The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre is making waves in the West End with the UK premiere of Australian musical Fangirls, which features an L-Acoustics sound system from Autograph Sound who added Kara II and Kiva II loudspeakers to its permanent inventory, specifically for the show.
Written by Yve Blake, Fangirls explores the world of teen fandom through the story of a 14-year-old girl infatuated with the lead singer of a world-famous boy band. The show, which blends humour with powerful messages about feminism and the often-underestimated capabilities of teenage girls, required an audio system capable of recreating the electrifying atmosphere of a large-scale pop concert within the intimate setting of the Lyric.
To meet the challenge, award-winning sound designer Tony Gayle specified L-Acoustics, working closely with The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and L-Acoustics Certified Partner Autograph Sound. This collaboration marks a significant return to partnership between L-Acoustics and Autograph Sound in the West End.
‘Fangirls is unlike anything we’ve hosted before,’ says theatre Head of Sound, Daniel Ronayne. ‘The show’s pop-driven score and arena-like moments required us to think beyond traditional theatre audio solutions. We needed a professional sound system with exceptional power and headroom to truly capture the essence of the story.’
The L-Acoustics configuration includes two LR hangs of six Kara II enclosures each, with a centre cluster of Kiva II for vocal clarity and consistent coverage across the auditorium. Two additional hangs of three Kara II with SB18 subwoofers cover the stalls, alongside the theatre’s existing fixed subwoofers.
‘This is a very pop-driven show, which is a lot of fun and very loud,’ Gayle says. ‘We needed a bigger sound system than we had ever had before. The L-Acoustics line arrays gave us the tonal quality and delivery that we were looking for on the show, providing both the crystal-clear sound necessary for theatrical performances and the concert sound experience we wanted to create.’
‘L-Acoustics has a long history of delivering powerful, high-quality audio for both large-scale events and theatrical productions,’ says Toby Chester, Application Manager Musicals at L-Acoustics. ‘It’s an honour to have an expert like Tony Gayle recognise this versatility for Fangirls. We’re equally excited to rekindle our partnership with Autograph Sound on this landmark production, showcasing how our systems can provide the impact and creative flexibility that cutting-edge musical theatre demands.’
‘The crispness and power of the L-Acoustics system have exceeded our expectations,’ Ronayne observes. ‘It’s a very different show for the Lyric Theatre, and it has opened up new possibilities for how we approach sound design for future productions in the venue, allowing us to create truly immersive experiences for our audiences.’
This installation marks a significant step forward in bringing concert-grade audio to intimate theatre spaces, showcasing the versatility and impact of L-Acoustics line array technology in the world of performing arts.
See also:
Fangirls revisits live music fandom with L-Acoustics
More: www.l-acoustics.com
