Birmingham REP use LED-signage to promote productions

The acclaimed Birmingham Repertory Theatre has recently completed a two-and-a-half-year long ‘landmark’ re-development project and one of the final elements to be installed was a massive 11.2×2.5m LED display board on the new front facade to promote forthcoming productions – and this was developed and installed by LEDsynergy. 

With a project budget of around £80,000, the full colour board includes 327,600 individual LED bulbs, each positioned just 16mm apart so when viewed from ground level it resolves a bright, vibrant, hi‑definition image. The installation also includes an additional 4.5m long, back lit logo sign..

“We worked closely with The REP team to develop this custom design solution and delivered it to them in early November,” explained Jeremy Harwood of LEDsynergy.  “We then worked alongside the onsite contractors to erect and commission it over the next few days. Final positioning of such a large sign is never easy, particularly when the general public have access to the surrounding area, and health & safety always has to be the highest priority. It’s now fully commissioned and operational and proving to be a hit with both the management team and visitors.”

The LED board is driven by high specification hardware plus a software package written and developed for The REP by LEDsynergy. This makes changing graphics; uploading posters and manipulating the content a simple task for its staff. While static content is currently being featured, the full colour LED display can easily be used for animated graphics and video should The REP or their graphics design team choose to go that route in the future.

The ultra-slim weatherproof sign is just 180mm in depth and was fabricated in the UK using aluminium and PVC to the specification developed by LEDsynergy. A comprehensive training and support package was also put together to ensure that the board met with expectations, was easy to used and functions correctly.

The Birmingham Repertory Theatre underwent re-development as part of the new adjoining Library of Birmingham project. This now sees the two cultural venues sharing public spaces and a new purpose-built 300-seat auditorium. The REP also got a much-needed update to the building’s original facade, improved public and backstage facilities, including new bars and restaurants, plus dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms, set construction workshops and administration offices.

Roxana Silbert, who was appointed Artistic Director of The REP while the theatre was closed added: “It’s been a challenge for The REP’s team to maintain a full programme of work whilst being involved in a major capital project but it’s allowed us to re-examine how and why we make work and we can now forge a more intimate relationship with our audiences.”

LEDsynergy has recently completed a number of prestigious installations within the public and retail sectors including a tickertape solution for Clydesdale Bank in Glasgow; a large display board for a London based construction site; plus a number of full colour ‘LED-poster’ displays for a major retailer. Sports stadia are increasingly adopting full colour display systems although the humble LED-illuminated numeric scoreboard still proves popular and many new installations are completed each month. Other applications include road signage ranging from overhead gantry signage systems for the toll booths across the River Severn and the M6 Toll through to an implementation of 76 traffic advice signs in the Old Trafford area of Manchester that can be individually updated with parking restriction information.

For further information on LED solutions and the various options available contact LEDsynergy at sales@ledsynergy.co.uk; by calling + 44 (0) 1264 303030; or visiting www.LEDsynergy.co.uk