In the heart of London’s West End, the 251-seat venue Donmar Warehouse is an intimate of the city’s theatre scene, having opened in 1977 and built a reputation for its diverse mix of productions. The not-for-profit venue recently completed a full refurbishment of its audio system under sound designer Sound Quiet Time and systems integrator Stage Sound Services.
The project carried a clear brief: to enhance and unify the sound system, while preserving the venue’s character and intimacy. Working with the team at Sound Quiet Time, who have been responsible for audio management at the Donmar Warehouse for several years, Stage Sound Services installed an EM Acoustics loudspeaker system.
‘The Donmar Warehouse was looking for a new long-term vendor to handle product hire, install and support,’ explains Stage Sound Services Director, Phil Hurley. ‘We’d worked with Sound Quiet Time on previous projects, and we were pleased to be involved in the installation at a venue as iconic as this.’
‘We have been really switched on to EM since the release of the Reference Series. From the moment we heard them we were very impressed and have now used them across several projects,’ says Sound Quiet Time’s Rob Bettle. ‘EM Acoustics was our first choice when it came to re-designing and unifying the in-house system.
‘The Donmar is a small but complicated space from a sound point of view,’ he adds. ‘The stage is thrust and all audience members are both extremely close to the action as well as possible rigging locations for loudspeakers. Therefore, you need a lot of loudspeakers for a small auditorium.’
Following Sound Quiet Time’s design, Stage Sound Services integrated a full EM Acoustics left, centre, right system, complemented by delays and surrounds. At its heart, the main PA system comprises six R8s from the EM flagship Reference Series with two S-18s as the main subs. Twelve EMS-41 loudspeakers serve as stall delays, while an additional 12 EMS-51s are used for circle delays.
To create an immersive sound environment, 12 EMS-51 loudspeakers are dedicated to the stall surrounds, while a further 12 are placed in the circle surrounds. Four EMS-112 subs across the circle and stalls complete the surround sound system.
On-stage effects are handled by two EMS-122W, four EMS-51, two EMS-41 and four EMS-61 loudspeakers, all of which can be positioned as needed. The full system is driven by five Di20D 8-channel amplifiers, which provide a space-saving advantage, considering the size and scale of the system.
‘The venue’s rich history and commitment to community engagement align perfectly with our own values,’ Hurley says. ‘This installation showcases the versatility and excellence of EM Acoustics products whilst enabling the venue to deliver outstanding audio experiences to its patrons.’
‘A mixture of our longstanding experience of working with the Donmar Warehouse and EM’s extensive product line allowed us to achieve excellent audio coverage of the auditorium,’ Bettle offers. ‘Further, the Donmar Warehouse hosts a variety of shows, and the new system is adaptable enough to cater for many different genres. Noël Coward’s Private Lives is currently showing, and so far, everyone has been very happy with the results.’
