Our hugely successful Easter "Sound Fundamentals for Theatre" training course will run this year from 7-10 April, taking the total number of students past the 500 figure.

Sound Fundamentals for Theatre has become the industry's de facto theatre sound training programme, helping to prepare technical theatre and theatre sound students for careers in live entertainment.

It combines essential theory with practical skills, catering for a wide cross-section of skill levels. Students are typically drawn from the UK's leading drama schools, as well as freelancers and corporate sector technicians. Organised by our dedicated training co-ordinator Alex Waddle, the course is led by Richard Carter and supported by Technical Director Bill Addison.

Over the 4 days, students are also given the opportunity to try out some of the latest audio equipment, with participation from leading brands such as Yamaha Commercial Audio, Shure, d&b audiotechnik, Flare Audio, Nemesis, Q-Lab and CSC. The week ends with a chance to go backstage on a major West End musical, giving the students the opportunity to see first-hand what goes into a professional production.

For 2015, the course content encompasses dedicated modules on:
• Theatre fundamentals, key concepts and system elements
• Audio processing, transmission and digital audio basics
• Communication and video workshop
• Sound design and production engineering for musicals
• Radio microphone systems
• Radio microphone fitting
• Safety and rigging fundamentals
• Electroacoustics
• Speaker choice and venue calculations
• Computer systems and controlling the show
• MIDI and show control
• Digital mixing
• Networking and wireless control systems

The annual Easter "Sound Fundamentals for Theatre" week forms a key component of Orbital Sound's focus on education, offering a range of courses for students, industry professionals, educational establishments, and amateurs.

Our full training programme includes the successful "Mixing Musicals" course – focused on FOH mixing and every stage of the process, from the rehearsal room to setting up a desk in its base state. "Mixing Musicals" runs from 5-6 May 2015 with places strictly limited to just 12 places to ensure a high degree of personal tuition and hands-on practice.