Here We Are at the National Theatre

I recently had the privilege of reporting on the innovative sound design behind Stephen Sondheim's posthumous musical Here We Are at the National Theatre's Lyttelton. Sound designer Tom Gibbons masterfully navigated the unique challenges of this Buñuel-inspired production, which shifts dramatically from a dense musical first act to a largely non-musical second act.

Gibbons employed d&b's Soundscape technology with Zactrack positioning to ensure crystal-clear dialogue tracking as actors moved through the surreal narrative. His hybrid approach, combining traditional LCR for the orchestra with precise vocal imaging, created clarity in the sonic landscape that served the story's satirical journey.

Key technical elements included the deployment of d&b's new CCL compact line array—one of the first UK installations—and careful foldback curation to support the performers whilst maintaining the best FOH mix. Tom also discussed his specific attention to atmospheric details, from subtle underscoring to the dramatic train sequence in "Soldier's Dream."

With huge thanks to Tom Gibbons, and to Joel Price, Tom Cassidy and the whole sound team at the National Theatre's Lyttleton.