When a Dutch touring production of Romeo & Juliet was looking for a lighting control desk, the company turned to distributor Lightco for advice - who immediately suggested ETC's newest and most compact desk, Ion.

The tour will be visiting some 30 venues before the end of February, with lighting supplied by Lightco's sister company Flashlight. A revision of the Shakespeare classic, the play - called Romeo Over Julia in Dutch - is produced by Rick Engelkes Productions in conjunction with music channel MTV and features five male actors playing all the parts, including the female roles, resulting in harder, more intense relationships.

Board operator Kees van Mameren says: "When I joined, the production team had already selected the Ion - and they made a very good choice! Despite not having any experience of the desk, I was able to pick it up really quickly. I even found it quick to patch moving heads, which I've never done before. I like the fact that it prompted me to confirm selections and offered an undo if I wasn't sure about something."

Bas van Schelven, sales manager at Lightco, explains: "In the Netherlands, where it is common for a production to stay in one venue for just a night or two, a desk which is easy to tour is vital. Ion, with its 19 inch (48cm) footprint always fits perfectly. In addition, in 99% of the places the show visits, the desk is in the back row, taking up valuable seating space - so the smaller the desk, the better. Size matters!"