Autograph Sales & Installations has supplied EM Acoustics EMS-61 loudspeakers and mounting hardware, along with a DiGiCo SD9T digital mixing system to London’s Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Now an acclaimed contemporary theatre with a capacity of 460 on three levels, the venue is focused on new writing and community engagement. Its Grade II listed crimson and gold interior is redolent of the era in which it was built, while much of the exterior stands out in an area that has been under redevelopment (including massive investment for the 2012 Olympics) since the late 1960s.
‘In a producing venue like Stratford East, the quality and fidelity of the audio system that we’re able to offer to designers is key,’ says Jeremy George, Head of Sound at Theatre Royal Stratford East. ‘As part of our ongoing efforts to upgrade our in-house system we decided that EM Acoustics EMS-61s front-fills combined with an SD9T was the right choice, being based on an industry-standard platform and at an excellent price-point.
‘When it comes to fill loudspeakers, the EMS-61 is at the very top of the list for many designers and venues, and we were delighted that Autograph was able to supply the speakers along with mounting hardware and their own custom hanging plates for when the speakers are used as front-fill.
‘As a listed building with intricate architecture, we’re unable to rig a centre-cluster,’ he continues. ‘This could be a significant issue when it comes to vocal amplification in larger shows, but with the coverage pattern of the EMS-61s, and the way in which we set them up and tune them, we’re able to partially mitigate the effect of not having a cluster, which really helps the fidelity of the system, and most importantly, the listening experience of the audience.
‘What really made a difference to the whole process was the quality of the customer service from Autograph – Ben and Dan came to visit the theatre and came up with some great ideas, some of which we’ve implemented with this new equipment, with the rest going on the list for future upgrades.’
