Providing sound design services and equipment delivery since 2018, as overseen by Eighth Day Sound’s Sean Sturge, UniverSoul Circus is one of North America’s most-loved family friendly, non-stop action productions. This year, the show has 10 acts from multiple continents, reinforcing its position as a truly cultural live entertainment offering.
Production Manager Kabelo Mashobane begins: “The idea here is to bring everyone from different cultures together. Soul doesn't have a color. It doesn't matter where you are from, when it comes to seeking entertainment, we all speak the same language.”
To convey the messaging behind the circus’ new show, Kabelo explains why Eighth Day Sound is the right fit: “Our audio delivery is unique; we have a lot of dynamic sounds due to our different acts bringing their own regional take. From classical ballet songs to Afrobeat, to Soca music from the Caribbean, we have something for everyone.”
Running from a big top tent for up to six weeks at a time across US cities, there were two main priorities when it came to designing a compact touring audio system: unified audience coverage, and ease of installation.
Eighth Day Sound’s Chris Berry furthers: “The tent structure and the logistical needs of the talented performers dictated any PA constraints. The majority of the flown production elements are required to hang from the circular truss suspended above the center ring, so deploying a system from the center and following the shape of the roof structure to minimize reflections was key.
“The performance area of the tent is in the center with the audience wrapped around 300 degrees of its perimeter. Given the weight and spatial limitations of the flown circle truss, the sub system couldn’t be suspended with the line array. As the center of the room is the performance space, having the subs as a distributed cardioid system and placed under the bleachers was also key.”
To gain perfect sound clarity throughout the awe-inspiring performances, which comprise the ‘Havana Night Skaters’, ‘China Soul Flyers’ and ‘Extreme Riders’, to name a few, was imperative.
Kabelo continues: “What I like about working with Eighth Day Sound is the support system we receive – it’s been phenomenal. They listened to what we needed and gave us an audio design that complements all our sounds. Afrobeat songs need that low end, the ballet songs hit those mid and high tones, and if there's a violin playing, you'll be able to hear the sound very clearly. No genre is left behind and that’s important to everyone.”
It's estimated that over one million people have attended a UniverSoul Circus show date, watching highly skilled performers while absorbing the inclusivity of such a positive institution.
Kabelo concludes: “Our circus is very interactive, with a lot of audience participation. I think that's what attracts people to keep coming to see us. It doesn't matter where you're from or what your background is, as soon as you're under our big top, we are all one family.”
