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14 August 2024

Japan - The Shiki Theatre Company has been part of Japan’s entertainment scene since 1953 and has become one of the world’s largest theatre groups with 1,400 actors and team members. Sennheiser Japan has been a partner to the Shiki Theatre Company for many years. In the beginning, all their theatres were equipped with a combination of analogue Sennheiser 3000 series wireless receivers and 5000 series transmitters. After recognising the significant advantages of the Digital 6000 series, Shiki upgraded to the new audio system a few years ago.

Mr. Kaname Morishita from the sound and music department of the Shiki Theatre Company talks about how the new digital system got introduced: “The major turning point was a sound designer in the US implementing the Digital 6000 series when we were preparing to stage new international programmes at Shiki. For internat

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09 August 2024

USA - The Venice Performing Arts Center (VPAC) in Venice, Florida, has recently undergone a significant lighting upgrade with the installation of Elation Fuze PAR Z175 luminaires, facilitated by production and integration company Thunder City Pro. The venue, which previously relied on conventional Lekos and Fresnels for stage lighting, now offers an enhanced visual experience using state-of-the-art LED wash luminaires with dynamic colour mixing and motorised zoom.

“The goal was to incorporate colour mixing and moving lights to enhance the concert experience,” stated Justin Stancil, president of Thunder City, who notes that the upgrade also included Focus Spot 5Z moving heads from Elation sister company ADJ. “The new lighting system really allows for far more dynamic and exciting scenes for all of the concerts and theatrical shows they present.”

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08 August 2024

UK - Fabric London has extended its relationship with Martin Audio, dating back nearly a quarter of a century, by announcing a substantial upgrade to its flagship Room One.

Since the installation of Martin Audio W8C, Blacklines and WSX subwoofers at the start of the new millennium, the club has never looked back, having gone through several generations of Martin Audio systems - maintaining its faith in the state-of-the-art sound systems offered to its roster of world-class DJs.

But when it came to the latest refresh, technical manager Matt Smith decided to follow a different path. Nervous at the prospect of losing what he describes as “that distinctive Room 1 sound”, he asked Martin Audio if they would overhaul the existing 20-year-old W8L line array by fitting it with new drivers. The High Wycombe manufacturer was happy to oblige.

Howeve

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06 August 2024

UAE - Zenon Dubai at Kempinski Central Avenue in the Dubai Mall, is a new restaurant and lounge that, using cutting edge immersive technology with AI-powered performances and interactive displays, promises its customers an unforgettable sensory experience. It is the first nightclub in Dubai to be fitted with all-Ayrton moving lights.

The design, installation, programming and system integration were all the responsibility of Alex Douglas, lighting consultant with Em-Tec, UAE’s leading AV installation and maintenance provider. Douglas put Ayrton fixtures front and centre of his design, alongside two floor-to-ceiling video walls and two holograms. He chose Ayrton Zonda 3 FX, Zonda 9 FX and Cobra fixtures to create an elaborate overhead ‘chandelier’ comprising 3 concentric circular trusses suspended 18m above the DJ and lounge area, augmented by a side dis

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05 August 2024

Australia - Tasked with the installation of a comprehensive audio system for a new space within Sydney’s Revesby Worker's Club, The Avit Group chose solutions from Nexo.

Once a modest social gathering space for a close-knit community, the venue has expanded to encompass a wide range of amenities- a growth which continues into present-day. 2022 saw the planning and development of Miss Iggy’s, a new nightclub/pub combination promising to ‘bring a trendy Inner Sydney vibe to the heart of Revesby’.

Inspired by quirky street art and retro arcade parlours, the development of Miss Iggy’s brought a host of audio requirements spanning multiple interconnected zones- including a lounge, bar, nightclub area and arcade. The Avit Group’s operations manager, Adrian Davis, expands on the brief:

“Miss Iggy’s successfully marries the vibrant, e

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02 August 2024

The Netherlands - Gigant is an arts and performance complex in Apeldoorn, comprising two theatre spaces, a movie house, recording studios, music venue (popzaal) and a café.

The 550-capacity popzaal is a well-known hang out for music fans and a showcase for catching rising stars artists and ones-to-watch as they build their fanbases, and the venue also has a history with Robe moving lights.

The latest Robe products to be installed are Paintes, Cuetes and LEDBeam 150s which arrived at the end of 2023.

Technical manager Simon Kemme has been working at Gigant for three and a half years and explains that it is one of a genre of multifunctional cultural buildings built throughout the Netherlands – in this case in 1994 – which has encouraged the arts to flourish.

Before taking up the post here, he was a freelance sound & lighting te

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01 August 2024

France - Having featured Sarah Bernhardt on its stages for almost two decades, and staging the very first play by Sartre, Théâtre de la Ville has an impressive pedigree. Throughout its 150-year history, the venue has staged all manner of productions and today is known for its offering of modern dance, theatre and world music. 

Following a major seven-year refurbishment designed to equip the 19th century building with 21st century innovation, Théâtre de la Ville has again placed itself on the edge of technology, able to offer L-ISA immersive experiences to audiences via its BLive-installed sound system.

For almost a decade, Théâtre de la Ville had been in search of the perfect system to realise its immersive audio ambitions. As part of a wider refurbishment, the venue, in collaboration with L-Acoustics certified partner BLive – a long-time te

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23 July 2024

UK - Manchester Printworks is a hospitality hub in the heart of the north of the UK. Comprising bars, restaurants, leisure spaces and a cinema, the venue recently received a £27m refurbishment which included the integration of the largest digital ceiling in Europe – measuring a total of 1,000m². The screen utilises augmented reality technology to display CGI content day and night, and a sound system from Renkus-Heinz envelopes guests in a world of entertainment.    

CUK Group supported the project as technical distributor, working alongside integrators PAS Sound Engineering. The new PA system was required to support the video wall content, as well as events held in the centre, which range from yoga classes to festivals and parties. Renkus-Heinz’s beam-steered IC Live Gen5 Series and UBX Series loudspeakers delivered the appropriate audio solution.

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22 July 2024

UK - When Vine Christian Centre in Bridgend decided to upgrade the audio system in their main venue, they turned to local integrator Spartan AV, who installed a high-quality solution in conjunction with technical distributor, CUK Audio.

The previous audio system had been in use for over 20 years, with recent temporary repairs made to prolong its life. Fundamentally, though, the system did not provide adequate coverage in a venue three times as wide as it is deep. Stand-mounted speakers had been added to improve coverage, at the expense of blocking site lines.

Sean Hales, Spartan AV operations director, reports: “The client was initially fairly set on a flown line-array system; however, after my initial site visit, I deemed that a correctly designed point-source system was the right way to tackle this project. Another consideration was loading on st

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19 July 2024

UK - Part of the Insignis Academy Trust, Princes Risborough School in Buckinghamshire is a mixed-gender secondary school catering for children from the age of 11 to 18. The performing arts play an important role in the school’s curriculum, offering a route to qualifications, as well as the opportunity to participate in, and gain confidence from, being part of many productions run by the Performing Arts Department.

To support its dance, drama and music programmes, the school recently looked to enhance its audio provision by investing in a portable solution which could be easily operated in different areas of the school. The aim was to provide high quality background music reinforcement for dance classes, as well as a medium for small-scale spoken-word/music presentations and rehearsals. Flexibility was key, as was the need to stay within budget constraints.

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16 July 2024

UK - Although only a small, 220-cap venue, the Half Moon in Putney has hosted some of the biggest names in show business over the last 60-plus years. It was the venue for U2's first ever sell-out show, the place where Kate Bush first performed publicly, hosted KD Lang's debut, and has had the likes of Bo Diddley, The Who, and The Rolling Stones gracing its stage.

But its sound system had been installed almost a decade previously and was nearing end of life.

The venue’s head engineer James Beck has been working at the venue all of that time and more. It was when Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason came through back in 2018 carrying Martin Audio’s MLA Mini loudspeaker array that the vast improvement in sound quality arrested his attention.

“I was well aware of the Martin Audio brand, and when I heard this I was super-impressed. It had already b

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11 July 2024

Europe - Amadeus and Holophonix have installed a 34-speaker system with Holophonix spatial control into the Royal Theatre of Namur in Belgium. The concept was to offer the listening audience the best sound possible from every seat in the Italian-style theatre, using Holophonix spatial sound technology and discreetly placed speakers without breaking the architectural theme of the ornate theatre.

“The previous sound system essentially consisted of two pairs of L-Acoustics Arcs installed on two DV-Sub speakers mounted on the stage frame, plus a few delays to open up the less well-served areas of the balconies,” says Patrice Dhautcourt, sound department manager at the Royal Theatre of Namur.

“The venue is a magnificent, listed Italian-style theatre, restored at great expense during a project that lasted from 1994 to 1998 – gilt in every corner, v

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10 July 2024

Ireland - 3LR Lighting played a central role in specifying a new house lighting system for the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) in Dublin. One of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious music conservatoires, RIAM recently undertook an expansion and technical upgrade to mark its 150th anniversary.

As part of this, its 309-capacity Whyte Recital Hall has a new ArcSystem LED house lighting from ETC – for whom 3LR Lighting, as manufacturer’s representative, conducted the detailed consultation. Quality house lighting is, of course, fundamental to any auditorium which prioritises its aesthetic quality as much as its acoustics, for example. Here, however, aesthetic requirements were perhaps of even greater importance than usual.

As 3LR Lighting’s Matt Lloyd recalls, “The colour temperature, the CRI – how the light interacted with flesh tones –

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10 July 2024

UK - The ABTT is inviting nominations for its annual Stephen Joseph Award, as an ongoing tribute to Joseph’s contribution to our theatre culture. Designed to recognise innovative and inclusive theatre excellence in today’s British theatre, the 2024 Award is now open for entries.

The aim of the award is to celebrate the variety of ways contemporary theatre practitioners continue to break new ground in engaging their audiences. The award is open for submissions and a wide variety of practice is eligible - the ongoing work of a theatre company, a specific production, an individual theatre artist or director, or an innovative theatre building design. Submissions welcome from theatres large or small, long-established companies or emerging artists. Nominations accompanied by suitable evidence can easily be made by theatres, practitioners, or the general public

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09 July 2024

UK - Located on the edge of London’s Regent’s Park, 229 is a multi-purpose venue with two spaces: Venue One has a capacity of 700 and Venue Two can hold around 200 people. Both are busy every night, often also hosting events during the day. There is residential housing above and the whole complex is managed under the umbrella of the charity International Student House, which provides a home and community for young people studying internationally. A hundred percent of 229’s profits go back into supporting the charity’s mission.

“We had been using our previous desk for about 10 years,” technical manager Alessandro Bonifacio explains. “Every investment is thought about very carefully, we have to think in terms of longevity and value. I’ve been using DiGiCo consoles on my freelance jobs for years, so I got in contact through Andy Huffer at HD Pro

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05 July 2024

Belgium - The Royal Conservatory of Antwerp recently undertook the transition from conventional to LED lighting with a lighting system upgrade that features Elation KL and Fuze series luminaires. The new lighting system, supplied by Ampco Flashlight, supports a large variety of projects that play out on stages in several of the school’s performance spaces.

The Royal Conservatory is renowned for its excellence in music, dance, and drama, attracting students of the performing arts from across Europe and beyond. Like any institution of advanced learning, the school provides high-quality facilities for its various programs and seeks to keep them updated with the latest technologies and resources to ensure a top-tier educational experience.

Seeking an up-to-date lighting package for the Conservatory’s many performance spaces, Rik Suijs, technician at

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27 June 2024

China - The architecturally stunning Xiao Theatre inside Beijing’s Huilongguan Cultural and Art Centre Theatre has installed a Green-GO ethernet-based digital communications system to aid clear, seamless interactions between the technical team.

The theatre, which is named for renowned Chinese director Rao Xiaozhi, has become a go-to venue for immersive sound technology, attracting a range of dance and theatrical companies. China Green-GO dealer and AV expert EZPro specified a complete AV solution for the theatre, helping it to gain a reputation as a pioneer in audio system design that brings audiences a more involved experience.

To ensure clear communication and efficient workflow, EZPro introduced the Xiao Theatre’s technical team to the Green-GO system. During the planning process Wei HE, Green-GO product manager at EZPro, demonstrated its wire

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26 June 2024

USA - The David H. Koch Theatre, nestled in the heart of Lincoln Centre and renowned for its dedication to dance, has recently undergone a transformative technological upgrade. In a collaborative effort with Clear-Com, the theatre has revamped its wireless intercom, and installed all new panels to enhance communication efficiency.

Originally constructed in 1964 as the New York State Theatre, the venue was designed by the esteemed architect Philip Johnson. Over the years, it has played a pivotal role in the cultural landscape of New York, serving as the home to the New York City Ballet and hosting various other theatrical performances, including classic Broadway musical revivals. Most recently, the 2024 Tony Awards were held at the theatre, utilising Clear-Com's advanced communication systems to ensure a smooth and successful event.

In a generous comm

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25 June 2024

UK - The new Coyote Ugly Saloon in Bristol is bringing a slice of the Big Apple to south-west England with a high-energy audio installation powered by Powersoft T Series amplifiers.

Inspired by the original Coyote Ugly bar in New York, immortalised in the cult 2000 film Coyote Ugly, the first UK Coyote Ugly Saloon opened its doors in 2016 and instantly proved popular in Liverpool and Birmingham. The newest venue, which also has sister bars in London, Cardiff and Swansea is located on Bristol’s Bordeaux Quay, with long-time integration partner Spartan Audio Visual adding the audio muscle.

“We’ve worked with the UK franchise owner for a long time and understand a lot about how they like to work in order to deliver maximum value without compromising the overall AV product,” explains Dave Morgan, Spartan Audio Visual’s sales and instal

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19 June 2024

UK - The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre is one of the country’s leading producing houses, based in the inner-city neighbourhood of Hammersmith, West London. The Lyric recently invested in a comprehensive audio upgrade, based entirely on EM Acoustics’ product portfolio. The upgrade, completed in early 2024, was led by the theatre’s Head of Sound, Daniel Ronayne.  

“Our existing system was due for an upgrade; it was around 30 years old and composed of many different products from different brands,” reflects Ronayne. “We had hired a demo rig from EM Acoustics for past productions, such as our yearly panto, and we were blown away by the quality and wanted to make these products a permanent feature of the theatre and the audience experience.”  

A complete upgrade is a serious decision for a busy theatre but following a trial period, the decis

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18 June 2024

Belgium - The newly completed, multifunctional Silt complex - an architecturally sophisticated ‘landscaper’ completed earlier this year - forms a dominant, wood-latticed landmark on the Belgian coast, overlooking the North Sea at Middelkerke.

Essentially a multipurpose event venue, built and operated by Middelkerke’s municipality as part of its restoration programme for the area, it also hosts a restaurant, hotel and casino run by different operators. All are set within an artificial dune, each with spectacular views across the beach and sea.

For advice on sound reinforcement in the Event Hall, the City Council brought in Stephan Bohez of SBE - a loyal partner of Martin Audio for the past 25 years, who also co-owns StarTechnics with partner, Danny Debock. Stated Bohez, who has staged events for the client over a number of years, “They already

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18 June 2024

UK - Queen Mary University London (QMUL) recently concluded a significant refurbishment of its Garrod Building in Whitechapel. This historic building, integral to medicine and dentistry education and adjacent to the Royal London Hospital, has undergone a transformation to provide modern spaces for student study, socialising, and activity.

GVAV, specialists in audiovisual solutions, spearheaded the critical revamp of the ageing AV systems as part of this project. With a tight deadline to meet the opening for the new academic year in September 2023, GVAV worked with Audiologic to deliver a solution that met QMUL's high standards while staying within budget constraints.

The specification included high-calibre systems for teaching spaces including 11 seminar rooms and a PC Lab as well as the Student Union Bar and Hub and the fitness suite. Utilised for b

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14 June 2024

France - The Royal Opera of Versailles, part of the famous Palace of Versailles, was inaugurated in 1770 and is also known as the Théâtre Gabriel. The interior decoration by Augustin Pajou is constructed almost entirely of wood – for enviable acoustics – and painted with a faux marble technique.

After years of neglect, the venue was transformed by two complete restorations – the 1,200-capacity main room was re-gilded in 1957 and the stage and machinery were revamped in 2009. Since then, it has been busy hosting an annual programme of concerts of baroque music, operas, and ballets.

More recently, a major lighting upgrade comprising 40 x Robe T2 Profiles was delivered in two batches by Robe France, an initial purchase of 30, followed by another 10 x T2 Profiles, which they liked so much that they purchased 12 x TX1 PosiProfiles.

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14 June 2024

Belgium - Since its establishment in 1965 as the city theatre of Ghent, NTGent has maintained a prominent role in the Flemish theatre scene. The venue delivers high-quality productions that are both artistically challenging and socially relevant, utilising lighting solutions from ETC.

Operating across two distinct realms, NTGent (also known as Nederlands Toneel Gent) crafts original theatre pieces and hosts external performances at its venues. For their original creations, which frequently tour internationally, NTGent prioritises a versatile lighting setup capable of adapting to diverse venues worldwide. Conversely, visiting performances rely on more traditional equipment, albeit with a preference for cutting-edge technology.

During a recent interview, Dennis Diels, head of lighting at NTGent, shared insights into the theatre's operations and its dec