LIVE Spring 2026 - Web

LIVE returns for 2026 with a new theme-led format, opening with a focus on innovation. This issue uses ISE as both a launch pad and a barometer for the year ahead, with an essential show guide highlighting key technologies and conversations. Elsewhere, we explore innovation across theatre, projection mapping, control rooms, corporate AV and major projects, alongside boundary-pushing live tours and a beloved bear’s move to the West End.

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SPRING 2026

Through projection, video and historical fact, Day of Remembrance blends tech and performance to tell one of Finland’s darkest stories

Helping you navigate AV’s premier event

Pros gather to share their 2026 industry predictions

The technology dazzling cathedral crowds globally

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EDITOR’S WELCOME 3

EDITORIAL Editor Verity Butler +44 (0) 1223 492246 veritybutler@bright.uk.com Senior staff writer Chief sub editor Matthew Winney Junior sub editors Tabitha John Kezia Kurtz Editorial director Nicola Foley ADVERTISING Sales director Sam Scott-Smith +44 (0) 1223 499457 +44 (0) 7875 711967 samscott-smith@bright.uk.com Katie Kasperson Features writer Oliver Webb +44 (0) 1223 499462 +44 (0) 7376 665779 emmastevens@bright.uk.com DESIGN Design director Andy Jennings Magazine design manager Lucy Woolcomb Junior designer and ad production Holly May Sales manager Emma Stevens PUBLISHING Managing director Andy Brogden FOLLOW US @livemagsocial linkedin.com/company/ livemagsocial MEDIA PARTNERS

W elcome back – and to the first issue of LIVE in 2026. A new year always brings a fresh sense of momentum, and if there’s one sector that thrives on what’s next, it’s AV. On that topic, we’re also trying something new for 2026. Each quarterly issue of LIVE will be centred around a core theme, giving us the chance to dive deeper and tell more meaningful stories across the industry. For this issue, that first theme could only be innovation. As Steve Jobs famously said: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Few moments embody that spirit more than ISE, which is why innovation felt like the perfect lens to kick 2026 off. A melting pot of product launches, conferences, showcases and conversations, it’s the show that sets the tone for the year ahead. Whether you’re there to see the latest tech, meet new collaborators or simply soak up what’s coming next, be sure to check out our annual guide on page 12 for everything you need to know ahead of the event. Our cover story on page 22 takes innovation in a powerful and human direction. We offer a technical breakdown of Day of Remembrance , an incredibly moving new production from the Finnish National Theatre. Through the thoughtful use of live video, projection and lighting, the show demonstrates how audio-visual tech can play a vital role in telling the story of difficult but important moments in history. Elsewhere in this issue, we continue to explore innovation from every angle: a panel discussion on managing risk in major audio- visual projects; a behind-the-scenes look at a new broadcast- grade office in London; an examination of the often-invisible technology powering modern control rooms and an interview with Luminiscence , whose projection mapping is transforming some of Europe’s most beloved cathedrals. Our concert coverage turns to the bands Radiohead and Linkin Park, who are both pushing creative and technical boundaries in their latest tours, while theatre fans won’t want to miss how the beloved bear pictured above has swapped his train station roots for the West End stage. Here’s to another year of bold ideas, smart solutions and relentless AV innovation. We’re glad you’re with us.

Grab your jar of marmalade and go to page 68 for a Paddington The Musical deep dive

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NEWS & UPDATES The latest AV scoops – from metaverse music deals to Coldplay on tour ISE 2026: ANNUAL SHOW GUIDE Heading to Barcelona for AV’s premier show? Then don’t miss this guide! DAY OF REMEMBRANCE Our cover story goes behind the curtain of an innovative new play from Finland

HELLO HOLOGRAMS!

We visit Uxbridge for one of the biggest hologram showrooms out there

RADIOHEAD TOUR: A SONIC SUCCESS LIVE creeps behind the scenes of the latest voyage by alt-rock icons Radiohead LINKIN PARK: NEW YEAR, NEW BAND Linkin Park are back – with a fresh look, throwback sound and transformed line-up PADDINGTON FINDS HIS VOICE Paddington fever hits the West End, bringing a cute bear and a catchy score INDUSTRY: APAC OPPORTUNITIES ISE may be all everyone is currently talking about – but what’s next? BUYERS’ GUIDE: EDUCATION To honour ISE’s Connected Classrooms, we’re here with our top ed-tech picks

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CONTENTS

This issue’s cover was designed by Holly May at Bright Publishing. Image by Janne Vasama

INNOVATION FOCUS

LONDON’S GLOSSY NEW LOOK We visit London’s financial district and find broadcast- grade office spaces PANEL: AV RISK VS REWARD Our crop of experts share the secret sauce for major projects and installations GAINING CONTROL Discover the tech quietly powering operational hubs around the world SPIRES AND SPECTACLES Meet Luminiscence : the experience dazzling house of worship visitors globally 2026: EXPERTS PREDICT AV has a big year ahead of it and pros share their predictions for the sector

6 NEWS NEWS

2025 ARIA AWARDS The 2025 Aria Awards, produced by Second Sunday on 19 November, delivered one of their most visually ambitious productions to date. Brompton Technology’s Tessera LED processors powered a full ROE Visual LED system, worked by the award-winning AV company Scene Change. The large-format LED installation helped create a cohesive, camera-ready visual environment for Australia’s premier music awards, held at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion and streamed live on Paramount+ and Network 10. The ceremony had a standout line-up of performances and speeches from artists such as Amyl and the Sniffers, who led the night with four wins, alongside Ninajirachi, Dom Dolla, Troye Sivan, Thelma Plum and Olivia Dean. “Shows like the Arias leave no room for error,” said Anthony Pellizzari, account manager at Scene Change. “We needed a system we could trust for complex, fast broadcast demands. The golden combination of ROE and Brompton brought the required reliability, flexibility and headroom.

FRENCH ELECTRONIC MUSIC ADDED TO UNESCO HERITAGE LIST

The recognition highlights the genre’s enduring artistic, social and historical significance. Over five decades, Jarre has continually expanded the possibilities of electronic sound and large-scale performance, staging landmark concerts at iconic cultural and UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Forbidden City, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Masada, Pompeii and, most recently, Samarkand.

France has officially put electronic music on its national Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, marking a decisive step toward a future UNESCO application. The announcement, reported by Le Figaro , highlights nearly a century of innovation, from the 1928 Ondes Martenot to the global impact of French Touch with the likes of Air, Cassius, Daft Punk and Justice. Jean-Michel Jarre is cited as one of the movement’s foundational figures.

NEWS 7

BULLETIN

UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP AND ROBLOX ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP Universal Music Group and Roblox announced a new strategic agreement that will see the companies collaborating to enhance commercial integration and music across artist and fan experiences. The deal includes the incorporation of commercial features that will aim to drive increased engagement and revenue for artists and labels, with the ability to leverage Shopify for digital and physical merchandise sales. The companies will work closely to streamline artist and label engagement in the platform, providing creative and operational support and access to Roblox tools and beta features. “We have worked closely with Universal Music Group over the years to bring some of their top artists to Roblox to engage with next-gen fans in innovative and creative ways,” said Enrico D’Angelo, chief business officer at Roblox. “This strategic agreement is a major step forward in building the future of immersive entertainment, with this partnership significantly expanding the commercial and creative opportunities for UMG artists and labels on our platform.”

TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET SPHERE The actor became the first person to appear on top of the Sphere as the Exosphere external LED display was transformed into a giant ping- pong ball to promote Chalamet’s latest film, Marty Supreme . The stunt, conceived and carried out by Chalamet, film distributor A24 and Sphere Studios, marks the latest unique activation for Sphere. In honour of the film, a Marty Supreme -themed Cash App Card featuring five exclusive stamps was also showcased on the Exosphere.

CONNECTED CLASSROOM

Powered by Logitech, Connected Classroom will return to showcase at ISE the technologies reshaping education globally. The 120 sq m immersive showcase in Hall 2 will feature four interactive zones, each tailored to different educational needs. The facility, which made its debut at last year’s ISE, will feature hands-on zones, expert sessions and demonstrations so attendees can explore the impact of gaming, AI, VR/AR and collaboration tools. WORLD’S LONGEST, IMMERSIVE LED GALLERY Gallerio Bombi, a pedestrian walkway in Gorizia, Italy, has been reinvented as a 100m-long, immersive Digital Art Gallery (DAG), boasting a stunning 148 million pixels. The revamped path, officially opened on 16 December, transforms an ordinary passage into a multisensory spectacle, blending art and technology in an engaging experience for visitors. The massive LED installation, stretching 100m in length and 9.25m in width, was created by Videomobile, the LED solutions division of M-Cube. OXFORD UNIVERSITY AURACAST Over the past two years, Oxford University, with systems integrator Aura Futures, has developed a pilot Ampetronic Auracast assisted listening installation into a fully fledged audio standard, now being implemented in teaching spaces and public areas. Oxford’s campus, which combines cutting-edge research facilities with centuries- old architecture, presents uniquely complex audio-visual challenges.

8 NEWS

LET’S GET PHYGITAL The Games of the Future 2025 powered by ADNOC took place from 18-23 December at ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi. More than 850 participants from over 60 countries competed in 11 disciplines spanning phygital sports, tech sports and esports. Champions were crowned in front of thousands of fans across packed arenas, with hundreds of millions more viewing broadcasts, social feeds and streams around the world. Competitors, ranging from 13 to 72 years old, underlined the inclusivity and cross-generational appeal that defines the Games of the Future. Spectator favourites included large-scale tech showcases like the Battle of Robots that saw 2.48 tons of robots flown into the UAE for competition. There were also globally popular esport competitions including MOBA PC.Dota 2 , Mobile Mobile: Bang Bang (MLBB) and Battle Royale . Featuring Fortnite tournaments alongside phygital formats such as Phygital Football powered by ADNOC and Phygital Basketball . 3on3 Freestyle brought to you by M42 and Phygital Shooter . CS 2 , Phygital Dancing , Just Dance , Phygital Fighting and Fatal FURY: City of the Wolves .

FUTURESCOPE HONG KONG Futurescope is Hong Kong’s first large-scale projection art dome, located at the Dream by the Sea waterfront in Kai Tak Sports Park. The park is run by a Los Angeles- based international venue management and live events company ASM Global. Launched in December 2025, the 12m hemispherical structure delivers immersive 360° media art using projection, spatial audio and real-time facial recognition, to create a VR-like experience without headsets. Conceived by Hong Kong media artist Chris Cheung (h0nh1m) with studios Xcept and Xceed, the dome blends Eastern philosophy with data-driven technology and also works as a live R&D platform. Perpetual Records, its inaugural programme, is on in early 2026 and captures visitors’ facial expressions to generate evolving visuals and sounds. The sound design, by Japanese media artist Daito Manabe of Rhizomatiks, responds dynamically to audience input.

CLEAR-COM POWERS NAMM’S 125TH ANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCES

Clear-Com. “We’re excited to return to the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage and support the incredible team bringing the anniversary celebration to life.” At the core of the system is Arcadia Central Station, which is serving as the backbone of all communications by unifying connectivity across platforms. The system includes Freespeak Icon and Freespeak II beltpacks for users to communicate between front of house and backstage. Production teams will also utilise the new Helixnet 4-channel beltpack alongside V-Series IrisX panels to deliver flexible control for their stage managers, audio engineers and technical staff.

Clear-Com has revealed its continued role as the official intercom supplier for the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage at the 2026 NAMM Show, taking place 22- 24 January at the Anaheim Convention Center. For the NAMM Show’s 125th anniversary, the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage will host three days of extraordinary performances, such as the Yamaha Night of Worship on 22 January and the Yamaha All-Star Concert on January 23. “Communications are crucial and Clear-Com has been a trusted partner in keeping production running smoothly over the past few years,” said Brian Grahn, regional sales manager at

DIARY DATES ISE 2026 3-6 February Barcelona

MIR EXPO 2026 12-14 April Rimini

INFOCOMM CHINA 2026 15-17 April Beijing

NAB SHOW 2026

MPTS 2026 13-14 May London

18-22 April Las Vegas

10 NEWS

BIG BEAST STAGE VISUAL EXPERIENCE Visual Noise, Disguise and PRG announced the successful completion of their recent work on Mdlbeast Soundstorm 2025, combining creative, technical and production expertise to deliver a next-level fan experience at the festival. powered every stage and screen, with the festival being the first in the region to deploy their own recently unveiled, new GX 3+ media server.

Now in its sixth year, 2025’s Soundstorm festival welcomed hundreds of thousands of fans over three days. Attendees enjoyed performances from an impressive line-up of around 250 artists, including Cardi B, Post Malone, Pitbull, Calvin Harris and more. After a record-breaking event the year before, the festival grounds and stages were reimagined as musical districts for fans to explore like a city.

Visual Noise produced visuals and oversaw cameras across seven of the festival’s stages along with hundreds of informational screens throughout the site. The flagship Big Beast stage, delivered by PRG, was redesigned to showcase ultra-low-latency visuals on a vast LED canvas capable of ingesting 10 UHD 4K feeds. Disguise

RISE AV LAUNCHES ASIA PACIFIC COUNCIL Following the success of its January 2025 UK launch, Rise AV, a global non-profit initiative dedicated to supporting and advancing women in the audio-visual industry, announced its expansion into the Asia-Pacific with its first overseas council and mentoring programme. The Rise AV Mentoring programme, beginning in Singapore and Hong Kong, provides six months of structured mentorship and professional development for women at all career stages. Applications are open for female mentees and industry-leading mentors of all genders. Participation is free, thanks to the generous support of industry sponsors, including QSC and ROE Visual. The Council will include senior industry leaders from across APAC, from Maureen Aw, senior AV manager at Marina Bay Sands to Sand Leung, Nova Range’s managing director; Angela Franco, senior manager of strategy and business operations at APAC, QSC; Sujith Sivaram, ESCO’s managing director; Molly Chow, Vega Global’s executive director; Candice Siow, regional director at Lightware; Grace Kuo, chief strategy officer at ROE Visual and Jeff Shoesmith, senior channel sales rep – PA/VA, Honeywell.

MUSIC OF THE SPHERES TOUR Van-Damme cabling solutions will continue to support the production preparation behind bringing Music of the Spheres to life. He recalled beginning the groundwork ‘around five years ago, just after we’d

of Coldplay’s global Music of the Spheres World Tour , one of the most-ambitious and highest- attended tours in live music history. Since its 2022 launch, the tour has delivered groundbreaking, sustainability-focused stadium shows across multiple continents, with more dates in 2026 and 2027. Behind the scenes, the tour’s audio team oversees an intricate, ever-moving ecosystem designed to deliver the same emotional impact to millions of fans, night after night. This means that every part of the signal chain has to be rock-solid – from city to city, climate to climate and stage to stage. FOH engineer Dan Green, who has been with Coldplay since 1998, spoke about the scale of

finished the record,’ as the team shaped the audio vision that would eventually launch in Costa Rica in 2022. “We’re now finishing up this part of the tour before taking a little break in Wembley with 10 shows.”

12 INDUSTRY AND EVENTS

From blockbuster booths and buzzy, new tech zones to bold conversations on what’s next for AV, ISE 2026 is shaping up to be bigger, smarter and more future-focused than ever. Consider this your essential cheat sheet to the show that kickstarts the industry year

Words Verity Butler

INDUSTRY AND EVENTS 13

14 INDUSTRY AND EVENTS

unpack. Fortunately, LIVE is back with our annual show guide, here to navigate the ever-changing event so that you don’t have to! NEW TO 2026: CONFRONTING INDUSTRY THREATS Every year without fail ISE looks for ways to expand and diversify what it has on offer – to match its fast pace of growth. Something you should watch out for this year is the inaugural Cybersecurity Summit. Its arrival is very timely, after cybersecurity breaches and hacking scandals littered headlines in 2025. The world’s gaze is firmly on the tech industry to come up with answers to this growing problem, and so conversations on the topic at events the scale of ISE are crucial. As AV systems become increasingly networked and embedded in enterprise, public sector and venue environments, they are directly exposed to the same vulnerabilities as traditional IT

and largest landmark event: Integrated Systems Europe. Making its grand return to the Fira de Barcelona on 3-6 February, preparations for the show were underway long before the passing of the new year, and for good reason. With a floorplan that comprises around 82,000 sq m of exhibitor space across eight halls and seven expanded technology zones (including 2700 sq m of additional space), it will be the show’s largest configuration to date. “At ISE, we are dedicated to inspiring the community and exploring what’s possible,” says Mike Blackman, managing director of ISE. “Each year, we aim to deliver an experience that fuels creativity and drives innovation. ISE 2026 will open new horizons, ignite fresh ambition and bring together the global AV and systems integration community for a celebration of innovation.” Featuring over 1700 exhibitors (323 of which are newbies!), there’s plenty to

t the time of writing, I’ve just returned from the festive break. My inbox is fit to burst with ‘Happy New Years’ and a general sense of readiness to take on whatever 2026 has to offer. However, for anyone who mixes in AV circles, the start of the year marks something far more significant. It is of course the impending return of the industry’s fastest-growing

The ISE 2026 team has been getting its approximately 82,000 sq m space ready for crowds since before the end of last year

INDUSTRY AND EVENTS 17

ISE’s first-ever Cybersecurity

Summit brings together our industry’s brightest minds to confront today’s digital threats head-on

infrastructure. At the first-ever ISE Cybersecurity Summit, AV professionals will learn all about safeguarding critical systems, navigating evolving regulations like NIS2 and ISO 27001 and transforming cybersecurity from a vulnerability into a strategic advantage – before it’s too late. “Cybersecurity is no longer a technical afterthought, it is a business-critical factor,” continues Blackman. “For AV technology users, manufacturers and integrators, it’s essential for accessing public tenders, ensuring regulatory compliance and building long-term trust with clients.” Summit chair Pere Ferrer i Sastre, who is the former director general of the Catalan Police and also has extensive experience in public security, digital transformation, regulatory frameworks and critical infrastructure management, will facilitate discussions addressing emerging digital threats to the AV and systems integration sectors. He explains: “Cybersecurity is no longer optional; it lies at the heart of every AV innovation. ISE’s Cybersecurity Summit brings together our industry’s brightest minds to confront today’s digital threats head-on and turn them into strategic advantages. Sharing actionable insights, real-world experience and proven strategies empowers AV professionals to protect critical systems, lead with confidence and build a safer and smarter future for the entire industry.” The Summit is part of ISE 2026’s overarching theme: Push Beyond. By introducing the Cybersecurity Summit, ISE pushes beyond traditional boundaries to address one of the most urgent and complex issues facing the industry today. 2025 SUCCESS: AN INVESTMENT Back for yet another year after its resounding success back in 2025, Innovation Park, which is situated in

The show’s theme is about pushing beyond today to find tomorrow’s solutions

18 INDUSTRY AND EVENTS

now include some companies that are returning after an absence of three years or more. To support this expansion, Innovation Park at ISE 2026 will feature 130 exhibition pods. The Investor Forum will also see its return this year, taking place on the first day of the show, Tuesday 3 February. “The Investor Forum will spotlight the progressive advancements within pro AV, providing extensive insights for businesses at all stages. A wide range of panels will cover investment types, as well as industry challenges and practical advice for start-ups. Additionally, sessions will explore government funding and

Congress Square, connects investors directly with game-changing start-ups to maximise investment opportunities. Blackman expands: “Whether you’re looking for high-growth investment opportunities or groundbreaking solutions ready for implementation, Innovation Park is where ideas and opportunity meet. We’ve always championed innovation and challenged expectations at ISE, and Innovation Park is the perfect example of how we continue to push beyond today to find tomorrow’s solutions.” Alongside start-ups and first-time ISE exhibitors, Innovation Park criteria will

BEST OF BOOTHS The beating heart of every trade show is its bustling show floor. Here are the stands we’ll be stopping by at this year’s show:

Blackmagic Design – 4R500 Appropriately located in the buzzing broadcast AV area of the show, we will be heading over to this stand to check out Blackmagic’s renowned, cost-effective and high-performance workflows that span cameras, routing and switchers. Its tightly integrated ecosystems are ideal for broadcasters, live events and corporate AV decision- makers seeking scalable quality. AV Stumpfl – 3A500 A must-see for premium projection surfaces, media servers and modular screen systems, we’re excited to catch up with the talented AV Stumpfl team, who excel in precision engineering and flexible solutions, tailored to staging, touring and high-end corporate installations. Christie Digital – 3K500 Christie Digital delivers cutting-edge projection, LED and processing for demanding venues. We’ll be dropping by its stand to explore its market- leading brightness, colour accuracy and reliability.

Hive – 5G700 Although fairly new on the scene, HIVE has been making major waves in the media server scene. Ideal for AV pros who are seeking flexible playback and seamless integration across projection, LED and complex show environments, the buzz around this company is not without reason. Roe Visual – 3C500 Known and loved for its premium LED display solutions, Roe Visual is essential viewing for anyone specifying high-res, colour-accurate LED. We’ll be swinging by its stand to try out the products most trusted by touring, broadcast and virtual production professionals worldwide. Disguise – 4P500 Disguise leads in real-time 3D visualisation, content management and playback. We’ll be visiting this company’s stand to see how its platforms can power immersive live experiences, virtual production and broadcast graphics with unmatched flexibility and creative control.

Lawo AG – 5H700 A key destination for anyone

who works in advanced IP-based broadcast and audio infrastructure, Lawo AG will be demonstrating its future-proof workflows, software- defined platforms and pristine audio quality for large-scale AV operations and broadcasters at ISE 2026. Ross Video – 4K500 Another visitor from our broadcasting buddies, Ross Video offers complete production ecosystems that span switching, graphics and much more. Make sure to go and say hi, and discover its practical solutions that bring broadcast tools to AV scenarios in highly sophisticated ways. Riedel Communications – 5E100 Riedel’s flagship offerings are potentially one of live production’s most essential components: communication. Explore intercoms, IP solutions and managed services that are trusted for mission-critical broadcast, such as various sport and live event environments.

INDUSTRY AND EVENTS 19

highlight experiences from recently funded organisations to support the entire ecosystem,” says Sean Wargo, a conference chair and the principal of Apogee Insight LLC. This half-day conference offers a unique platform for networking and discovering the next wave of exciting industry opportunities. BACK TO SCHOOL! Another 2025 first-timer will be making its return this year: Connected Classroom, powered by Logitech. This engaging, 120 sq m immersive showcase in Hall 2 features interactive zones each tailored to different educational needs. “The Connected Classroom began as a chat with Mike Blackman and a shared belief that the AV community could leave a positive and lasting mark on Barcelona and beyond,” explains Jason Whitcomb, founder of Kinetic Culture. “From that conversation grew something greater than a showcase at ISE, it became a bridge between industry innovation and classrooms around the world.” This year, the Connected Classroom will demonstrate how integrated AV and collaboration technologies directly benefit both teachers and students. From simplifying lesson delivery and enabling hybrid teaching to fostering active, social learning, the showcase highlights how technology can help to enhance the engagement and

DirectOut – 7C710 We’ll be stopping by the DirectOut booth to see how one of pro audio’s quiet innovators is redefining signal management. From the Prodigy series to the Maven platform, DirectOut delivers flexible, future-proof audio networking that thrives in the most demanding real-world production environments. Infiled stand to see how one of the LED industry’s heavyweights continues to push visual boundaries With hundreds of patents and installations worldwide, Infiled’s displays are shaping immersive environments across the globe. Astera – 6J700 You’ll find Astera over in Hall 6, where we’ll be heading over to explore the latest in truly wireless lighting innovation. Known for robust, battery-powered LED fixtures, Astera continues to set the benchmark for flexible and reliable lighting tools. Infiled – 3B900 We’ll also be heading to the

With a jam-packed floorplan of company stalls and an exciting programme of events, visitors will never be bored at this year’s show

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS As always at ISE, you can find a whole host of speakers, summits and panels scattered across the show floor. Here are our top picks for the coming year’s event: SMART BUILDING SUMMIT WEDNESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 8:30-12:00 | CC5.1 This summit addresses the ways in which home owners, tenants and landlords can leverage integrated technologies and data analytics to reduce costs, extend equipment life and increase property value. CONTROL ROOMS SUMMIT WEDNESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 14:00-18:00 | CC5.1 Turning today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities for mission-critical control centres across all sectors. BROADCAST AV SUMMIT THURSDAY 5 FEBRUARY 14:00-18:00 | CC5.1 As we emerge from the era of broadcast-AV convergence, we enter the exciting new economies of creator, experience and streaming. MEGATRENDS SESSIONS TUESDAY 3 TO THURSDAY 5 FEBRUARY | CC5.3 From Tuesday to Thursday, there are approximately 14 hours of expert sessions on six industry megatrends. The core trends to be discussed are AI, cybersecurity, robotics, smart spaces and sustainability, plus the tradescape megatrend. PITCHING STAGE TUESDAY 3 TO FRIDAY 6 FEBRUARY ALL DAY | CS300 Managed by the early-stage venture capital experts, Plug and Play, the Innovation Park Pitching Stage will put on an inspiring programme of different business pitches and start-up success stories.

Scraped Knees, Bruised Elbows and Lessons Learned from Real-World AI Deployments , which is listed as one of the top books on AI by various leading voices in the field. Voted Forbes’ ‘AI Maverick and Visionary of the 21st Century’, Rashidi has participated in three Tedx speaker sessions to date, with accumulated views of over a million. Rashidi said that, “The challenge isn’t adopting AI; it’s leading with it. I look forward to this year’s ISE to show how separating hype from fact, implementing strong governance and integrating cybersecurity makes all the difference.”

accessibility potential in every single type of classroom. AI TRAILBLAZER FOR KEYNOTE Widely known for her groundbreaking work in the field of business innovation and technology, Sol Rashidi’s career has spanned four C-suite roles across Fortune 500 companies. As the world’s first chief AI officer for enterprise in 2016, she led AI and data initiatives at Sony Music, Merck and Estée Lauder, before moving to Amazon as the company’s tech executive. She holds ten patents and is the best- selling author of Your AI Survival Guide:

There will be informative talks and panels to attend, like the one pictured above

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THEATRE AND STAGE 23

The Finnish National Theatre’s Day of Remembrance is a poignant portrayal of true, historical events. We talk to the light and video team who shaped the production’s stark visual landscape

Words Katie Kasperson Images Janne Vasama

24 THEATRE AND STAGE

group of immigrants travels to the promised land hoping for a richer life but, lured under false pretences, these migrants are met with a reality much harsher than they’d imagined. Sound familiar? It should. Countless immigrants have had to face similar circumstances and still do today. Day of Remembrance ( Muistopäivä ), a stage play written by Elli Salo and directed by Riikka Oksanen, focuses on those who defected from Finland to the Soviet Union and then disappeared during Stalin’s rule. Based on authentic archival material such as letters, diaries, manuscripts, police records and other personal files, Day of Remembrance is currently playing in Helsinki at the Finnish National Theatre’s Small Stage. The performance follows seven Finns, all fictionalised amalgamations of real people, attempting to survive Stalin’s purges and build better lives. More significantly, it memorialises those lost during the thirties thanks to its sensitive direction and intentional creative design. A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS Ville Virtanen, the show’s lighting and video designer, joined the team early on. “I had made one previous show with the director,” he says. “Riikka was open to any idea: ‘Let’s try this, let’s do that.’ The first discussion we had was about the people disappearing. ‘Can we make the actors disappear on stage? How dark can we go?’” he recalls. “There is a lot of darkness and usually only one key light. While the darkness and sadness are important to convey, the strongest feeling is hope,” Virtanen explains. “There are also very bright moments, too.” Also handling all things video related, he adopted a minimalist approach, primarily using textured ‘walls’ that were projected downstage. Occasionally, he added archival photos and documents – “pictures of real people who were killed,” he states. “Then, when the audience exits, there are four thousand, three hundred and something names sort of raining down the walls in the foyer. These are the names from the forced labour camps.” As head of the lighting and video department at the Finnish National Theatre, Virtanen called on members of his team to help design and deploy Day of Remembrance , such as the system operator Matias Koivuniemi. “Because it’s our own stage, it was easy to operate,” he shares. Collaborators for nearly ten years now, Koivuniemi could accommodate Virtanen’s creative and

technical requests with little friction. Meanwhile, light and video technician Ilari Kallinen created videos based on Virtanen’s designs. “I had an Excel file with names, dates and locations. We had to clean that up – almost 5000 names would be a lot of clicking to do. So Ilari used artificial intelligence.” From there, Kallinen made the raining effect for the foyer projection, giving each name – each life – proper recognition. TECH SPECS Koivuniemi arranged the set-up of the show’s technical side, selecting to use the Epson EB-PU2216B and Panasonic PT-DW6300ES as the production’s projectors as well as a Sony PXW-Z90 as the live camera, operated during performances by video operator Kalle Mäkelä. “It was basically plug-and- play because the stage is so familiar,” Koivuniemi reveals. “My biggest jobs were to figure out where to put the projectors in the foyer, so that they were not in anybody’s way, and how to project onto three walls.” As the production’s media server, he employed the Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2,

Ville Virtanen led the tech team behind the production of Day of Remembrance

THEATRE AND STAGE 25

Collaborators for nearly ten years now, Koivuniemi could accommodate Virtanen’s creative and technical requests with little friction

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which processed live feeds from the camera, transmitted via Teradek Bolt 500 Pro, as well as any pre-made content. The Boreal+ MK2 also linked the two main projectors, enabling them to display one seamless, blown-up image. “One of the most distinctive media servers on the market,” according to Bob Bonniol, chief innovation officer at ACT Entertainment, the Hippotizer’s “state- based render engine gives theatre teams the freedom to treat video like lighting: as playable, sculptable and instantly adjustable in the room.” This is exactly what Virtanen and his team needed: to use projected content as an additional light source. The cast and crew had roughly 70 on-stage rehearsals – “which is quite a lot,” comments Virtanen – providing plenty of time for trial and error. Throughout, the Hippotizer enabled live experimentation. “Seamless control from GrandMA3, Stream Decks, Midi, other lighting desks, timelines and presets let designers try things, break things and fine-tune and rebalance looks fast – without drowning in pre- production,” says Bonniol. “This flexibility is the reason why the Hippotizer is the perfect collaborator for the creatively nimble world of theatre.” WORKING WITH WHAT YOU’VE GOT The Finnish National Theatre is the oldest professional theatre in Finland, founded in May 1872. “It’s a mix-and- match set,” Virtanen shares, yet able to achieve the desired atmosphere. The Small Stage blends light sources from Apollo, Ayrton, Claypaky, JB-Lighting, Martin, ETC and CLF, controlling all on a GrandMA3 Compact XT console.

The Hippotizer’s state-based render engine gives theatre

teams the freedom to treat video like lighting: as playable, sculptable and instantly adjustable in the room

Day of Remembrance memorialises Finnish immigrants who went missing in the Soviet Union in the thirties

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let a bright light through while the rest remains in darkness. It’s maybe a ten- minute scene, and there’s no change in lighting cue. But when the doors close and open again, it shifts the mood significantly. It’s a powerful moment.” Later on, the characters occupy bunk beds in one of the internment camps. “People are sleeping, and there’s one light that comes from behind,” Virtanen explains, barely illuminating the action. “They start to write letters to home,” he continues, “and we have a live video of one letter being written on stage – the video becomes the front light.” Finally, in the second act, it begins to snow. “We have ten snow machines on the ceiling, and the snow covers the whole stage. The floor starts to turn white, and it keeps raining and raining,” says Virtanen. Six of the machines were made in-house, finalised days before the opening night back in November. “The whole piece works really well,” Virtanen believes. “There’s nothing I would tweak. Usually there is, but with this, I don’t want to change anything.” EVERYONE’S INVITED Though performed entirely in Finnish, Day of Remembrance is available with English subtitles from February 2026. “We are sometimes asked, ‘Do you have translations?’ They are rare, but this has been a show where we’ve been asked a lot, so we said yes,” explains Virtanen. “These are live captions you can follow on your own device,” adds Koivuniemi. For those who require such captions, their phones will display coloured text on a black background, minimising the distraction to others. “This is the second or third production that is going to

“There are only two technical people running the shows on the Small Stage, so everything needs to be fast and easy,” Virtanen adds. The set design itself played a role in Day of Remembrance – especially the glossy stage surface, which created an intriguing, reflective effect. The floor, made from PVC ‘that had been coloured red’, according to Virtanen, could be used to bounce light. “I was afraid that everything would turn red, but it wasn’t the case,” he shares. “White light would reflect as white stripes on the walls.” The show’s set designer, Janne Vasama, opted for a barren physical concept. While he occasionally added a wooden ship or crate, the stage was otherwise left mostly empty. “I liked it,” admits Virtanen. “I had more freedom to shape different places with light and video. With almost every video, the reflection worked so well. “Although I hadn’t worked with Janne before, we immediately connected and the collaboration was smooth,” Virtanen continues. “I was excited about the final results and how the set came together.” SETTING THE SCENE Day of Remembrance ’s story begins in December 1931, when a group of hopeful migrants board a smuggler’s boat that is bound for the Soviet Union. After crossing the Gulf of Finland, they arrive in Stalin’s backyard just in time for winter, facing grim conditions such as tight living quarters, cold weather and forced labour. “There is a scene when the people are just arriving in Russia,” Virtanen explains. “A black wall comes down for the first time, the doors open in the middle and

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have captions in a different language, so it’s still new to us. It’s the future of accessibility.” In a nearby Swedish-language theatre, “they are trying assisted listening, so if you’re hard of seeing, you can get audio cues as well,” Koivuniemi continues. He hopes the Finnish National Theatre will soon deploy the same technology. “We don’t want to rule out anyone coming to see the shows,” Virtanen stresses. “Even if you don’t know the language, or even if you can’t see or hear, we still want to bring theatre to everyone.” With a show that is as historically and socially significant as Day of Remembrance , the bigger the audience, the better. Visit kansallisteatteri.fi/en/ muistopaiva to learn more or purchase tickets

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In December, the LIVE team took a trip over to Uxbridge – which is now the unlikely home of one of the world’s largest hologram showrooms Words Oliver Webb L ocated within The Atrium in Uxbridge, London, Musion 3D’s hologram showroom offers a striking glimpse into the future of live entertainment and communication. Spanning 11,000 sq ft, the space brings together decades of innovation in holography, AI and real-time telepresence under one roof. Led by founding director Ian O’Connell, the showroom opens up technology once reserved for major productions, inviting the public to experience life-sized digital avatars, celebrity holograms and immersive moments that blur the line between the physical and virtual. SHOWROOM MAGIC Throughout the showroom, guests get the opportunity to meet over 50 life-sized, AI-powered avatars, as well as well-known celebrities and media personalities, which are brought to life through Musion’s iconic holographic displays using Holotronic’s Hologauze and Musion’s 3D Eyeliner technology. Also on display is a 20-foot F18 fighter jet as seen in Top Gun: Maverick , and even a full capture studio where visitors can become holograms themselves. Visitors will undoubtedly be struck by how advanced the tech is, but seeing the showroom in person is essential to truly appreciate it. After opening the doors to the public for the first time, O’Connell shared the story behind the company and their mission, detailing why this space marks a new milestone for the industry that Musion 3D helped create. “We are deeply proud to showcase more than two decades of Musion passion to the industry and public,” he begins. “It’s inspiring what’s now possible. For years, holograms have been viewed as an exclusive technology; something kept under lock and key only for major productions, marquee events or closed- door demonstrations. The showroom opens the magic to everyone by inspiring

Spanning 11,000 sq ft, the space brings together decades of innovation in holography, AI and real-time telepresence

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Musion 3D appears to bring people to life in its showroom, including more than 50 AI-powered digital avatars as well as yourself through the Hologram Holobox

they also have potential applications in corporate environments. “It is a really unique, but also entertaining idea,” he says. “If you think of the money people spend in private rooms in restaurants, then this is no different. You would never have thought about enjoying a dining experience with somebody on the other side of the world because we’re conditioned to think that this kind of technology is only for a conference call.” Despite O’Connell acknowledging the corporate market is the lowest- hanging fruit, there is plenty of scope for it in the future. He even encourages

and educating the public on what is possible with holograms, while also showcasing the very best in European and Middle Eastern production of AI content and immersive design.” HUDDLE UP! One of the standout features from the showroom are the huddle rooms where guests can dine together in different locations with interactive ‘no delay’ communications in 4K. The huddle rooms enable the chance to experience each other’s company as if you are in the same room and chat with people in other cities as if they were in the same space.

A trial of the rooms initially took place during lockdown, with participants in England and Scotland getting the chance to dine together across the divide. The trial ultimately enabled endless new possibilities for what Musion 3D can achieve with the rooms, and O’Connell is proud of the fact that this has also opened up other avenues within the holography industry. O’Connell notes that Musion 3D technology is something you don’t know you need – until you see it. While the huddle rooms were initially designed to offer a restaurant experience that transcends geographical boundaries,

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Huddle Rooms were designed to offer a restaurant experience but they can also be used in corporate environments

others to follow suit in creating their own ideas around the concept. “Once you start propagating this tech into the corporate market, then the ideas will be endless,” he says. The concept is, however, unique to Musion 3D as a company. “Nobody else has anything like this and so we stand out,” adds O’Connell. “There are a lot of patents that cover this particular design because it’s probably the most compact design possible to provide a comfortable, natural environment in which life-size human beings can interact. The design was shaped on a shipping container as we could see this working within that space, where you could churn it out and make it much quicker, easier and cheaper to build.” VISIONARY FUTURE Musion 3D’s Holotronica Hologauze display was another standout feature of the showroom and was the first display upon arrival. The effect is so realistic that it took a few moments to realise there wasn’t actually a performer on stage. The technology works by projecting holographic avatars and performers directly onto a stage. Artists can appear live even when they’re performing from a different location, as their holograms are transmitted in real time. This was followed by digital resurrections of famous musicians before witnessing the Hologram Holobox where my own digital avatar was created. Seeing my own digital self was surreal, highlighting just how advanced the technology has become. Musion 3D’s big breakthrough came in 2005 when their technology was pioneered by the Gorillaz at the MTV Awards in Lisbon, Portugal. At the awards, the band performed Feel Good Inc with De La Soul appearing live alongside the animated characters. Since then, their products have been implemented for a wide range of uses, including everything from handheld smartphone displays to large 4K UHD installations for events, education and training and immersive attractions. The showroom highlights the company’s growing impact across various industries, and provides an insight into the future of what is to come for visual experiences.

Artists can appear live even when they’re performing from a different location, as their holograms are transmitted in real time