Iconic Morecambe Winter Gardens reborn with KV2 audio

The advanced sound system KV2 sets the stage for a new era of performances at this Grade II listed venue. Two ESR215MkII full range speakers and an ESR3000 amplifier have been installed, stacked on the ground on one meter uprights.

One of the oldest and most iconic buildings in the north is the Morecambe Winter Gardens, Once the centerpiece of the city's illustrious entertainment scene. Inaugurated in 1897 as a landmark of British architecture, received performances from The Who, Vera Lynn and many more, but it was partially demolished at the beginning of the years 80, leaving alone standing Victoria Pavillion theater.

From 2006, The Friends of the Winter Gardens Foundation has worked tirelessly to revive this Grade II listed building. In 2024, Their efforts took a big step forward with the launch of a restoration project 2,7 million pounds, funded by a grant from the Department of Culture, Media and Sports. A fundamental part of the restoration consisted of installing a state-of-the-art sound system, that could support the current events program and expand as the venue grew. For this, KV2 Audio chosen to play a key role in the future of theater.

“We needed to provide a good starting system for the foundation, that could scale with the changing needs and capacity of the building”, comment Rob Crossland, engineering manager Adlib, the project integrator. “Despite being a room with capacity for 2500 personas, current capacity is restricted to 400 by local authorities. The foundation wanted a system that could meet its current needs, but that also evolved with the theater. Our goal was to cover the entire stall area with as few speakers as possible., keeping costs down and reducing complexity”.

Adlib specified two full range speakers ESR215MkII of KV2 and a ESR3000 amplifier, floor-stacked on three-foot studs to provide front-facing sound in a dual mono configuration. Control is managed through a console Allen & Heath SQ5.

“Audio quality, The ease of use and compact design of the ESR215MkII made it perfect for Morecambe conservatories. Despite the large space, just two boxes offer excellent coverage, and the system's smooth frequency response is ideal for theater applications. Besides, is future proof. Over time, we can blow up the system and add more components such as subwoofers or delay speakers”, crossland continues.

The theater still retains much of its original charm, from the ornate plasterwork on the ceiling to the intricate mosaic floors, making it a time capsule of Northern cultural history. At its peak in the early 20th century, Morecambe Winter Gardens hosted twice daily shows and winter pantomimes, but in the middle of the decade 1970, the place had fallen into decay. Most of the complex was demolished, dejando solo el teatro Victoria Pavilion en pie en mal estado.

El punto de inflexión llegó en 2006 cuando los Amigos de Morecambe Winter Gardens, ahora Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust, comenzaron a trabajar para salvar el edificio. Between 2020 y 2023, obtuvieron 11 subvenciones, que permitieron trabajos críticos de seguridad y restauración, apoyados por Historic England, Theatres Trust y el Departamento de Conservación del Reino Unido. Culture, medios de comunicación y deporte.

Con la restauración en pleno apogeo, el nuevo sistema de sonido KV2 ya está atrayendo eventos de alto perfil. El cuarteto folk Wayward Jane será el primero en probar el sistema en noviembre, mezclando folk americano con música tradicional en un guiño a la rica historia del lugar. Other artists are expected to join in soon., continuing Morecambe Winter Gardens' legacy of hosting world-class performances.