East Africa Breweries have financed the refurbishment of the National Theatre in Kenya as a community project, including a revamp of the foyer and auditorium space. After Prosound director, Mark Malherbe, travelled to Nairobi at the end of last year to visit the venue, he was able to see what technical facilities would be required, specifically to update their aging sound and lighting systems. AUA partner company in Nairobi
For the audio solution, a Meyer PA system was installed, together with onstage Maestro monitors and various Audio-Technica microphones for instrument and lectern usage.
The Maestro-powered loudspeakers were manufactured by Prosound, as well as the cabling systems for lighting and sound, a custom-built Stage Manager’s desk and ring Intercom systems.
Prosound LED parcans and ETC Source Four fixtures were chosen for the stage lighting. An Element Control console was chosen as a lighting control option, known for its ease of use and reliability.
The National Theatre had the control booth in an unsuitable position above the balcony in a closed room. Fortunately, the client followed a recommendation from Prosound to create a sizeable control booth by using some foyer space and repositioning the doors into the auditorium.
The amount of time spent on an overseas site is often a problem for a South African crew, however, detailed cable schedules and panel layouts were drawn up by Prosound thereby enabling AUA, a local company in Nairobi, to pull the cable in and minimising the time our crew needed to spend on site.
Both the client and operators are impressed with the quality of equipment supplied and the standard of the installation. After training and handover of the sound and theatrical lighting systems, a medley of various performance presentations is planned for the auditorium. Further advance training schools are being planned at the Theatre in the near future.
