The history of Straubing’s theatre harks back to Roman times, when wooden stages were erected, and continued throughout the Middle Ages with school and amateur theatres. Its golden era arrived in the 19th century with the founding of theatre societies and the establishment of the Stadttheater.
In 1952, the venue became a part of the Zweckverband Niederbayerisches Städttetheater or Lower Bavarian Municipal Theater Association. From 2005, the Theater am Hagen underwent a complete rebuild, becoming a professional 320-seat theatre hosting ensembles from across the region.
After decades of service, the management chose to upgrade its legacy stage manager system and all staff communications. The goal was to find an economical yet future-proof solution that would meet their high production standards, with an emphasis on intuitive and easy operation. Working with Robert Ernst, MD of local company TRE Professionelle Audiotechnik, and theatre Technical Director Wolfgang Herrein, they opted for an intercom solution from RTS.
This communications system is suited to use in theatres, churches, broadcast facilities and industrial facilities, among other performance venues. Five licensed configurations ensure the system meets budgetary constraints and specific installation requirements. In a compact 1U-high enclosure, OMS offers a flexible and cost-effective multi-format solution that combines and processes Dante, AES70, RVON, wired and wireless as well as digital and analogue devices.
At the Theater am Hagen, a wired DBP (Digital Beltpack) is available at the lighting control room’s fixed location in the gallery. This features four channels, can be powered by PoE+ (Power over Ethernet 802.3af and 802.3at) and is connected via Omneo IP technology. The hybrid design supports both digital partyline and matrix keypad modes. The stage management system, ticketing office, dressing rooms and lighting control are equipped with a total of four DKP and KP series intercoms.
‘The Omneo Main Station shows great potential for theatres and other venues, as it is easy to operate and quickly installed,’ Ernst explains. ‘Together with the Roameo wireless system, it allows smooth communication, maximum flexibility and sustainability at a comparatively low investment for the customer.’
After several months of intensive use, Herrein is enthusiastic about the new intercoms: ‘The new stage management system from RTS quickly became part of our everyday lives. The handling is easy, the sound quality is excellent and the desired mobility is always guaranteed. All in all, a very reliable intercom system with which we are all very satisfied.’
