Transforming a Private Estate into Barbie’s Dreamhouse
- beau2985
- Feb 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 8
2023 was undoubtedly the year of Barbie and for one of Sidestage's customers they took that one step further.
With just two weeks from brief to execution we transformed a private estate into a bold, Barbie-themed experience, delivering a full production solution.
Nothing says "the place to be" better than searchlights visible from all directions so Martin RUSH MH7 Skytracker Beams were used to project sweeping, bright beams of light across Sydney Harbour.
Guests arrived through pathways lit by Astera Titan Tubes, with dynamic, programmable scenes that guided their journey into another world.
The site was lit by over 100 pink lighting fixtures - a large amount of Fusion Wash provided the flood on the building's facade, augmented with moving gobo patterns projected by Martin MAC Quantum Spots and individual trees were highlighted by FusionPar.
The pink theme continued on the dance floor with Martin RUSH MH10 Beams and Martin MAC Quantum Profile, along with our Disco Ball hanging proudly as the centrepiece. Further blurring the line between fantasy and reality were our low-lying fog machines and bubble effects.
Off to the side was a custom photo area with softbox lighting ensured everyone left with flawless, Instagram worthy shots.
Audio was handled by our compact Adamson SpekTrix system which offers high-output and quality with minimal visual intrusion. SpekTrix Subwoofer had the most important job of the night, ensuring that the thumping bass never stopped Mixing of the band microphones was handled via an Allen & Heath dLive S1500 console, with Waves plugins providing enhanced effects processing for the audio engineer.
For crew coordination we used Hollyland M1 Wireless Comms, enabling clear, real-time communication across the large site. Remote cueing systems supported precise timing of sitewide lighting changes, special effects, and entertainment cues.
The evening closed with a barge-based fireworks display over Sydney Harbour, choreographed to music and matched with the event’s atmosphere. This fairytale finale capped off a production that was bold, elegant, and unforgettable.
Thanks to Fernando Barraza Creative for trusting Sidestage with the vision. Whether it’s a private party, large-scale celebration, or bespoke experience, we’re ready to turn bold ideas into reality.
