Germanys Berliner Ensemble Bolsters Backstage Infrastructure With Riedel Stage Systems

Berliner Ensemble, one of Berlin's five major theater companies, has expanded its backstage communications and technical production workflows with Riedel Stage Systems. In collaboration with planning office MMT, the theater has implemented an integrated infrastructure that brings together intercom, signal distribution, recording and playout, and centralized operation and control capabilities for day-to-day theater production.

Located in the historic Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, which dates back to 1892, Berliner Ensemble presents around 600 performances each year in addition to numerous guest performances in Germany and abroad. This demanding production schedule places high requirements on communication, coordination, and technical workflows behind the scenes.

The Riedel solution connects key areas across the venue - from the stage and technical departments to the control room - and brings complex production workflows into a flexible, scalable, and centrally orchestrated environment tailored to the needs of theater operations. Artist intercom, SmartPanels, Bolero wireless beltpacks, MediorNet MicroN, SimplyLive, and hi human interface work together as an integrated Riedel Stage System.

Artist, Bolero, and MediorNet form the communications and signal infrastructure at Berliner Ensemble. MediorNet connects the three buildings of the campus, enabling zero-latency video and audio signal distribution across the entire site, while SimplyLive supports efficient recording and playout workflows, particularly during rehearsals. hi human interface serves as the intuitive operating layer for stage management workflows, bringing together communication, monitoring, and control functions in a user interface designed for theater operations.

With Riedel, we have solutions that not only transmit speech reliably but are actively integrated into our workflows - from controlling lighting cues to distributing signals throughout the building, says Oliver Reese, Artistic Director at Berliner Ensemble. Our collaboration with Riedel and MMT goes far beyond technical equipment: it is based on listening, thinking along with us, and truly understanding how we work in theater.

Riedel's 1200 Series SmartPanels play a central role at Berliner Ensemble as multifunctional user interfaces. In addition to classic intercom applications, they enable control functions on the same panel and support control of third-party systems via the Control Panel App and hi human interface. This allows relevant applications and functions to be combined exactly where they are needed in daily production workflows.

The installation at Berliner Ensemble shows how powerful technical systems can become when they are designed not as individual components but as an integrated workflow, says Ralf Bauer-Diefenbach, managing director at MMT. Alongside intercom and signal distribution, SimplyLive and hi human interface were especially important in making the theater's workflows more efficient, transparent, and closely aligned with the daily work of the teams.

Even after completion of the installation, the infrastructure remains open for future requirements. Additional resources can be added permanently or on a production-by-production basis, including temporary rental equipment that can be seamlessly integrated into the existing Riedel environment.

Theaters like Berliner Ensemble are special partners for us because they show just how diverse and demanding live communication and stage management have become, says Bernhard Bauer, Sales Manager Venue and Global Sales Maritime at Riedel Communications. This is exactly where we focus at Riedel - on the people behind the scenes and their individual workflows. Whether for a major international event or a traditional municipal theater, we develop solutions that adapt flexibly to our customers' needs and deliver real value in everyday operations.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/05/29/germanys-berliner-ensemble-bols...
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