Panasonic’s RQ35 and RQ25 projectors bring quiet, high-brightness 4K projection for seamless scenic storytelling in a historic London theatre.
One of the latest additions to London’s glamourous West End, Paddington: The Musical set out to deliver a richly immersive theatrical experience, bringing the beloved character’s world to life through detailed scenic environments and visual storytelling.
Production Demands
The production required full scenic video coverage across multiple architectural surfaces, including moving and flown set pieces while ensuring that projection technology remained completely invisible to the audience. Any seen equipment, audible noise, or compromised sightlines would immediately break immersion and detract from the live performance.
At the same time, the system had to withstand the stringent realities of live theatre: tight rehearsal schedules, overnight maintenance windows, and the expectation of flawless performance in each and every show.
Panasonic Selected for a Hybrid Approach
Panasonic projectors were selected to deliver the required brightness, colour fidelity, and reliability without compromising the aesthetic integrity of the space.
A combination of Panasonic RQ35 and RQ25 series projectors was integrated into the venue, supplied by Stage Sound Services. The selected solution balanced high-output performance with compact form factors and quiet operation, enabling projectors to be positioned front-of-house and above the audience without drawing attention to themselves. The projectors were complimented by a dedicated LED display, a rare hybrid approach that required precise planning and tuning.
The result was a projection system capable of delivering large-scale scenic imagery that blended seamlessly into the physical set, supporting the narrative rather than competing with it.
“We strive for absolute perfection, and that’s what keeps us on our toes,” explained Dan Trenchard, Video Supervisor for Paddington: The Musical. “So, there is no concern about investing in Panasonic for a show like this – the reliability speaks for itself.”
The lighting team were impressed by the quality of the projectors that they built the projectors directly into the show’s lighting schemes, which is historically a rare and bold production move and shows the unique power and range of the units.
Engineering immersion inside a historic theatre
Installing high-brightness projection in a Victorian-era theatre introduced additional constraints around space, weight, and noise. Projectors had to be carefully positioned at front-of-house, in and around the audience, requiring careful consideration of sightlines and acoustic impact.
Custom acoustic enclosures helped minimize distraction from the units, with projector housings colour-matched to the venue to blend in with the historic architecture. In some locations, projectors were integrated among lighting fixtures to further reduce visual impact.
“People want the projectors,” Trenchard says, “but they never want to hear them.”
This meant strategic decisions had to be made to balance absolute silence with unobstructed views, ensuring the best possible experience for the audience in premium seating areas.
“I think we’re very lucky on Paddington to have several musical numbers that are completely dedicated to video, which is not always the case. There are some numbers in Paddington which are a single principal on stage and complete projection coverage over the entire set. So, it’s sort of unapologetically video, which is really nice.”
Paddington: The Musical is making waves among critics, audiences, and theatre professionals alike, and it goes to show how projection is becoming a central part of live storytelling magic. The unique mix of high-brightness performance, quiet operation, and proven reliability found in Panasonic projectors enabled the production team to create something genuinely special for audiences, night after night, and proves the power of reliable technology to elevate the human spirit.
