When the Tony Award-nominated musical A Night with Janis Joplin made its UK premiere at London’s Peacock Theatre, audiences were treated to an immersive audio experience courtesy of a KV2 Audio sound system. The production celebrates her life and music with the support of KV2 ESR215, EX1.8 subwoofers and ESD5 loudspeakers to capture every nuance of Joplin’s electrifying performances.
‘I’ve worked with the producer on many projects before,’ says sound designer Poti Martin, whose extensive experience in theatre sound design made him the top choice for the job. ‘When they called me for this, I knew it would be something special.’
The brief was to recreate the energy of a Janis Joplin concert while narrating her life story. ‘It’s more than a musical; it’s a dramatised concert that explores her influences and legacy,’ Martin says. ‘We needed a system capable of delivering both the intimacy of storytelling and the powerful, unfiltered emotion of a live rock performance.’
Martin turned to KV2 Audio for the challenge, selecting ESR215 loudspeakers, EX1.8 subwoofers and ESD5 compact loudspeakers for the production. ‘The ESR215s and EX subs are, in my opinion, the best choice for theatre sound by far,’ he says. ‘They deliver an incredible amount of power without losing quality or distorting, which is essential for a show like this.’
Paired with the EX1.8 subwoofers, ESR215, KV2’s flagship full-range system delivered a rich, full-spectrum sound that captured the depth of Joplin’s soulful voice and the intensity of her band’s instrumentation. Meanwhile, the ESD5 loudspeakers ensured that every word and note reached the audience with clarity, even in the farthest corners of the theatre.
The Peacock Theatre’s layout, however, presented challenges, particularly the limited options for rigging the loudspeakers. ‘If we had used any other system, there would have been significant issues,’ Martin admits. ‘But with the ESR215s stacked on stage, we solved all potential problems. The system’s directional control and power meant we could cover the entire space effectively without overcomplicating the set-up.’
The result was a soundscape that immersed audiences in Joplin’s world, from her formative influences to her rise as a rock icon. ‘KV2’s system elevated the show’s audio to another level,’ Martin says. ‘The clarity and power made you feel like you were right there with Janis on stage.’
And the feedback from producers and audiences alike has been overwhelmingly positive: ‘As far as I’m concerned, they couldn’t be happier. The system’s performance speaks for itself,’ Martin concludes.
A Night with Janis Joplin’s run at the Peacock Theatre was compelling theatre, for both its storytelling and performances, and also its sound design. Exploiting KV2 Audio technology, Poti Martin’s design brought Joplin’s legendary voice and spirit back to life like never before.
More: www.kv2audio.com
