The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre is generating great interest with the premiere of FANGIRLS, an award-winning Australian musical that has revolutionized the theatre world. This innovative production features an L-Acoustics sound system, providing exceptional audio quality for this important West End debut.
Written by Yve Blake, FANGIRLS explores the passionate world of adolescence through the story of a 14-year-old girl obsessed with the lead singer of a famous band. The show, which blends hilarity with powerful messages about feminism and the often underestimated capabilities of teenage girls, required an extraordinary audio system capable of recreating the electrifying atmosphere of a large-scale pop concert in the intimate setting of the Lyric.
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To meet this unique challenge, acclaimed sound designer Tony Gayle turned to L-Acoustics, working with the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and L-Acoustics’ certified partner, Autograph Sound. This collaboration marks a significant return to the partnership between L-Acoustics and Autograph Sound in the West End.
'FANGIRLS' is unlike any other production we've staged. The pop-driven music and moments that evoke a concert-like atmosphere pushed us to consider audio solutions that go beyond typical theatre sound. We needed a professional sound system with exceptional power and range to capture the essence of the story, explains Daniel Ronayne, Head of Sound at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.
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Recognizing the importance of this production, Autograph Sound made a substantial investment in L-Acoustics technology, adding Kara II and Kiva II speakers to their permanent inventory for FANGIRLS.
The L-Acoustics setup includes two main hangs, one on the left and one on the right, each with six Kara II boxes. There is also a central Kiva II cluster providing vocal clarity and uniform coverage across the auditorium. Additionally, two more hangs with three Kara II boxes each have been installed, along with SB18 subwoofers to cover the stalls, complementing the venue’s existing fixed subs.
This show is heavily influenced by pop, it's fun and very dynamic. For that, we needed a larger sound system than we’ve used before. L-Acoustics line arrays offered the sound quality and projection we were looking for, delivering both the clarity needed for theatrical performances and the concert acoustic experience we aimed to achieve, says Tony Gayle.
"We’re thrilled to see how the K Series brings stadium-level sound to the intimate setting of the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre," says Toby Chester, Musical Applications Manager at L-Acoustics. "L-Acoustics has a long-standing history of delivering powerful, high-quality sound for both large-scale events and theatre productions. It’s an honor to have an expert like Tony Gayle recognize this versatility for 'FANGIRLS'. We’re also excited to rekindle our partnership with Autograph Sound on this iconic production, showcasing how the systems can provide the impact and creative flexibility demanded by cutting-edge musical theatre."
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The clarity and power of the L-Acoustics system have exceeded our expectations. It’s a very different show for the Lyric, and it has opened up new possibilities for how we approach sound design for future productions at the venue, allowing us to create immersive experiences for the audience, concludes Ronayne.
This installation marks a significant advancement in bringing concert-quality audio into intimate theatre spaces, showcasing the versatility and impact of L-Acoustics line array technology in the world of performing arts.
