Lightware brings immersive video to The Hunger Games’ London stage debut
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.
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.
It was decided very early on that video would be the primary tool to immerse the audience as much as possible. It is certainly one of the more complex projects we have worked on.
- recalls Nick Joyce, Managing Director at ArtAV.
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’s native DisplayPort support and full 4:4:4 colour processing is critical to the production’s success. It enables uncompromised high-resolution performance, while its dependability ensures consistent video distribution across the multiple LED surfaces and screens.
- explains Joyce.
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.
The creative team required a high-performance, ultra-low latency 4K KVM solution to allow animators and video designers to work flexibly and collaboratively,. The Gemini GVN provides remote access to the media servers and workstations located back of house, with a GVN-MMU-X100 Matrix Management Unit acting as a central control hub, coordinating communication between 17 GVN-HDMI-TX210AP-DNT transmitters and 12 GVN-HDMI-RX110AP-DNT receivers.
- explains Joyce.
The setup enables users to instantly connect to different machines or signal sources as required, without physically relocating hardware. Its 4K availability also ensures designers can work with the same high-resolution video content used in the show, ensuring their creative vision can be fully realised. Seamless switching without black frames or audio dropouts further enhances the user experience, while visually lossless 4K60 4:4:4 transmission over 1 Gigabit preserves image clarity, even with highly detailed, fast-changing content.
We thoroughly tested the Gemini GVN before it was specified for the project, and in that time Lightware introduced a Dante-enabled version which was subsequently what we used,” explains Joyce. “This significantly enhanced workflow flexibility, allowing animators to easily route audio from multiple sources, including playback systems, directly to their workstations.
-explains Joyce.
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.
One of the biggest challenges was that the venue was still effectively a construction site when we began. The scale of the space meant everything took longer than anticipated, so simplifying the production workflow became critical. By designing custom production desks supported by the Lightware Gemini system, we were able to create quickly deployable setups with minimal cabling. Each desk connected via a single backstage link and could be daisy-chained or removed easily, allowing the team to stay flexible throughout a long technical rehearsal period.
- recalls Joyce. Since show opening, feedback from stakeholders across the production has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding the stability and consistency of the video systems.
Like any major production, there are always teething issues to work through during the build, but once we reached show-ready status, the video system has been incredibly dependable. It’s performed exactly as needed night after night.
- confirms Joyce.
The MX2 is a theatre staple, it’s a product everyone knows and trusts. The DisplayPort version gave us the flexibility to deliver unwavering video content in such a visually driven show.
- says Joyce. Deploying the Gemini platform for the first time, Lightware’s technical support proved invaluable, as Joyce explains:
There’s naturally a learning curve when implementing any new technology, but Lightware’s support made a real difference in helping us maximise the system’s potential.
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.
Download Case Study
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 at The Hunger Games’ London stage debut.
4 products
Unleash Performance with Gemini GVN
High-Density Video Networking for Pro AV Systems
Discover the Gemini GVN product family, offering unparalleled video networking solutions with advanced scalability, robust reliability, and seamless 4K signal distribution. Perfect for large-scale, mission-critical AV environments.
Discover Lightware's Live Event Solutions
Lightware delivers state-of-the-art AV solutions that empower unforgettable live events and entertainment experiences with seamless integration and unmatched reliability.