Above: Waagner-Biro Stage
System’s CAT system is
used to automate elaborate
shows on Royal Caribbean’s
Quantum-class ships
AUTOMATION
WAAGNER-BIRO STAGE SYSTEMS
Cruise control
A s technology becomes more
sophisticated, for example
with the advent of 3D
movies, expectations grow for
entertainment. Exceptional
experiences can also be found in live theatre,
and not only in places like New York or Las
Vegas. Cruise ships are meeting the demand
for spectacular theatre, delivering Broadway
and aerial shows at sea, all over the world.
“It’s a far cry from what would have been
offered on a transatlantic voyage at the dawn of
the cruising industry, early in the 20th century,”
says Ulrike Schuch, global sales director at
Waagner-Biro Stage Systems. “Passengers then
might expect a lounge singer and string quartet
to while away 45 days at sea, or if in steerage,
a group of musicians on the way to start a new
life. Today steerage space has been replaced by
food storage for that 24-hour buffet, and the
entertainment will blow your mind.”
Cruise liners today stage shows like Cats,
Mamma Mia!, Grease, Jersey Boys, Hairspray,
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Rock of Ages.
Broadway shows come to life without losing the
technical complexity that wows audiences.
Waagner-Biro Stage Systems’ Computer Aided
Theatre (CAT) system has helped make amazing
shows like these happen on multiple cruise ships.
Change of hands
The CAT system is used for automation, and is
designed to provide operators and programmers
with an intuitive, user-friendly and safe
experience. This is particularly important on
cruise ships, where the theatre crew will change
every few months.
“The user interface is modelled after tablet
and smartphone interfaces, using similar
touchscreen gestures and screen flow to enable
new users to program shows after a short amount
of training,” explains Schuch. “This makes
handovers remarkably simple without sacrificing
safety and consistency.”
The CAT system can also interact with nonautomation
systems such as Timecode, Zacktrack
lighting, DMX and readable input/output signals
for things like trap doors and scenic elements.
Timecode is a digital signal that synchronises
live band and singers’ click tracks, lighting
cues and scenic element movements, as well as
programmed mixer page changes. Using this,
operators can run all the elements as they were
initially programmed.
“Keeping shows consistent and delivering
the same high quality of performance to
passengers, no matter when or where they see
the show, is very important to cruise companies,”
comments Schuch.
Rolling in the deep
Zacktrack is used to follow performers even
when the ship is rocking and rolling more than
the music, by tracking a radio pack. It can also
provide tracking for video projections and LED
wall panels, as it knows when the CAT system
moves the element. Motion-dependent video
effects can follow the movements of every actor.
The system is also designed to prevent
performers from getting injured. “As a ship is
never stationary, the ability to see when doors
are closed and locked, safety nets have covered
the open stage to the next deck, and cues are
complete, is very important,” says Schuch. n
www.waagner-biro-stage.com
At sea, where expectations are high, crews
are routinely changing and nothing is ever still,
sophisticated automation technology is helping
to deliver spectacular and safe shows
62 AUDITORIA 2020 VOLUME ONE
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
/www.waagner-biro-stage.com