Behind the Production of Another Brick In The Wall, Part 5

For Another Brick in the Wall, Part 5 at Østre Gasværk Teater, stage automation became an integral part of the storytelling including stage lifts, performer flying winches, scenic-motion hoists and the complete MOVEKET control system.

With movements closely connected to both the musical timeline and the narrative, precision was essential.

Musicians appeared from beneath the stage, performers moved through the air above the audience, scenic elements entered and disappeared, and several automated systems had to work together as one.

MSA Technical Project Manager Jimmy Johnson developed the technical solutions and worked closely with the production team to find the safest and most precise way to integrate each automated element into the show.

The goal wasn't automation for the sake of movement. It was about making the technology disappear into the performance.

Automation As Part Of The Story

Movement Above The Stage

The automation continued overhead.

A circular truss above the main stage carried:

4 × MOVEKET VMW-S 125 three-wire winches
3 × MOVEKET VMK-S 125-40 chain hoists
1 × MOVEKET VMK-S 500-24 chain hoist

Together, they provided the infrastructure for aerial performers using hoops, straps, slings, ropes and trapezes throughout the show.

The same system was used to move scenic elements in and out of the performance space, allowing the automation package to serve multiple purposes without compromising the creative expression.

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One System. Every Movement.

All winch wires, chain hoists and stage lifts were individually controlled through the MOVEKET Expert III console running i-Motion software.

Jimmy Johnson configured the system, while Erik Jensen and Mathias Kromann handled programming and operation throughout the production.

With lifts, flying performers and scenic movement all running through the same control environment, the operators had a complete overview of the automation throughout the performance.

  • 4 × Alfa System M:LIFT stage lifts

  • 4 × MOVEKET VMW-S 125 three-wire winches

  • 3 × MOVEKET VMK-S 125-40 chain hoists

  • 1 × MOVEKET VMK-S 500-24 chain hoist

  • MOVEKET Expert III + i-Motion

  • PSN integration with disguise

  • Complete automation control & programming

  • “We needed so many elements precisely executed at specific times to fit the musical timeline and narrative.”

    — Søren Møller, Artistic Director & Creative Producer, Østre Gasværk Teater

  • “The MOVEKET system is solid, modern and straightforward and efficient to program once you have received the requisite training.”

    — Erik Jensen, Automation Operator

Built To Move The Show

Another Brick in The Wall, Part 5 brought together multiple types of stage automation in one production – from movement below the stage to automated scenic elements above it.

Our job was to make every movement work as one reliable system.

Precise when it needed to be.
Dynamic when the show called for it.
And ready to do it all again the next night