Show Control System

Regarding to the article about USITT in the last issue, we are suggested to elaborate
more about the Show Control, which seems to be one of the hottest topics among the
theatre professionals. Consequently, we invite Mr. Amornthep Tantikovit (Tan), an veteran
Hong Kong researcher on show control, to give us some more information about this
hottest issue.

Firstly, we try to give a definition to the Show

Control. In the broad sense, show control system
can be categorized its functions into three levels.
The minimum requirement is show automation ( in
the sense of remote control), which is similar to the
function of the existing lighting board and it can
repeat a designed action or instruction
automatically once it is electronically memorized
or programmed. It provides a high standard of
accuracy in repetition. The second level is the show Heng Fa Chuen Paradise Mall
synchronization involving different machinery actions. It means the required action can be
synchronized according to the pre-set instructions among the disciplines of theatre effect,
such as synchronized the changes between the lighting and stage machinery, or sound and
flying system etc. In the other words, all the changes including light changes, smoke effect
and pyrotechnic effect can be synchronized with different musical instrument. The highest
level of automation is show integration. It means the changes among all the disciplines can
be integrated together in order to carry out the designed and linked action or instruction
automatically or operated in real time.

Now we would like to spend some times to introduce the development of the Show
Control system. It was first introduced to the major theme parks, entertainment industry
(live shows) for solving the problems of operation by providing a high standard (repeatable,
reliability and consistency) performance to large group of audience and in high frequency
of repetition. Accompanying the evolution of the technique and the system, many
components are no longer possible to operate manually in term of safety and accuracy. In
order to achieving the complex artistic requirements and increasing demands of the
audience, a more sophisticated system is ameliorated for excellence.

In the beginning, the theme parks employed a lot of industrial automation and control
solutions. Following by the development of computer technologies in 80s and the digital
electronic development in 90s, complexity of the integration among show technologies was
increased. The standardization of communication and control protocols provides much
more feasibility for developing a more compatible and advanced show technologies.

Indeed, the application of show

control is not restricted to the Theme
Park. The stage production also
applies the show control system,
especially for the large scale musical.
Cirqus du Solei is the pioneer in
circus using show control system in
their performances. Besides, show
control system can also be applied in
museum display, now it is even been
used for the retail business. Locally,
we can find show control systems in Three Pacific Place
Science Museum, Land Development Corporation, or the latest Urban Renewal Authority,
Discovery Park, Paradise Mall, Peak Tram, Two International Finance Centre show suite,
Three Pacific Place show suite, Millennium City show suite, Visitor centre at Cyberport. For
live stage production, the Snow Wolf Lake in 1997 and Red Boat in 2000, sound effect
automation1 systems have also been employed.

In conclusion, show control system is a technical system specifically designed for the
demand of accuracy, reliability and consistency of live performance. It is a problem solving
strategy for fulfilling unlimited request and demand from artistic excellence. It is a system
for cross discipline and aims for fully integrated among different disciplines. Its advantages
can obviously benefit for the further development of live performance, however, it also has
its limitations.

Show control technologies require a wide range of sophisticated applications in

computer, electronics, mechanical, and engineering. It also needs, compared with existing
theatre performance practice, much more time in pre-show preparation, the input in
designing phrase , as well as the execution of live show and the technical setting in theatre.
With no doubt, it requires enormous investment for equipment and training. These are the
major considerations for all managers now tackling on the decision of using show control
system.

1 Instead of having pre-recorded sound effect in a CD tracks, a wide range selections of different audio
components are brought to the theatre and “composed” into cues by mixing different components, similar to the
ideas of light plot. MIDI instructions were programmed using show control software. The playback was then
executed by the DSM.
 Besides the equipment itself,
the human element cannot be
neglected, the operation requires
different types of expertise. In a
theme park, a Show Control
Director have a numbers of
subordinates in assisting the
execution, including show control
integrator / programmer / master;
general operator for electronic and
control, mechanical and motion
control; expertise in computer
hardware architecture and
Two International Finance Centre
software application. Show
Control needs cross-disciplinary skills of all departments, and naturally the personnel
involved needs to know a certain knowledge of different systems that he or she has to
access while the actual operation including the ride, audio, video, lighting, mechanical,
facility, safety. By and large, the show control system is connected to everything virtually,
and the operator also controls everything in his/her hand at the same time.

In future, training should be given to personnel involved in Show Control including

programming and data communication skill as well as cross-discipline design and
operation knowledge. Take Ride Manger as an illustration, he/she is the soul of a ride in
Theme Park or Amusement Park. This is a very challenging post, it builds a ride from zero
to perfect. A ride is a device or structure in which people ride for pleasure, such as, the
"Back to the Future" or "Terminator 3" in Universal Studio. Many ride managers have the
background of military engineering services, industrial automation or industrial
engineering. Last but not the least, the artistic sense and theatrical experiences will
definitely benefit for the advancement and success of the manager’s career path. Nowadays,
more and more computer software is developed based on standardized network
technologies for system hookup and expansion, the general standardization in
communication protocols - DMX and MIDI bring up the speed of the development. All these
developments lower the cost of installation of the show control system.

In Hong Kong there are already some service providers for show control system, but
they mainly focus on corporational application such as boardroom automation, and
museum. However, there is no exclusive service provided for stage and theatre production
because the Hong Kong theatre performance seldom has the need of "repetition". But Tan
suggested that there are possibilities for some local tour production to employ the
technology as long as the design team can trigger a complex design manipulated by the
show control system within limited and affordable budget.

Lastly, no matter what is the future progress of the technology, the key success still
heavily rely on the personnel using the technology but not the technology itself. Technology
can help us to achieve artistic and creative ideas but only creative personnel can elicit the
unlimited application of technology. Only with infinite creative demand, the technology can
be pushed and developed to reach our desired outcomes. Just to reiterate once more, the
show control system is evolved from a load of demand in problem solving. Many people
have challenged the unlimited desire to create a problem solving technology. Without this
spirit, technology cannot be further developed. Whether the theatre industry of Hong Kong
can be further developed in using any update technology, it is totally depended on the
intensity of our problem solving spirit and how much problem hiding spirit we can
eliminated. If you are the one who smile when a new problem come to you instead of
worrying, you are already in the team of problem solving which can lead to a better future.
Please get ready to stretch yourselves to reach the unbounded and infinitive creativity!

Tan's recommendation for further investigation in Show Control:

1. Bible of Show Control –“Control Systems for Live Entertainment 2nd edition” written
by John Huntington.
2. Richmond Sound Design - In 1991, its Stage Manager TM show control software
pioneered the use of MIDI.
3. Show Control Manual published by Alcorn McBride.
4. Theme Park Engineering on-line course held by Steve Alcorn of Alcorn McBride.

Amornthep Tantikovit is now Technical Manager of DINO Technology Ltd.

Photo provided by DINO Technology