Arts & Entertainment
Becketwell Performance Venue, Derby
Project Overview
Client: Becketwell Performance Venue
Main Contractor: Bowmer & Kirkland
Sector: Arts & Entertainment
Location: Derby, UK
Capacity: 3,500
Scope: Full design, supply and installation of theatre lighting, audio, AV distribution, control and power infrastructure
Project Value: Delivered as part of a £46m landmark cultural development
The Challenge
Becketwell Performance Venue was conceived as a flagship cultural destination for Derby — a 3,500-capacity performance space designed to host:
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• National touring artists
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• Theatrical productions
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• Corporate events
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• Community performances
The brief required a venue that met professional touring standards while remaining flexible and intuitive for in-house technical teams.
The system needed to:
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• Deliver tour-grade audio performance
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• Support large-format visual presentation and live relay
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• Provide adaptable stage lighting for diverse event formats
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• Enable seamless communication across front-of-house and backstage
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• Remain resilient, scalable and future-ready
All within a single, fully integrated technical ecosystem.
Our Solution
Working alongside Bowmer & Kirkland, we delivered the venue’s complete technical backbone — designing an integrated audio, lighting, video and control infrastructure engineered for both performance excellence and operational practicality.
Tour-Ready Audio
A JBL VTX line array system forms the core of the auditorium, supported by flown and ground-stacked subwoofers to provide consistent, powerful coverage across all seating levels.
Crown amplification and BSS processing operate over a Dante-enabled network, enabling flexible routing, system tuning and future scalability.
Industry-standard wired and wireless microphones support a wide range of performance formats. Integrated infrared hearing assistance ensures accessibility compliance and inclusive audience engagement.
Venue-Wide Video & Communication
A high-brightness Panasonic laser projection system, paired with a 7-metre motorised screen, delivers large-scale visual capability for live events, presentations and theatrical backdrops. Additional projection systems enhance flexibility in secondary spaces.
More than 70 digital signage displays, powered by a central IPTV platform, distribute live relay feeds, event content and operational messaging throughout front-of-house, backstage and dressing areas.
Backstage relay cameras and a centralised video matrix allow any source to be routed to any display, ensuring operational oversight and production coordination across the entire venue.
Intelligent Lighting & Control
The lighting system is anchored by ETC ColorSource fixtures across performance and architectural positions, complemented by a Robe Robospot system for remote followspot operation.
Control is delivered via ETC lighting consoles and a Paradigm architectural lighting platform, enabling detailed show programming alongside intuitive house and worklight management.
A distributed dimming and relay infrastructure supports both modern LED fixtures and traditional loads, ensuring compatibility with visiting touring productions.
The entire system is engineered for resilience, maintaining operational continuity during power fluctuations and enabling smooth transitions between event formats.
Connected Operational Spaces
Meeting rooms, dressing rooms and production areas are fully integrated into the wider AV ecosystem through professional displays, wireless presentation systems and intercom infrastructure.
IPTV-linked room booking and messaging tools enhance coordination across departments, creating a connected operational environment that supports both performers and production teams.
The Result
Becketwell Performance Venue now operates as a fully integrated, tour-ready performance space capable of supporting national touring acts, theatrical productions, live broadcasts and corporate events with minimal reconfiguration.
By combining Dante-enabled audio networking, centralised lighting control and venue-wide video distribution, the installation delivers professional touring standards while remaining accessible to in-house teams.
The result is a resilient, scalable technical infrastructure that positions Becketwell as a cultural cornerstone for Derby — ready to support world-class performances for decades to come.
The technology integration has created a performance space that feels future-ready. Artists, engineers and audiences all benefit from the clarity and flexibility of the system.”