February 3rd 2025
COME ALIVE! The critically acclaimed circus show currently playing in Earls Court, London is kept running smoothly with RTS show communications equipment supplied by Multicast Audio.
Back in summer of 2024, we were approached by sound designers and suppliers Autograph Sound and the production management company GBA (Gary Beestone Associates) to design and supply the critical show communications systems for a brand new circus show COME ALIVE! that features the music from the hit 20th Century Fox Motion Picture The Greatest Showman.
Designing the system fell to Multicast Audio co-director Ian Threlfall. “It became apparent after looking at the venue and scope of the show that we had to offer a solution that would be flexible, scaleable and above all reliable.”, Threlfall says, “This is where the RTS OMS Digital Partyline became the obvious choice to be the core of the system. It’s a device we are very familiar with and we could see its obvious advantages for use in a theatrical environment.”
Unlike a standard theatre show COME ALIVE! also had an immersive world outside of the big top, allowing audience members to enjoy close-up performances, meet curious characters and savour delicious food and enticing drinks. This meant it was critical the operations and show management teams were in constant communication. The OMS allowed us to have full matrix key panels for these critical management roles, allowing for point to point calls in addition to a more standard partyline based show operation.
In addition, the venue operations teams communicated by simplex digital radios and the onboard GPIOs on the OMS allowed us to easily integrate four separate radio channels directly into the system. This means that operations management can monitor and respond directly to the various security and hospitality teams that keep the immersive world of the show running smoothly.
The RTS DBP beltpacks being POE devices meant that securing the units with power redundancy was built into the system design by default, as everything would cable back to the node switches which sat on UPS. The added benefit of the beltpacks allowing for daisy chaining meant that rigging for production periods, where more temporary packs would be required, was very straightforward and quick to accomplish.
Multicast Audio’s growing stock of Riedel Bolero wireless equipment was put to good use providing wireless communications on COME ALIVE! with a total of six antennas providing full site coverage for twenty beltpacks. This allows for the large stage management team to be able to receive cues and give critical safety clearances from anywhere on site. Having the core of the intercom system based on such an industry standard protocol like Dante, allows us to use a whole range of already available IO products to easily interface audio anywhere across the network. We used IO units from CTP Systems to allow for 4-wires to the Riedel Bolero Wireless systems as well as picking up lines from the audio department.
With a site as big as the Empress Museum it was clear that our network was going to need to be connected over fibre. We opted to use Netgear AV line switches, including a M4350 core switch, which connects a total of five M4250 edge switches across the site using the site fibre network. The fact that these switches support PTP TC allows the RTS OMNEO connections to operate smoothly alongside our Riedel Bolero wireless systems. The star topology design allowed for no more than two hops across the whole site, allowing for very low latency while not missing a single packet.
“The RTS OMS system has proven itself every night to be reliable, solid and exactly the right solution for a show of this size. Offering near full matrix flexibility at a lower price point and simplicity. We’ve already expanded our stock of RTS products to include more OMS and DBP as well as a full ODIN matrices for even larger shows” Threlfall says.
The show opened to rave reviews and has already extended its run until September 2025.
About Multicast Audio
Since 2014, Multicast Audio has offered bespoke and friendly audio, communications and networking support and systems to clients in the events, theatre and broadcasting worlds. Led by our directors Ian Threlfall and Tom Mann we design, install and manage all of the technology to allow your teams, shows and events to be the best they can be. Projects highlights include Saturday Night Takeaway, the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and the Olivier Awards
www.multicastaudio.com
About COME ALIVE!
COME ALIVE! is an epic circus spectacular inspired by the 20th Century Fox Motion Picture The Greatest Showman. ‘COME ALIVE!’ stars the finest international circus stars (Cirque de Demain Medal Winners, Cirque du Soleil) and musical theatre talent from the West End. This new show features all the hit songs by Pasek and Paul including ‘This Is Me’, ‘Rewrite the Stars’, ‘A Million Dreams’, ‘Tightrope’ and ‘The Greatest Show’. The show is currently booking up to September 2025.
www.comealiveshow.com
About RTS Intercom
RTS Intercom is a company that designs and manufactures professional intercom systems. They are known for their reliable, scalable, and high-quality intercom systems. RTS Intercom’s products are used in a variety of industries, including broadcast, aerospace, industrial, and entertainment
www.rtsintercoms.com
Photos
Photo by COME ALIVE! (2024)
