Portfolio -  Installations & Themed Attractions

Mallorca's star tourist attraction, the House of Kathmandu features custom designed Tesla coil based lightning effect as its climactic effect. The system was designed from the outset to operate under the control of the integrated ride control system, and features a bespoke safety enclosure as well as an automatic discharge direction system.

We worked with the ride’s architects from the outset to design an effect that fitted within the challenging space constraints, whilst delivering a spectacular effect in keeping with the theme and the ride programme. As the popularity of the attraction has proven, our effects have the power to keep visitor coming back time and time again.

The pre-show at Drayton Manor Theme Park's flagship G-Force attraction features a model SG-30T Tesla coil system. The Tesla coil is integrated with the AV show control system to deliver a climactic conclusion to the pre-recorded entry show.

Ultra-low maintenance was the prime requirement of our client. We responded by producing a system designed to operate with the minimum of servicing or maintenance, whilst inverted some 10 metres above the entrance lobby.

Thorpe Park, one the UK's largest theme parks, chose HVFX to supply a Tesla coil based lighting effect for the opening of their flagship Freezer Halloween attraction. Our system was integrated with the ride control system to respond to visitor movements and trigger as a group passed its enclosure.

The opening weekend was the busiest ever for the attraction, with queues stretching around the block. More than 10,000 visitors were individually terrified by our effect in the first week alone.

We designed and built a semi-interactive science exhibit for the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. The exhibit featured AV presentations, static displays, an electrostatic interactive, lightning strike survivor mannequins, a range of lightning artefacts and of course our trademark lightning dome. The climax of the open plan exhibit was a spectacular live show in the main gallery of the Mall.

Our 700,000 visitors saw the exhibit in its 15 day duration. The live presence of our explainers in the exhibit area was invaluable in guiding visitors through the exhibit and reinforcing the educational benefit of the experience.

Theatre of Science, the seminal adult science education comedy show produced by Simon Singh and Richard Wiseman, used Tesla coil based lightning effects supplied by HVFX. From the project’s inception at the Soho Theatre, we worked with Richard and Simon to take the show to Dublin, New York and other English venues after the initial sell-out run.

The uniquely personal impression of the effects in the Theatre of Science were made possible by the safety systems designed into the performance from the outset, and the expert supervision of the stunt sequence provided by HVFX.

Endemol UK came to HVFX to create a studio scale lightning storm for the BBC One children's science series, X-periMENTAL. In front of a live studio audience we re-created various lightning strike scenarios as an experiment in lightning survival techniques.

We worked with the production team at Pinewood Studios to produce an effect that fitted the format of the show, and reflected the wacky, hands-on aesthetic of the production.

Edinburgh Science Festival chose HVFX for the press launch of their event. We provided equipment and crew, as well as contributing original material to their launch event science show. Held in Edinburgh's famous Assembly Rooms, the event was attended by a VIP audience.

The pre-launch publicity included a press call with the (then) First Minister of Scotland, Jack McConnell. We coordinated the photo shoot, which generated coverage by a number of national television networks and newspapers.