Theatre & Performing Arts
System design and specification support for theatres, auditoriums and performing arts spaces. Each system is developed around the venue, the productions it needs to support and how it will be operated.
Start with the venue and how it needs to work.
A theatre system is shaped by more than the equipment list. Seating geometry, balconies and sightlines all affect coverage. Stage size, acoustic conditions, cast numbers and the front-of-house position also influence the right approach.
Bringing these details together early helps the audio, wireless, mixing and accessibility work as one system. Bridge AV works alongside the trade to turn drawings and operational requirements into a practical specification, while the integrator retains the relationship with the client.
TW AUDiO
Installed loudspeaker systemsTheatre sound needs to cover the audience evenly without becoming visually intrusive. Depending on the room, a compact main system may be supported by front fills, balcony or under-balcony loudspeakers and low-frequency reinforcement.
The seating plan, throw distances and available mounting positions are just as important as the loudspeaker choice. Sightlines can limit where a main array can sit, while balconies often create separate coverage areas. Working from the room geometry helps develop the right TW AUDiO combination for the space.
Sennheiser
Evolution Wireless Digital / EW-DXTheatre wireless needs to remain unobtrusive while supporting performers as they move around the stage. Headworn microphones and bodypacks are only part of the system. Receiver capacity, RF planning, antenna coverage and monitoring become more important as the channel count grows.
Start with how many performers need to be live at once and where they move during the production. From there, the system can be built around the required EW-DX channels, suitable headworn microphones and the antenna distribution needed for dependable coverage.
Midas
Digital mixing & stage connectivityA theatre console may need to handle cast microphones, musicians, playback, effects, monitors and auditorium outputs at the same time. The right setup therefore depends on the production workflow, not simply the number of physical inputs on the desk.
Input and output counts, front-of-house position and stage connection points should be considered before the console is selected. Remote stage I/O can reduce long analogue runs. Scene recall, routing and spare capacity can then be planned around how the venue will actually operate.
König & Meyer
Professional stands & support equipmentTheatre stages rarely stay in one configuration. Microphone positions may change between spoken performance, live music and orchestra use. Temporary loudspeaker or lighting positions may also be needed for different productions.
Practical details matter here, including working height, boom reach, floor footprint and stability. The 21090 covers general boom stand duties. The 25900 suits low instrument positions, while the 24651 provides a compact-base option for suitable temporary loudspeaker or lighting use.
Ampetronic
AuriAuri provides an Auracast-based assistive listening system that can sit alongside the main theatre audio. In auditoriums with balconies, multiple levels or complex construction, coverage needs to be considered as part of the design.
Transmitter position and line-of-sight affect the listening area. Walls, metalwork and adjacent spaces can also influence coverage. Once the required seating areas are defined, the system can be planned around transmitter quantity, programme feed, venue receivers and charging or docking requirements.
ISINAC
Acoustic treatmentRoom acoustics directly affect speech intelligibility, music and the performance of the installed sound system. Long reverberation times or strong reflections cannot always be solved with different loudspeakers or additional processing.
Treatment therefore starts with the room itself. Its dimensions, surfaces, architecture and intended use all influence the approach. The amount and position of treatment can then be developed around the areas that need control while still fitting the visual design of the auditorium.
Discuss your theatre project
Send us the venue drawings, seating layout, stage requirements and intended productions. We can work through the system requirements with you and develop a specification around the space, while you retain the relationship with your client.