The full production system designed by Gary Westcott comprises of four parallel trusses across the stage, each with a pair of six-lamp Par 64 bars at each end. The rig features a battery of 22 Mac 2000 washes, 22 Mac 2000 profiles and 12 Atomic strobes with colour changers.

And although lighting operator, Matt Button is in the curious position of running someone else’s show - he has personalised the rig with the addition of 50 PixelLine 1044s. The battens are rigged vertically on the face of the trusses and around the set at ground level.

Matt explains: This is the first show with full production. I’ve programmed some pastel shade chases blind and it will be interesting to see how the PixelLines integrate. I created the colours using the grandMA’s bitmap effects generator – it’s a useful tool for creating effects, especially when you want them to run across several types of programmable fixture.”

There are two things that you learn very quickly from attending a Jay-Z gig. Firstly all his fans do know the words. And secondly, he constantly responds to his audience delivering a tailor-made show each night, stretching and ad-libbing his own material. Now that’s special.

The tour travels worldwide and all the lighting is supplied by PRG.