Orbital Sound’s return to live performance with audiences, finds Hairspray taking to the boards at The Coliseum’s Edwardian auditorium – one of London’s most elegant theatres and an ideal setting to celebrate the end of quarantine, with Michael Ball reprising his Olivier Award-winning role as Edna Turnblad.

Representing original Broadway designer Steve Kennedy, sound designer Andrew Keister flew in for the project but had to quarantine prior to arrival in the theatre. In the meantime, Hairspray’s UK sound team – Josh Richardson, Callum Wills, Simon France, Robbie Barclay and Larry Golland – went to work with the Orbital team led by Henry Pierce, ensuring everything was set up in advance at the Coliseum.

Keister wanted to try some updated elements for this latest production, using Meyer Sound’s Leopard line array and Nemesis CCS-2 audio playback redundancy switchers. He also has high praise for the team.

‘It would have been amazing to be back in any theatre again after so many months of the industry being shut down, but to be back in the Coliseum, in the heart of the West End, with this incredible team was almost too good to be true,’ he says.

‘The original West End production of Hairspray in 2007 was the first time I had the pleasure of working with Orbital, and I’m happy to say that 14 years later they are still defying expectations. Our first performance was a very emotional experience for all of us after so much time away from the business that we love, and the roaring ovation from the audience at the curtain call was an experience I won’t soon forget.’

For Orbital, Hairspray marks the gradual reopening of theatres. ‘While we couldn’t prep the show in the usual way, we all focused on creating a harmonious result through online collaboration and making sure that everything was spot on when the curtain went up,’ says Orbital MD, Chris Headlam. ‘After so many dark months, it truly is on with the show!’

More: www.orbitalsound.com