Welcoming upwards of 100,000 each year, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh has replaced its ageing sound system to ensure the iconic Scottish venue continues to meet the demands of modern productions. EM Acoustics’ Reference Series was chosen to deliver precise, high-quality audio – whatever the performance.
Home to the Lyceum Theatre Company for 60-plus years, the Royal Lyceum stages a performances spanning classic drama and contemporary plays to comedy and musicals. Ian Gibson, Head of Sound & AV had spent several years planning the upgrade which has now led the eventual implementation of the new system.
‘The theatre’s last major refurbishment was back in the mid-nineties, with no ongoing replacement or renewal of the PA system since then,’ he explains. ‘Many touring shows and production companies didn’t want to use our outdated system, so we had to keep de-rigging it to accommodate temporary gear for each show. By switching to EM Acoustics – a name trusted throughout the theatre industry – we’ll largely be able to keep our house system in place all year round, including during Edinburgh International Festival.’
Having previously worked with EM Acoustics’ products on visiting shows, Gibson was confident that the Reference Series would be a perfect fit for the theatre. ‘You can always tell when technology is driven by people with a passion for what they do, and EM Acoustics exemplify this,’ he says.
The 658-seat theatre is set on three levels – Stalls, Grand Circle and Upper Circle. For the stalls, two R8 loudspeakers in wide format are positioned on either side of the proscenium to provide full, even coverage. S15 subwoofers placed beneath the main R8s in the stalls, and hidden discreetly in the circle levels, deliver controlled low-frequency reinforcement across the room, ensuring a full and balanced sound experience.
The two circle levels feature particularly low ceilings, making it challenging to achieve clear sound to seats in these ‘letterbox-shaped’ areas. A flown pair of R8s in narrow format is positioned to cover both levels, along with a dedicated pair of S12s. This extended coverage into the higher seating areas ensures the upper-level audiences have an equal sonic experience to those sitting downstairs in the stalls.
For vocal intelligibility and directivity, a flown centre cluster of R6s anchors the sound to the stage, allowing audiences to experience speech as naturally as possible – crucial in live theatre production. A network of 20 R4 loudspeakers provides front fill, delay and box fill support. Four units along the stage edge cover the front rows, while a further 16 are placed across the stalls, circle levels and grand boxes. This distributed system eliminates dead spots and guarantees consistent sound throughout the auditorium. The system is powered entirely by EM Acoustics’ installation series amplifiers, providing optimal efficiency and control.
‘Every loudspeaker in the Reference Series range is incredibly accurate and usable. The sound from them is very impressive,’ Gibson says. ‘They have all the qualities of modern loudspeaker technology in terms of pattern control and directivity, which we were missing before.’
Opened in 1883, the historic building retains many original architectural features. The compact form factor and discreet placement of all sound system elements mean the installation integrates nicely with the Lyceum’s Victorian interior, while delivering the power and versatility required for modern productions.
Since the PA system has been installed, both theatre staff and visitors have noticed its benefits: ‘During a recent show with 11 radio mics and a forestage playing position, managing sound would have been extremely challenging with our old loudspeakers, especially in terms of gain before feedback,’ Gibson says. ‘With the EM Acoustics Reference Series, the system provides much more control and a very natural sound. It really lives up to expectations.’
The one-man Buffy Revamped show was the first performance to take place following the upgrade and sound levels were noticeably improved, with audiences enjoying clarity of speech throughout the performance. This will be followed by a three-week production of The Seagull. ‘From musicals and spoken word to stand-up comedy, we now have greater confidence in supporting performances with high-quality audio,’ adds Gibson.
With the EM Acoustics Reference Series, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh is positioned to meet the demands of modern productions while respecting its historic architecture. The precision voicing have not only improved vocal intelligibility and sound coverage across the venue but have also helped to reinforce the venue’s reputation as a leading venue that can support a diverse mix of productions. Additionally, the system has proven to be a smart investment, providing a high-performance solution that ensures long-term reliability and can be scaled up or down as required.
‘As we continue to host diverse productions, the EM Acoustics Reference Series will remain a reliable and powerful solution,’ says Gibson. ‘It’s a great feeling to know we have the perfect system in place to deliver exceptional audio experiences for both performers and audiences for years to come.’
More: www.emacoustics.co.uk