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For almost a century, Thebarton Theatre has stood among Australia's most respected live music venues. Known locally as Thebby, the 2,000-capacity theatre has welcomed generations of Australian and international artists, building its reputation as a venue capable of hosting productions ranging from intimate performances to high-impact touring shows. Its heritage architecture and highly adaptable auditorium continue to make it one of Adelaide's most distinctive cultural landmarks.
When plans were drawn up to renew the theatre's house PA, the objective extended beyond a simple equipment upgrade. The system needed to deliver the performance expected from a modern concert venue while remaining practical for a busy calendar where visiting productions frequently arrive with their own technical requirements. Rather than investing in an oversized installation, the project focused on providing a solution capable of covering the vast majority of events while allowing rapid changeovers whenever larger touring systems were specified.
As Andrew (Andy) Gayler of AJS Productions explains:
"I proposed a cost-effective system that would be fit-for-purpose at least 80% of the time. Something compact and capable of covering the whole space easily and clearly, with plenty of headroom, and yet can be quickly de-rigged and put back together again after a larger system needs to be brought in. The Thebby has for the most part been a ‘stacks and racks’ venue anyway – except it’s not racks so much anymore because everything is active and self-powered."
Working alongside National Audio Systems (NAS), the team selected a dBTechnologies VIO solution comprising 16 VIO L1610 modules as the main left-right arrays, 6 VIO S218 subwoofers in ground-stacked configuration and VIO X206 loudspeakers for frontfill coverage. System management is handled through RDNet Control 8 and AuroraNet, providing comprehensive optimisation and day-to-day control. Despite the architectural constraints imposed by the historic building—including the impossibility of installing an overhead centre fill—the design achieves consistent coverage and excellent intelligibility throughout the venue.
The installation was completed within a particularly demanding timeframe, with commissioning carried out during the final weeks of the theatre's refurbishment programme. Reflecting on the collaboration, Gayler commented:
"NAS was a great help with the planning and commissioning of the system. And everything was in stock – which might seem an obvious thing, but it wouldn’t be the first time a project was stalled or over time because components aren’t available. NAS made sure it was all ready to go."
Today, the VIO system provides Thebarton Theatre with a flexible and dependable in-house solution capable of supporting the majority of productions hosted throughout the year, while preserving the venue's ability to accommodate larger touring specifications whenever required. The project demonstrates how thoughtful system design can successfully balance operational efficiency, installation constraints and outstanding sonic performance within one of Australia's most enduring live music venues.
System Configuration:
Main: 16 VIO L1610 (8 per side)
Subwoofers: 6 VIO S218 (3 per side, ground stacked)
Frontfills: VIO X206
System Management: RDNet Control 8 & AuroraNet
