UK - When the Tony Award-nominated musical A Night with Janis Joplin made its UK premiere at London’s Peacock Theatre, audiences were not only swept away by Joplin’s music but also by an immersive audio experience courtesy of KV2 Audio’s state-of-the-art sound system.
The production, which celebrates the life and music of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, utilised KV2’s ESR215, EX1.8 subwoofers, and ESD5 loudspeakers to deliver sound quality that captured every nuance of Joplin’s performances.
Sound designer Poti Martin shares how he became involved: “I’ve worked with the producer on many projects before. When they called me for this, I knew it would be something special.”
The brief was as ambitious as the subject matter – to recreate the raw energy of a Janis Joplin concert while narrating her life story. “It’s more than a musical; it’s a dramatised concert that explores her influences and legacy,” Martin explains. “We needed a sound system capable of delivering both the intimacy of storytelling and the powerful, unfiltered emotion of a live rock performance.”
Martin turned to KV2 Audio for the challenge, selecting their ESR215 loudspeakers, EX1.8 subwoofers, and ESD5 compact loudspeakers for the installation. “The ESR215s and EX subs are, in my opinion, the best choice for theatre sound by far,” he says. “They deliver an incredible amount of power without losing quality or distorting, which is essential for a show like this.”
Paired with the EX1.8 subwoofers, the system delivered a rich, full-spectrum sound that captured the depth of Joplin’s soulful voice and the intensity of her band’s instrumentation. Meanwhile, the ESD5 loudspeakers ensured that every word and note reached the audience with clarity, even in the farthest corners of the theatre.
The Peacock Theatre’s layout presented acoustic challenges, particularly the limited options for rigging the loudspeakers. “If we had used any other system, there would have been significant issues,” Martin admits. “But with the ESR215s stacked on stage, we solved all potential problems. The system’s directional control and power meant we could cover the entire space effectively without overcomplicating the setup.”
The result was a soundscape that immersed audiences in Joplin’s world, from her formative influences to her rise as a rock icon. “KV2’s system elevated the show’s audio to another level,” Martin says. “The clarity and power made you feel like you were right there with Janis on stage.”
The feedback from producers and audiences alike has been overwhelmingly positive. “As far as I’m concerned, they couldn’t be happier. The system’s performance speaks for itself,” Martin concludes.
