A.C. Special Projects Delivers Comprehensive Technical Upgrade for King Alfred Phoenix Theatre
A.C. Special Projects Ltd (ACSP) has completed a comprehensive technical upgrade at King Alfred Phoenix Theatre. Located at King Alfred School in London, the Phoenix Theatre serves as a vibrant performance hub for drama, music, dance, and community events. It hosts a wide range of theatre performances, educational and public productions that need reliable, adaptable, and professional-level AV and Lighting systems.
The ACSP team worked with the venue’s technical manager, Matt Cargill, to install new lighting, audio-visual, projection, and communications systems to upgrade the venue’s existing system. Commissioned to deliver a turnkey solution, ACSP managed the design, supply, installation, programming, and handover of all systems.
The upgrade gives the venue a straightforward, future-proof, technical platform built around industry-leading brands and innovative technology.

Project Summary
The project brief covered:
- New dimming and switched-power architecture
- Complete LED house lighting and stage lighting rig
- A high-performance projection and video distribution system
- A multi-zone audio show relay and paging solution
- Show relay video to remote areas
- Replacement theatre masking drapes and tab tracks
- Full testing, commissioning and technical documentation package
A Fully Integrated Technical Infrastructure
ACSP’s holistic approach, together with their extensive technical knowledge, brought together all parts of the project — lighting, data, control, audio, video, and technical — so everything works smoothly as a coordinated system.
All lighting fixtures are powered and controlled by the new LSC Unity switched power and dimming system, providing reliable DMX-based control and the ability to configure channels as switched, dimmed, or always-on. This gives the venue maximum adaptability for all production needs.
Using the LSC remote management system, LSC Houston X, allows live monitoring of each channel on the Unity rack, with a monitor in the tech booth enabling technicians to change channel functionality from dimmer to switch and to set the DMX address.
House and Stage Lighting
The Auditorium and house lighting is a combination of PROLIGHTS and CLS LED. PROLIGHTS was chosen for stage lighting due to its expansive product range, flexibility and precision, advanced technologies, and ongoing sustainability focus. ACSP’s strong relationship with PROLIGHTS and the manufacturer’s support for projects like this were essential to ensuring the venue had the right fixtures.
PROLIGHTS fixtures included:
- EclProfile FS – precise, colour-rich key lighting for drama, dance and events
- EclFresnel Jr TW – smooth, natural washes with wide zoom range
- Jet Spot4Z – flexible moving heads with effects for fast-paced shows.
- AstraWash7Pix – moving wash units with creative, pixel-controlled colour looks.
- EclExpo Flood – asymmetric floods
- ArenaCOB – punchy Cyc and stage coverage
CLS LED is renowned for its professional LED lighting and is a staple downlighter in many architectural, entertainment and retail sectors.
Using the CLS Mika for the house lights was a no-brainer, as it offers smooth dimming via DMX and even beam coverage that bathes the auditorium in a soft 3000K light. Perfect for allowing the audience to take their seats in anticipation of the show.

What’s happening backstage?
Part of the brief was to upgrade the DMX distribution, cabling, rigging hardware, and suspension equipment to support the lighting fixtures and improve the workflow for theatre productions. This worked hand in hand with the new ETC BluesSystem, including the BlueBeam fixtures, which were installed to ensure safe backstage navigation without any distracting spill onto the stage.
The projection system now uses an Epson EB-PU1008B 8,500-lumen laser projector with a short-throw lens, installed to deliver bright, detailed images for the dedicated theatre space while connected via a Kramer HDBaseT network that supports HDMI inputs and switching from multiple locations.
ACSP installed a complete audio show relay and paging system using Cloud Electronics’ Z8 MK4 zone mixer, CA6160 amplifier, RSL-6 remote controls, and PM8 paging microphone, along with Audio-Technica PRO45 hanging microphones. A pre-existing video show relay system was upgraded and sends live stage images to the foyer and green room.
The project also included new Wool Serge masking drapes from J&C Joles and Doughty Six Track & Studio Rail tracking for the Auditorium, complete electrical work, testing, commissioning, and detailed operational documentation, including assistance in patching and setting up the existing Vista by Chroma-Q console to the new system.


Keeping it connected
All specialist-installed cables were Belcom (DMX, Cat6A, audio signal), while cables running to the fixtures were custom-made by Tourflex Cabling, with Neutrik connectors. Tourflex Cabling specialises in custom cable manufacturing (assembling over 10,000 cables per month!) for the live entertainment industry, as well as the film & TV and broadcast sectors.
Moving forward
“The Phoenix Theatre now benefits from a powerful, flexible, and future-ready technical platform. This upgrade enhances production quality and simplifies day-to-day operations for staff. It was a pleasure to work with Matt and the team and to be involved in future productions for the theatre.”
Matt Stridgen – Project Manager, A.C. Special Projects.
With the system now installed, the theatre can further explore and develop its skills using the upgraded technology to offer a multi-purpose, multi-use, flexible space that can accommodate theatre and music productions, conferences, and community groups.
“This final phase of development continues our long-standing relationship with AC-ET, building on the previous expansion of our foyer. It’s been a long process to get to this point, but by investing in backstage spaces, a smarter paging system, a larger tech box, and a cutting-edge LX rig, we’ve created a more welcoming and capable environment for visiting companies and a richer training ground for our students.
These improvements give learners practical experience with professional facilities, supporting both teaching and the flexible demands of our multi-purpose space.
From our initial conversations, install and follow-up support, the team at AC have been wonderful, and I’m so happy with how the space is running.”
Matt Cargill – Technical Manager, King Alfred Phoenix Theatre


Contact ACSP
A.C. Special Projects offers complete lighting, audio, video, and rigging solutions for entertainment, education, and commercial venues throughout the UK.
Email: info@acspecialprojects.com
Tel: +44 (0)1494 838392
Website: www.acspecialprojects.com
Lighting Systems
- LSC Unity 72-channel installation rack & UDM dimming modules
- CLS Mika S DMX LED houselights
- ETC BluesSystem BlueBeam backstage blue lights
- Artistic Licence Rail-Split RDM distribution
- Neutrik True1 & Tourflex XLR cabling, ProTruss clamps, safety bonds
PROLIGHTS Stage Fixtures
- EclProfile FS – precise, colour-rich key lighting for drama, dance and events
- EclFresnel Jr TW – smooth, natural washes with wide zoom range
- Jet Spot4Z – flexible moving heads with effects for fast-paced shows.
- AstraWash7Pix – moving wash units with creative, pixel-controlled colour looks.
- EclExpo Flood – asymmetric floods
- ArenaCOB – punchy Cyc and stage coverage
Projection & Video
- Epson EB-PU1008B WUXGA laser projector with ELPLU03S lens
- UNICOL projector mounting hardware
- Kramer HDBaseT system (DIP-20 switcher, WP-789T TX plates, TP-789R RX units)
- Kramer FC-332, TP-780T, and TP-789R, for video show relay
Audio Show Relay & Paging
- Cloud Z8 MK4 8-zone mixer
- Cloud CA6160 amplifier
- Cloud RSL-6 remote level controls
- Cloud PM8 digital paging microphone
- Audio-Technica PRO45 condenser hanging microphones.
- DAP PRE-202 2-channel jack/XLR microphone preamp
- Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2B speakers (Green Room, foyer, dressing rooms)
Theatre Drapes & Track
- J&C Joel Custom Wool Serge masking drapes
- Doughty Six-Track and Studio Rail track systems, runners, pulleys and hardware
Services
- Assisting with the specification
- Sourcing, supply and installation
Contact: A.C. Special Projects
Email: info@acspecialprojects.com
Website: www.acspecialprojects.com
© 2025 photographs by A.C. Special Projects. All rights reserved.











