E&E Facilitates SRT’s Addition of Clear-Com’s Arcadia Central Station as Part of a Comprehensive Communications Upgrade

Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT), one of Asia’s premier professional theatre companies, has adopted Clear-Com’s Arcadia Central Station as part of a comprehensive communications upgrade, resolving long-standing intercom issues and optimising coordination across its production teams. The integration was executed in partnership with regional AV specialist Electronics & Engineering Pte Ltd. (E&E).

In the high-pressure world of live theatre, seamless backstage communication is critical. SRT had been facing growing reliability concerns with its ageing intercom system, which suffered from interference and wear that impacted clarity and speed of response. “Every cue matters during a production,” said Lee Kong Shen, Technical Manager at SRT. “Our previous system just wasn’t keeping up with our pace. We knew we needed a change, something dependable, intuitive and future-ready.”

Following a rigorous evaluation process, SRT selected Clear-Com’s Arcadia Central Station, a platform designed to bridge legacy analogue systems with cutting-edge digital functionality. The new setup features wireless FreeSpeak II digital beltpacks and strategically positioned transceivers operating in the 1.9 GHz band — ensuring interference-free operation even in dense RF environments, while maintaining clear and uninterrupted communication across front-of-house and backstage zones.

One of the defining advantages of Arcadia for SRT was its flexibility, allowing the team to retain parts of their existing infrastructure while expanding into a digital workflow. “Our communication capabilities improved dramatically,” Lee noted. “The Clear-Com system offered crisp, uninterrupted interaction between departments, enabling us to respond to on-the-fly issues quickly and efficiently. Plus, its scalability meant we could expand or adapt the system based on the complexity of each production.”

The installation process was streamlined and minimally invasive, with Arcadia’s centralised architecture requiring less cabling and downtime — a critical benefit given the theatre’s ongoing schedule of live performances. Support from Clear-Com and E&E included detailed system training and responsive assistance during deployment. “The user-friendly interface meant our crew could quickly get up to speed,” said Lee. “It’s intuitive and reliable, which was exactly what we needed.”

E&E and Clear-Com’s continued post-installation engagement helped embed the system into the theatre’s day-to-day operations. “We had a fantastic experience,” Lee said. “Both teams were incredibly responsive and proactive. From the initial consultation to post-installation support, they’ve been with us every step of the way. That level of commitment is rare and deeply appreciated.”

With Arcadia now fully operational, Singapore Repertory Theatre is equipped with a future-ready communications backbone that aligns with the pace and precision of its world-class productions, reinforcing its reputation for excellence in live performance.