Among the leading professional theatre companies in Asia, Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) has installed Clear-Com’s Arcadia Central Station to resolve persistent communication issues and streamline its in-house communication. The upgrade was carried out in collaboration with Clear-Com’s regional partner, Electronics & Engineering (E&E).
The theatre had been experiencing reliability issues with its aging intercom system, including occasional interference and wear that hindered clear communication among the production team, prompting the upgrade. ‘Every cue matters during a production,’ says SRT Technical Manager, Lee Kong Shen. ‘Our previous system just wasn’t keeping up with our pace. We knew we needed a change, something dependable, intuitive and future-ready.’
After evaluating several options, the team selected Clear-Com’s Arcadia Central Station as the foundation for a new set-up, integrating wireless FreeSpeak II digital beltpacks and strategically placed transceivers. The result is robust coverage throughout the venue, including both backstage and front-of-house areas. Operating in the 1.9GHz band, the system ensures interference-free performance and minimises conflict with wireless microphones and Wi-Fi signals.
One of the key advantages of Arcadia is its ability to bridge existing analogue infrastructure with newer digital capabilities, enabling a phased upgrade approach without disrupting ongoing operations. ‘Our communication capabilities improved dramatically,’ Lee says. ‘The Clear-Com system offered crisp, uninterrupted interaction between departments, enabling us to respond to on-the-fly issues quickly and efficiently. Plus, its scalability meant we could expand or adapt the system based on the complexity of each production.’
Installation was carried out with minimal cabling and without disruption to the theatre’s performance schedule. Arcadia’s centralised design and flexible configuration made it easy for SRT’s technical crew to adopt the system, Clear-Com and E&E also provided thorough training and responsive support throughout the integration process.
‘The user-friendly interface meant our crew could quickly get up to speed,’ Lee says. ‘Both teams were incredibly responsive and proactive. From the initial consultation to post-installation support, they’ve been with us every step of the way. That level of commitment is rare and deeply appreciated.’