Leading Northampton-based full service production company, Stage Right Productions,
has recently extended their already considerable dBTechnologies inventory with the
addition of the VIO 2-way line array system from dBTech’s UK distributor, CUK Audio.
Part of the system is already deployed in the beautiful 900-seat Deco theatre in
Northampton for the annual star-studded pantomime. This year’s production of Peter
Pan features Coronation Street’s Nick Cochrane as Smee, The Voice finalist Lydia Lucy
as Wendy, Grange Hill’s Colin Ridgewell as Captain Hook, West End actor Chris Wills as
Peter Pan, and Northampton’s own Naomi Wilkins as Tiger Lily.
Stage Right operates in a wide range of sectors in the event industry, from outdoor
concerts to corporate events to theatre shows. The company has been investing in
dBTechnologies products for over ten years and held a large amount of the DVA T4
and S20 modules. However, as Stage Right’s production manager, Craig Burgess
explains, the time was right to invest in new technology. “The DVA T4 system has
served us valiantly for many years, but we felt that now the time was right to invest in
some new gear, and of course more recent technology. Earlier in the year, CUK Audio
organised a visit to the dBTechnologies factory in Italy to see how the products are
designed and manufactured. We were extremely impressed with VIO’s capabilities and
functionality so investing in VIO seemed like a natural progression and an obvious
choice for us in adding new PA to our inventory.’
The Stage Right team decided to use VIO on Peter Pan for its crystalline clarity for
speech, its dynamic frequency response for show playback and for the efficiency of
the L210 long throw modules. The L210s also provide smooth, even coverage due to
their 110-degree horizontal dispersion pattern. “This allowed us to cover the whole
auditorium with just two hangs of PA,’ enthused Burgess. “Another feature we really
like is that we can monitor and control all the modules remotely from the new
AURORA NET control software. What’s more, our recent purchase of the VIO S118
subs made it possible to fly all the PA – this was ideal as the venue has limited options
for ground stacking due to the size of the set. We also stock the beefier VIO S318s
but felt they were not suitable for this production, due to their larger footprint. The
results for Peter Pan are amazing and a clear improvement over Deco’s in-house line
array system which struggles to cover the circles and lacks the punch and clarity of
the VIO.’
Overall, Burgess is delighted with the company’s investment. “I feel that
dBTechnologies have really stepped up their game with the VIO which is a serious
contender sitting next to other large format systems,’ he remarked. “The fact that we
have benefitted from such great support from CUK was also a factor in our decision-
making; we know we can count on their help if we need it. We’re looking forward to
seeing further additions to the VIO range and are proud to be one of the first
companies in the UK using these great products from dBTechnologies’.
Stage Right invested in a total of ten L210 2-way active line array elements, two
S3118 triple 18′ active subwoofers, two S118 single 18′ active subwoofers plus the
requisite hardware and accessories for flying and ground stacking. All except the
S3118 subs are currently in use for Peter Pan, controlled on a PC with the new
AURORA Net software via an RDNET Control 2 hardware interface.