MQTT-based stage management system
Aduart GmbH has developed an IoT-based stage management system for theater and stage technology based on open PC-based control technology from Beckhoff. The system, which won the German Theatre Technical Society’s (DTHG) Showtech Award 2025, ensures excellent synchronization of the building services and stage technology with the artistic ensemble at Leipzig Opera.
The beginnings of Leipzig Opera date back to 1693: Over 330 years ago, a theater was opened on the Brühl, making it the third public music theater in Europe after Venice and Hamburg. From the opening of Leipzig Opera’s current building in 1960, large parts of the stage management system have been in continuous operation ever since and have only been altered and partially added to – most recently around 30 years ago. A comprehensive modernization was therefore overdue, as malfunctions were jeopardizing operations and repairs were becoming increasingly difficult due to the lack of available spare parts.
The fundamental renewal of the stage management technology that became necessary offered the opportunity to add missing functionality and to implement an open, future-proof technology that would meet both current and future requirements. “Aduart’s stage management console sets itself apart due to the network-based architecture, which is based on advanced MQTT technology and its own server,” explains Michel Matuschke, entertainment industry manager at Beckhoff. Compared to conventional systems, this results in high communication and processing speeds as well as flexibility and openness.
Long-term availability and flexibility are mandatory
The challenge for Aduart was to find a control system that met industrial requirements in terms of reliability and long-term availability. In addition, all interfaces to AV and media technology (sACN, SMPTE timecode, Art-Net™, AES70 (OCA), PIXERA, PosiStageNet, PJLink, and Riedel) and similar systems through to building technology (BACnet, DALI, KNX/EIB) needed to be supported. “According to our research, PC-based control from Beckhoff is the only automation platform that fulfills both requirements,” says Till Götze, managing director of Aduart GmbH. PC-based control is also modular in terms of hardware and software, meaning that the stage management system can be individually adapted to the requirements of other venues in future projects.
The Aduart stage management system has been in use at Leipzig Opera since the 2025 season. However, planning for the extensive project began much earlier – at the start of 2022 and by engineering company Graner + Partner GmbH. The implementation was carried out by SIGMA & TBL Kommunikationstechnik GmbH in Chemnitz in close cooperation with Aduart during the 2024 dark period and at the beginning of the 2025 season. The project included:
- three stage management consoles (2x stationary, 1x mobile)
- 14 additional touch panels for various control tasks
- 435 IP speakers (ATEÏS)
- 50 displays
- 19 remote-controlled cameras (PTZ)
- 38 intercom stations (RIEDEL ARTIST-1024), and
- 112 DMX cue lights
Aduart relies on PC-based control and innovative IoT technologies for the stage management system to create a scalable and open structure. This makes it possible to integrate controllers both in the main control center and in the sub-centers that are connected via fiber optics and serve as interfaces to the DMX cue lights and power distributors. Also integrated into the stage management system are the video network (Mediornet) and the intercom (ARTIST-1024) from Riedel Communications GmbH, an IP speaker system from ATEÏS, the in-house technical network with various cameras, recording devices, etc. as well as the lighting network for reading out lighting scene. The components are networked via a powerful IP network with a total cable length of around 50 km – distributed over two main control centers and 15 substations. “An IP-based system of this type and scope has never been built before,” says Götze, emphasizing the importance of the project.
High-performance control and network technology
The stage management consoles are based on two redundant CX2033 Embedded PCs with TwinCAT 3 and functions for communication via TCP/IP (TF6310), Serial Communication (TF6340), XML Server (TF6421), and IoT Communication (TF6701). “With the protocols from the entertainment industry provided by TwinCAT and EtherCAT Terminals with a wide variety of communication interfaces, we were able to integrate all systems,” emphasizes Götze. Beckhoff supports, for example, the essential parts of the RRCS protocol from Riedel Communications, the coupling of audio devices via the AES70 (OCA) standard, and many other protocols.
A total of almost 170 EtherCAT Terminals are used at Leipzig Opera, including seven EL6851 DMX master terminals and six EL6022 2-channel communication interfaces (RS422/RS485). According to Till Götze, the high channel density of the EL1862 and EL2872 EtherCAT Terminals and their special connection technology (connectors and flat-ribbon cables), together with the rapid and expert support, made the commissioning process much easier. The diverse and demanding network architecture is reflected by the ten EK1501 EtherCAT Couplers with fiber-optic connection and ten EK1521 EtherCAT junctions (fiber-optic) as well as ten additional EK1101 EtherCAT Couplers. Depending on requirements, Aduart was able to easily chose between using classic CU-based transmission or fiber optic as a medium. “The ability to program the application flexibly in Visual Studio with TwinCAT, plus the reliable support from Beckhoff, are a huge benefit for us,” says Götze, looking ahead to the further upcoming projects based on Beckhoff technology.
Stage manager – the CEO during performances
A stage manager or performance manager plays a central role in the theater: They coordinate all processes during a performance and ensure that props, sets, costumes, and technical equipment are ready in the appropriate positions at the right time and that scene changes are carried out in sync with the performance. They give instructions to the technicians at the lighting and sound desk, the make-up team and the artists via speaker announcements, displays, and cue lights. They monitor the processes and timing of the artists via the cameras. During the performance, they direct the team behind the scenes, call out cues, play music and sound effects, and ensure smooth scene changes.
