Kubuś Puppet and Actor Theater debuts new season with state-of-the-art lighting from Elation

The Kubuś Puppet and Actor Theater in Kielce, Poland, a beloved institution founded in 1955, is entering a new era of creativity with the opening of its new facility. The theater, known for captivating audiences of all ages with its enchanting repertoire of fairy tales and fables, has embraced cutting-edge technology to enhance the audience experience—including the introduction of sophisticated Elation lighting solutions by PS TEATR, Elation’s Polish partner.

The theater’s new home, a transformation of a former blacksmith shop and Old Manor House, includes two modern stages: a large stage seating 150 guests and a smaller stage for more intimate performances that seats up to 80. The new space also includes a spacious foyer, dressing rooms, and office space, as well as warehouses and workshops.

Designed for greater creative flexibility and an enhanced experience for both the performers and the audience, the new facility blends the theater’s rich tradition of storytelling with a future-forward technological foundation. Presenting pieces of dramatic theater as well as puppetry, which applies the same lighting techniques as regular theater, the Kubuś Puppet and Actor Theater is an immersive and magical experience.

In August, a new season of artistic performances launched, and this time with completely new cutting-edge entertainment technology solutions supplied and installed by PS TEATR. As experts in a wide range of entertainment technology systems, PS TEATR integrated lighting, multimedia, electro-acoustics, and stage machinery, significantly enhancing the performance capabilities of the theater.

The new system is anchored by Elation’s FUZE PROFILE, an advanced moving head luminaire equipped with a powerful 305W RGBMA LED engine and a full blackout framing system. Compact, quiet, and lightweight, 12 FUZE PROFILE units deliver a high color rendering index (CRI) of 92, ensuring vibrant, accurate color and sharp effects that bring each scene to life.

The FUZE PROFILE’s diverse feature set gives designers at the theater a new toolbox of dynamic options to create richer visual experiences: 7° to 42° zoom and framing to highlight specific lighting positions or illuminate larger areas on stage; variable frost for soft, diffused lighting effects, ideal for mood-setting scenes or gentle transitions; variable CCT to simulate warm candlelight to cool daylight; gobos to create textured patterns and immersive backgrounds; animation wheel to simulate rippling water, moving clouds, or other effects; smooth dimming for dramatic effect during emotional scenes; and more.

In addition, the facility has been equipped with two FUZE PROFILE CW cool-white LED variants, offering designers a clean, flat-field keylight with precise color shade adjustment for even greater versatility. The lighting system is further enhanced by moving wash lights, static ellipsoidals, and Fresnel spotlights.

Adding to the aesthetic possibilities, six PALADIN BRICK RGBW floodlights with adjustable beam angles fill the upstage with vibrant color, while two PROTRON 3K COLOR LED strobe lights inject dramatic intensity into key moments of the performance. Paired with smoke machines, fog generators, and UV spotlights, the new lighting system significantly extends the range of possible creative effects.

The multimedia system also comprises a 7-meter-wide projection screen, four 7000 lm projectors, a high-performance media server, and PTZ cameras. In the elegant foyer, a digital signage system serves the display of prepared information and marketing content. The new facility also features exterior image projectors that cast gobo projections onto the theater’s façade, turning the building itself into part of the theatrical experience.

Lighting control is equally advanced, with modern lighting consoles managing the systems on both stages. Here, signal distribution from nine NETRON RDM 10 DMX/Ethernet converters, two NETRON EP4 DMX/Ethernet gateways, and five NETRON DMX 10-5 splitters from Obsidian Control Systems ensures seamless communication and synchronisation across the lighting setup.

The installation also includes multiverse transmitters and receivers, further enhancing control capabilities. In addition to the stunning new lighting, the theater boasts an immersive sound system, creating a complete sensory experience that transports audiences into the heart of the performance.

“We are happy to be part of the transformation of this unique and historic theater,” said a spokesperson at PS TEATR. “Integrating Elation’s lighting solutions has allowed them to enrich their storytelling while making it easier for them to customize the lighting to create a magical atmosphere for each performance and scene. The system has benefitted those who work with lighting at the theater but has also elevated the entire audience experience.”

Thanks to the new stage technology and the transformative role that Elation lighting plays in enhancing the artistic potential of the Kubuś Puppet and Actor Theater, children and adults alike can immerse themselves in a whole new world of fascinating experiences for years to come.