Paris theatre the Comédie-Française has deployed Riedel's Bolero wireless intercom system in a stand-alone configuration at its primary venue: the Salle Richelieu.
Also known as La Maison de Molière, the world’s oldest active theatre replaced its existing wireless UHF intercom system, used by technicians for daily production, with the new Bolero system.
Up to three set changes a day are performed at the 860-seat Salle Richelieu for rehearsals and the evening show, putting its intercom system through eight to ten hours of use. In addition, with a rotation of 160 technicians, the theatre company requires effortless settings changes between beltpack users. Finally, the Salle Richelieu is more than 230 years old, and any new technology must be installed without altering or damaging the building's architectural heritage.
Currently, the Comédie-Française is using 30 Bolero wireless beltpacks, while five antennas are deployed throughout the Salle Richelieu for complete coverage.
Patrick Moch, technical director deputy at the Comédie-Française, said: "Riedel's Bolero was the perfect choice for our operations.
"Not only has the system proven to be extremely reliable, but as a decentralised solution, installing it in our historic building was a breeze. All we had to do was place antennas where we needed them for complete coverage — no matrix required. And with the ability to connect up to 10 beltpacks to each one, we were able to cut the number of antennas needed by more than half compared to other solutions. Furthermore, our technicians love the customisable configuration profiles, which make it simple to switch settings between different users."
Sébastien Gryspeert, sales manager France and Africa, Riedel Communications, said: "The Comédie-Française is a French cultural institution, and it is an honour to have our Bolero system playing a crucial role behind the scenes to deliver amazing experiences for audiences every day.
"In addition, the modularity of the system will allow the theatre company to add more beltpacks, an Artist matrix, or SmartPanels over time, providing a future-proof solution as its needs evolve."