour mixing, low weight and enough power to hold its own in high-energy environments. When the Ultimo Sharpy was announced, it immediately stood out. “When the Ultimo Sharpy was released, it immediately caught my attention,” Michael explained. “On paper, it ticked every box, but we wanted to see how it really performed.”

Designed around a compact housing with a strong power-to-size ratio, the Ultimo Sharpy combines an IP66 rating, advanced optics, fast and accurate CMY colour mixing and the signature Sharpy beam precision that has become a hallmark of the range. For FOHP, weight was a critical consideration, particularly when deploying large numbers of fixtures in venues with strict load limits. “When you’re hanging 40 or 50 fixtures in a rig, especially in venues with strict load limits, every kilogram counts,” Michael said. “You need power without compromising the rig.”

To validate the specification, Michael requested a hands-on demonstration, which Show Technology arranged promptly, setting up a direct comparison against a wide selection of hybrid and beam fixtures from multiple manufacturers. The outcome left little room for doubt. “The Ultimo Sharpy simply blew them all away,” he declared. “It was a night where it was just the right level of light, misty rain out front of the warehouse, and the Ultimo Sharpy shot them all out. The beam seemed to go on forever. It was mighty impressive.” Several lighting designers were invited to the shootout, with the Ultimo Sharpy emerging as the clear favourite, making the purchasing decision straightforward.

Michael also acknowledged a long-standing affinity with the Sharpy lineage. “You know what you’re getting with a Sharpy,” he said. “The Ultimo carries that familiarity, the same colour wheel DNA and feature set, but with a modern evolution.” The use of a discharge lamp source remains a key part of that appeal. “There’s a quality to discharge that I still love. It offers something I haven’t quite seen replicated in LED or laser source fixtures yet.”

Beyond output, speed and control were further differentiators. “They’re incredibly quick, so quick that Claypaky even included a Sharpy emulation mode to slow them down to match the original Sharpy. That tells you everything,” Michael laughed. “In certain effects, they almost feel like moving mirror fixtures. They also run quietly, which is important for corporate and broadcast environments.” He also pointed to the inclusion of a linear prism as a welcome addition. “It’s one of the features I always wished the original Sharpy had,” he said.

Since arriving towards the end of last year, the Ultimo Sharpys have seen constant use. “They’ve already been out on several major shows, with corporate work filling the gaps between,” Michael explained. “They’ve quickly become a core staple of our inventory.” For FOHP, the investment is as much about future readiness as it is about current demand. “With IP rating, CMY mixing, wide beam capabilities, speed, and lightweight construction, there isn’t much that comes close,” Michael said. “Claypaky has always been a trusted, reliable brand for us, and this fixture continues that legacy.”