In the heart of London’s financial district, the new purpose-built Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre invites audiences to experience Suzanne Collins’ internationally acclaimed The Hunger Games live on stage for the first time. This 1,200-seat venue brings the story to life through extraordinary stunts, illusions and a visually driven environment to transport audiences to the heart of the Capitol.
With immersive video central to the storytelling, reliable signal management became essential to the show’s success. To support this, Lightware’s standalone MX2 matrix switcher with HDMI 2.0 and the 1G AVoIP Gemini GVN system were selected to ensure uninterrupted performances night after night.
The show’s producer and director envisioned a video system that worked as an extension of the environment. ArtAV, a full-service technical solutions provider for the arts industry, worked closely with video designer Tal Rosner and senior video engineer Arthur Skinner to design the system, supplying over 130sqm of Unilumin P3.9 DVLED.
Staged in the round, with no two seats offering the same view, the production team developed the ‘West Tower’ and later the ‘East Tower’ as central visual focus points. These structures serve as scenic elements as well as a key video tool, with performers interacting directly with the LED surfaces during choreographed fight scenes. A 38-metre ticker was also installed at floor level between the stalls and the stage, bringing dynamic content to audience level. Additionally, six smaller screens extend across the front of the balcony and boxes, adding to the sense of participation by linking audience members to their assigned districts.
To ensure consistent, high-quality visuals across this complex display network, Lightware’s MX2-8x8-DH4DPIO-A was deployed as the main matrix switcher.
The MX2 matrices deliver 4K60 video signals over HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort with ultra-low latency, making them ideal for time-critical live applications. In a live theatrical environment where signal interruptions can directly impact performance continuity, the MX2 provides essential operational confidence, allowing the team to focus on creative execution rather than technical risk.
Behind the scenes, Lightware’s Gemini GVN KVM system is instrumental in assisting the complex video workflow, particularly in post-production and rehearsal.
Control of the entire system is managed via Stream Deck Studio interfaces integrated into each animator’s custom workstation, further simplifying this complex workflow, and enabling real time source switching and monitoring.
The Hunger Games: On Stage demonstrates how creative design and advanced video engineering can come together to deliver an audience-centric theatrical experience. Lightware’s MX2 matrix switcher and Gemini GVN system provide the dependable backbone needed to support the show’s complex network of displays, enabling the team to immerse audiences in the world of The Hunger Games while maintaining the reliability required for a technically ambitious, long-running theatrical production.
