Salford’s Hope Mill Theatre marked its ninth anniversary with help from KV2 Audio technology
In early February, the Salford Hope Mill Theatre celebrated its ninth anniversary with a production of the Tony-Award winning musical Nine at the Lowry Theatre, Manchester. With the help of KV2 Audio technology supplied by Autograph Sound, the star-studded cast were able to deliver a powerful performance.
Staged as a musical concert, the show needed an audio system to meet its unique demands. Nick Lodge, who oversaw audio for the production, was keen to fulfil these requirements by using KV2 loudspeakers.
“Although this show is essentially a concert version, there still remained a lot of theatrical elements and, as such, I knew that I needed a system that was capable of delivering concert levels whilst maintaining the sound quality and imaging required for a narrative piece,” explained Lodge. “Due to the short run of the production and limited installation time, I was also keen to have a loudspeaker system that covered the majority of the auditorium from single left-right positions with minimal fill speakers.”
The audio setup included KV2’s VHD2.0 loudspeakers with VHD1 downfills, EX1.8 subwoofers for enhanced low-frequency support, and EX15 speakers with EX6 front fills mounted to the proscenium arch. For the lower auditorium levels, VHD2.18 subwoofers were used, while ESM26 wedge monitors delivered foldback onstage, ensuring clarity for the performers.
Lodge shared his enthusiasm for the system’s performance, saying “I was particularly impressed with how the VHD enabled us to achieve a great dynamic range, fully utilising the large 25-piece onstage orchestra without compromising on tonality or vocal clarity.”
The production’s sound also received praise in a review from arts critic My Cultural Life, which highlighted the system’s excellence, noting the clarity and balance between the orchestra and singers.
Learn more about how technology is transforming live theatre in this article.
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