KLANG Transforms “Jesus Christ Superstar” into Poland’s First Immersive Silent Disco Musical

Original article published by Polsound on 16th of May

The iconic rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar has received a bold new adaptation in Poland. The Musical Theatre in Toruń moved the show into the legendary “Od Nowa” music club, staging it as the country’s first Silent Disco musical. At its core: KLANG’s immersive monitoring system, paired with a DiGiCo Quantum 225 console, delivering total control to musicians and transforming the audio experience.

Known for its bold and avant-garde productions, the Musical Theatre in Toruń took on the ambitious task of presenting Jesus Christ Superstar in a format never before seen on Polish stages. Instead of a traditional theater space, the show was staged inside the iconic “Od Nowa” music club.

This decision stemmed from several factors. First, the physical limitations of the theater stage, that simply could not accommodate such an extensive cast and live band, while allowing the freedom of movement the creative team envisioned for both performers and the audience. Second, the artistic concept aimed for complete immersion, eliminating the division between stage and auditorium.

The audience was free to roam the club space, becoming part of the unfolding story, with actors moving among them, using platforms, mezzanines, and specially built stages. This setup demanded a radical rethink of the entire audio concept, which turned out to be one of the greatest challenges of the production.

Choosing the Silent Disco format was both an artistic and technical decision. In a space accustomed to rock, jazz, and alternative concerts, a conventional PA system would have struggled to deliver clear, consistent sound to a mobile audience scattered across the entire venue. Moreover, the risk of feedback and uncontrolled volume fluctuations in such a dynamic setup would have been significant.

The solution lay in Silent Disco headphones, through which all sound – including live music, dialogue, and sound effects – was transmitted directly to the wireless headsets worn by the audience. This allowed the audience to fully immerse themselves in the sonic world of the musical without any acoustic limitations, while enjoying the freedom to move throughout the venue.

To heighten immersion and add a physical layer to the sound, the production also placed discreet subwoofers throughout the venue. These delivered tactile low-frequency effects that added emotional impact and highlighted key dramatic moments, perfectly complementing each audience member’s personalized headphone mix.

KLANG played a crucial role in ensuring musician comfort and efficient production. With an 11-piece band rehearsing in a challenging acoustic environment, KLANG became the foundation of the monitoring system.

Each musician used their own KLANG:kontroller unit, giving them complete independence to create and adjust their personal 3D mix. Even musicians unfamiliar with personal monitoring systems quickly mastered the intuitive interface, preparing their ideal mix within minutes.

This independence was a huge relief for the sound team, who could now focus entirely on the main mix and vocal mics. KLANG also allowed for fast adaptation to shifting stage setups in the mobile club environment.

“KLANG lifted a huge burden from us – technically and mentally,” noted Krzysztof Kardas, one of the two FOH engineers. “The musicians could adjust their own mixes, which during an intense rehearsal schedule and tight setup times allowed us to focus entirely on the FOH and actors. For many musicians, this was their first experience with immersive monitoring, but within minutes of using the :kontroller they felt comfortable and confident.”

At the heart of the system was the DiGiCo Quantum 225, acting as the production’s command center. The console handled 80 inputs and 48 stereo outputs, managing all musician, actor, choir, and sound effects channels.

Although DiGiCo’s new theater-specific “T” software was released just before the premiere, the sound team chose to stick with the standard Quantum 225 software, which, thanks to the latest Pulse update, was more than sufficient to meet the demands of this complex production.

“The Quantum 225 showcased its full potential,” added Kardas. “In a theater production staged in such an unconventional space, with a large number of moving performers, the console was a rock-solid command center for us.”

The show utilized dozens of snapshots, with some scenes requiring up to 30 cues within a single song. The speed, stability, and flexibility of the Quantum 225 proved invaluable, particularly in an environment where every change had to be instant and flawless.

Toruń’s Jesus Christ Superstar was more than a musical but was a manifesto for a new kind of theater. With KLANG’s immersive mixes, DiGiCo’s powerful mixing tools, and Silent Disco headphones, the production erased the line between audience and performer. Viewers didn’t just watch, they stepped inside the story.

Images credit: Daniel Wojtala