Bradford’s spectacular Brighter Still event at Myrtle Park marked a major cultural moment as part of the city’s UK City of Culture celebrations. Delivered by Manchester-based production specialist Tube UK, the large-scale outdoor production brought together hundreds of performers, complex staging and a large audience across two nights.
With a main circular performance stage, multiple runways extending into the audience and performers entering from numerous points around the site, the production demanded a communications solution capable of keeping teams connected across a wide and dynamic environment. To meet that challenge, the team deployed a comprehensive Green-GO digital intercom system, providing reliable wired and wireless communication for stage management, technical crews and event control.
“Our constantly increasing stock of Green-GO products have all been supplied by the fantastic team at Canford Audio. They offer excellent aftersales support and technical advice to support us with these products.”
Melvyn Coote, Owner of Tube UK
Flexible Wireless Coverage Across the Entire Site
The show site measured approximately 100 metres wide by 80 metres deep, requiring communications coverage that would allow key crew members to move freely between stage, backstage areas and front-of-house positions.
At the core of the system were:
- 18 wireless Green-GO belt packs
- 8 wired belt packs
- 1 MCXD desk station
Most wireless packs were connected to the main roaming pool, enabling users to move freely across the entire site without losing connectivity. To achieve this, six Green-GO STRIDE antennas were strategically deployed across the space. Two antennas were mounted on upright stage structures, while two more covered the backstage performer holding area. A further antenna was positioned at the FOH control structure, with another installed in a tent located between the stage and holding areas.
This layout ensured consistent coverage across all operational zones, allowing wireless users to roam freely throughout the entire site footprint. Two additional WAA antennas were used to support wireless packs assigned specifically to the stage area, providing more localised coverage where required.
Integrating Comms with the Show Audio Network
Beyond standard intercom functionality, the comms system was tightly integrated with the production’s audio infrastructure using a Green-GO Dante Interface X. This allowed several key operational features to be implemented. The show programme feed was relayed directly to comms users, ensuring technical teams could monitor the performance in real time.
The stage manager’s belt pack was also configured to deliver Voice-of-God (VOG) announcements to the stage during rehearsals, enabling clear communication with the large number of performers involved in the production. A separate channel was routed via Dante to a dedicated PA system in the performer holding area, allowing instructions to be relayed efficiently when performers were off stage.
Connecting FOH and Event Control
The communications system also bridged multiple production departments. Two Slim 4-Wire interfaces connected the Green-GO network to the FOH engineers’ shout system, allowing direct communication between stage management and the audio control team.
Meanwhile, an RDX Radio Interface linked the intercom system to walkie-talkie radios used by the head of event control, who was positioned in a separate building close to the main site. This ensured critical information could still be shared quickly across operational teams, particularly in the event of an emergency.
Network Infrastructure Built for Reliability
Supporting the entire comms system was a dedicated network infrastructure built using NETGEAR M4250 series switches, including four M4250-26G4F units and two M4250-8G2XF switches.
The network was distributed across the venue using a mix of quad opticalCON fibre, duo opticalCON fibre and Cat6 etherCON cabling, ensuring robust connectivity between system components. All belt packs and antennas were connected using Cat6 etherCON to provide secure and durable connections suitable for the outdoor environment.
System monitoring was carried out from a dedicated control tent, while communications equipment collection, return and battery charging were managed from the performer holding area.
Built for Outdoor Production
With the event taking place outdoors in December, reliability and redundancy were essential. Numerous Beyerdynamic DT280 single-muff headsets were deployed across the crew, with plenty of spares available to account for the challenging winter conditions.
The resulting communications infrastructure, designed & built by Tube UK’s own Comms Team - Harry Park and Adam Taylor, enabled seamless coordination across stage management, FOH and event control teams throughout rehearsals and performances.
By delivering reliable, site-wide comms through the Green-GO system, the production team ensured that the complex logistics of Brighter Still could be managed smoothly, helping bring Bradford’s cultural celebration to life for thousands of attendees.