The National Theater of Japan in Tokyo has upgraded its communications with the Riedel Bolero wireless and Artist wired intercom systems. The systems have been deployed across two performance halls — a 1,610-seat theatre and a smaller 590-seat theatre — to enable flexible communications. Staff across the theatre’s technical department rely on the Riedel system to support the production of a wide range of traditional theatrical and musical performances.
Two Artist systems with integrated Bolero wireless intercoms ensure reliable communications in both halls, connecting technical staff with their master control rooms (MCRs). By choosing Bolero for its wireless intercom, the theater was able to reduce the number of antennas required, as well as the time and cost required to install them. The cost savings allowed for investment in an additional three beltpack units, for a total of 13.
Five Bolero beltpacks are dedicated to staff in each hall, and another three beltpacks are used by management staff in the MCR. Each beltpack boasts six channels, and staff working in either hall also can take advantage of point-to-point lines to ‘call’ the MCR directly rather than rely on a phone, as they had in the past.
Makoto Ishii, deputy manager of the Theater Technical Department at the National Theater of Japan, said: “The wireless intercoms we’ve used over the past 10 years were unstable and susceptible to radio interference and noise, so we started looking for a more reliable intercom system with greater RF robustness. After evaluating various intercom products for ease of installation, sound quality, and stable performance, we chose to invest in Riedel’s Artist and Bolero intercom systems.”
Tatsuya Fujisawa, sound engineer at National Theater of Japan, added: “Since we began using the Bolero system, we have eliminated the noise and interference and used the wireless system’s flexibility to make continuous improvements to our intercom setup. We’ve been pleased with new options the Bolero gives us, such as using our beltpack speakers as a two-way radio when that’s a preferable alternative to using headsets.”