With topics such as sustainability, next-generation talent, industry heritage, and artificial intelligence at the heart of this year’s programme, PLASA Show 2025 sets the agenda for creative and technical evolution in the live entertainment sector.
The 2025 programme offers a complete and inclusive experience, featuring high-profile panels, hands-on training, showcases on industry heritage, and real professional development opportunities. Thanks to the sponsorship of Vectorworks, all sessions are free to attend, ensuring that every PLASA Show visitor can participate at no cost.
Celebrating 40 years of LSi with live editorial sessions
Debuting in celebration of LSi’s 40th anniversary, the new LSi Theatre brings to life many of the publication’s most popular columns, along with sessions led by a diverse line-up of industry professionals.
One of the most powerful moments of the event takes place on 7 September, when the LSi Theatre hosts Ukrainian Strength – Creativity & Resilience. Featuring Volodymyr Andrusysshyn, Olena Miloradova, and other guests, the session showcases how Ukraine’s production professionals continue to innovate amid extreme adversity—an emotional example of infrastructure, integration, and human ingenuity.
The LSi Theatre also hosts a series of live editorial sessions, including:
- Set In Motion Live, where Sam Woodward discusses automation in repertory venues.
- Second Fix Live, with audio consultant Roland Hemming.
- Classic Gear Live, with Rob Halliday, Ian Grey, and Paul Johnson, who explore how legacy gear continues to influence today’s systems.
Other live sessions are also in development, such as Early Stagers Live, Future Tech Live, and The Conductor Live, with more speaker announcements to come.
Sector-leading sessions
Seminar programme sponsor Vectorworks presents two technical sessions for sound and production designers. Drawing A Sound Plan With Vectorworks sees Luke Swaffield and Tom White walk through immersive system design workflows step by step.
Meanwhile, Michael Harpur, Head of Technical Design at Drawn to the Light, shares behind-the-scenes insights into the development of a major arena tour, including the delivery of a complete design and previsualisation package for Pulp’s You Deserve More tour.
This year, sessions across all theatres explore how traditional roles are evolving amid rapid technological change.
At the Audio & AV Theatre, the session How Sound Design is Changing with Chris Drohan examines how content creation and system engineering are merging into a hybrid discipline. Meanwhile, Roadie Reboot with Darryn de la Soul focuses on freelancer wellbeing, offering practical tools for recovery and managing professional burnout.
In the Lighting & Staging Theatre, From Student to Spotlight is essential for early-career designers, with practical advice from Johanna Town, David Howe, Jai Morjaria, and Nick Moran. Also in this theatre, the session The DNA of Lighting Control with Declan Randall, Sarah Clausen, and Luke Delwiche explores the future of programming, while Owners, Renters and Users with Matthew Millward addresses the management of shared lighting systems.
These sessions support the next generation with practical guidance and real-world experience from active professionals.
Immersive demos and technical training on the show floor
Hands-on demonstrations at PLASA Show continue to grow, offering real-time access to some of the latest tools on the market.
KV2 Audio returns with a Gallery-level demo room, available throughout all three days without prior booking. On display are systems like the SL 4.12, VHD4.21, ES1.0, and products such as EX28, EX1.5, EX1.8, and CS6.
Also present are RCF and TT+ Audio, showcasing new high-performance systems for touring and live events. These include the GTX 7C compact cardioid line array and the KX 32-A active speaker, both making their UK trade show debut. Demos take place daily from 11 a.m. in an acoustically treated room.
AbsenLive offers a full-scale LED demo with creative support from Brompton Technology and Disguise. The centrepiece is the Venus 4.8 Pro, currently in use on the Oasis tour, alongside the latest SA and JP/PL product lines in active visual configurations.
Lighting professionals can also benefit from practical ChamSys training sessions, available across all three show days.
Launches
The Careers and Networking Hub launches in 2025 as a collaborative initiative between PLASA, The Power of Events, Production Futures, and Access Creative College.
Designed for early-career visitors, the Hub offers a welcoming space for networking, mentorship, and professional development, including drop-in sessions, live talks, and practical advice.
Targeted at students, freelancers, and those exploring their next career move, the Hub reflects a growing commitment to sustainability and accessibility in the sector’s talent pipeline.
And there's more to come...
We’re incredibly proud of how this year’s programme is taking shape — from the powerful session on Ukraine’s resilience to the special LSi Theatre and the launch of the new Careers Hub. Sustainability, innovation, and people are all at the heart of this year’s show, comments Sophie Atkinson, Head of Events for PLASA.
