Today it is a Japanese national registered cultural property, but the Kaho Theater in Iizuka City, Fukuoka, has endured many difficulties since the building appeared in1922. The predecessor to the theatre, Nakaza, stages kabuki, comedy, juggling and silent films for people working inChikuho’s coal mines.
In recent years, it has become a multi-purpose event venue, able to host audiences of 1,200. In addition to traditional performing arts, music plays, lectures, talk shows and concerts are now all staged here. Because of closure forced by Covid-19, the venue has worked with rental company, Toyo Amuse, to stream live online performances, creating a lot of impact in the media as the Yumebutai Project.
With fewer professionals coming to play at the theatre because of the pandemic, the production team adopted a policy of open recruitment of performers, who in turn can feature their work online via a livestreaming service. ‘When all events and concerts were cancelled due to Covid-19, the theatre decided to collaborate with us to record and deliver performance online, to make people happy,’ Toyo Amuse CEO, Masanori Keuchi explains.
As the main programme has generally been traditional performing arts a loudspeaker system was previously not required. This has now all changed and Toyo Amuse has installed a temporary speaker system – including Martin Audio’s WPC, XD12, LE100 – from its own stock, for a much broader range of presentations. ‘This makes it fully compatible with all music applications,’ Keuchi says.
Toyo Amuse is a recent convert to Martin Audio’s sound, and WPC represents its latest investment. The 10-inch, three-way bi-amped WPC cabinet has excellent coverage and control, and can be used for a range of applications, from arena venues to theatres, and indoor and outdoor events. The Kaho Theater has ground-stacked eight WPC elements, with four SX218 subwoofers providing low frequency support. The sound is further enhanced by a pair of Martin Audio XD12, and eight LE100 floor monitors that are available for use by the performers.
‘It is important that the artists maximise their performance even in an unprecedented environment and without an audience, and Martin Audio speakers have an excellent reputation for their amazing sound and ease of use,’ Keuchi continues.’
In conclusion, he says that the acquisition of a premium Martin Audio PA by his company has done much to boost staff motivation: ‘It was an inevitable move for us,’ he summarises. ‘As a partner that supports both regional activity and traditional Japanese culture, I anticipate further success with WPC in the future.’
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