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A busy regional performance venue in Broxbourne, to the north of London, The Spotlight Theatre presents a varied program of family entertainment including theatre, music, dance, comedy and cinema – as well as hosting private events in its grounds and reception rooms. And, like countless venues of its kind, it has to juggle the challenges of investment in technical infrastructure and budgetary restraints, while striving to ensure its working practices – and the quality of its productions – continue to meet the expectations of performers and audiences alike.
Recently, an ageing, failing sound system presented just such a need. “Our old sound system had lost many mid-range frequencies and was very tired,” recalls theatre manager Marc Day. “To meet the needs of incoming productions we managed to purchase an interim solution, but we knew we needed a proper new system and infrastructure.”
As the list of requirements took shape, it came to include the installation of new rigging systems and front-of-house winch bars which would support new loudspeakers. But new hardware was not the only challenge: the venue had no existing audio infrastructure apart from some analogue multicore runs between stage and front-of-house. What’s more, the existing amplifier rack was on stage and in the way: the team wanted it to be situated somewhere less obtrusive.
Also, flexibility was key: the Spotlight’s main room is a highly adaptable space. Day explains, “Our auditorium has a very flexible layout ranging from 1000 standing, to a 521-capacity theatre-style to a smaller 323 arrangement, or a 200-seat cabaret layout. And our programme of events ranges from spoken word to live music, drama to pantomime. So a system that made it easy to switch between the different profiles we needed – something we didn’t have before – was critical.”
“Our auditorium has a very flexible layout . . . And our programme of events ranges from spoken word to live music, drama to pantomime. So a system that made it easy to switch between the different profiles we needed – something we didn’t have before – was critical.”
Marc Day, Spotlight Theatre manager
To find the solution, they turned to a known specialist in performance sound – Autograph. Mark Noble, AV Technical Design Engineer at Autograph, says, “We worked closely with The Spotlight’s team to understand its artistic programme, whilst also aligning with its commercial goals. This gave us the basis for best identifying upgrade possibilities, offering them both significant improvements and longevity of investment.”
With Autograph on board, the details were soon defined. The upgraded PA system would be complemented by new facility panels containing Cat6a Data and Speakon connectivity, supporting the new equipment as well as extra functionality and versatility when required. The upgrade would also see the existing (and obstructive) on-stage amp rack decommissioned and removed, while a small equipment rack, tucked away in a corner backstage, would house the existing paging and show relay system.
An equipment rack housing the new amplifiers, Netgear Pro AV network switches, Q-SYS CORE audio processing, plus Speakon and network data patch, would be located in an unused projection room at the rear of the auditorium. This convenient space would also allow room for another amplifier rack, part of a temporary refresh of the theatre’s stage monitoring system (discussions with Autograph about a possible second phase of the upgrade may lead to a permanent solution for this).
Front-fill loudspeakers would be built into new stage fascia, improving both the audio coverage and stage’s appearance. The system covering the rear (retractable) seating bank could be closed off as needed.
The upgrade would also include an easy way to plug audio inputs from visiting equipment into the new PA system, and allow the use of the theatre’s existing 64-channel Allen & Heath Avantis digital mixing console.
To help choose a new PA, Autograph provided the Spotlight team with demos of various manufacturers’ products. As part of this, they also arranged a visit to Chelmsford Theatre to listen to the EM Acoustics Reference Series system which Autograph had recently installed there.
As Day recalls, “This was a great sound, without huge, ugly speakers everywhere. The sound had great quality, whilst being subtle in appearance.” Satisfied by the Reference Series’ tonality and its point source effectiveness, as well as its aesthetic advantage, the Spotlight team decided that this was the answer.
The new EM Acoustics PA solution consisted of two R12 loudspeakers as a L/R proscenium system, together with a pair of R10s on the pros as centre-fill. Three R8 boxes serve as rear delays, while the low-end reinforcement is provided by an array of four compact and powerful S18 subs. Front-fill duties are looked after by eight ultra-compact R5 speakers, concealed inside the stage fascia, and the whole system is driven by EM’s DQ Series advanced system amplifiers.
Autograph’s custom designs for facility panels were followed closely by another contractor, chosen by the theatre to install cabling and containment infrastructure. The system design included primary and secondary Dante audio networks, a throwdown box for analogue I/O to Dante for use by touring mixing console inputs to amplifiers and DSP processing, routing and control through the Q-SYS CORE system, with pre-sets accessed via a 7” touchscreen installed on stage.
Following completion by the cable contractor, the Autograph team began work onsite to complete the system installation. The entire project was undertaken without affecting the theatre’s ongoing schedule, ensuring that the existing audio system remained uninterrupted, and the new system was commissioned in October 2024
For Day, the experience of working with Autograph was hugely positive. “It totally exceeded my expectations,” he says. “They helped us by doing a great amount of work on the design, before we’d even placed an order!”
And his view of the new system? “We’re delighted,” he says. “It sounds great – without speakers blasting you in the face!”
The upgrade has unquestionably improved the venue’s flexibility and speed of set-up, with the ability to control levels and zones via the touchscreens a major advantage. Incoming productions and the theatre’s audiences can now experience a far better quality of sound – delivered by the technical team with confidence and ease.
Noble concludes, “Our main goal was to deliver a vast improvement to The Spotlight’s audio experience, so they no longer needed a costly stop-gap solution. The Reference Series system allows us to offer the subtlety of spoken word, or provide enough energy for live music, without making any compromises. Thanks to our years of experience in the theatre industry, we’ve been able to consult with the sound team and tailor the system presets to best support their workflow.”
Visit: The Spotlight Theatre
Click on photos to enlarge. Photo credit: Graham Chrimes
