The Hunger Games: On Stage has finally landed at the Troubadour in London! Luminous were proud to design, engineer and install a host of special effects for this ambitious new production. Take a look at how we bought some of the amazing moments to life.
The Brief
The Hunger Games: On Stage required a fully immersive stage environment that captured the drama, spectacle, and tension of the story. The newly built Troubadour Theatre, with its in-the-round seating, delivered the perfect arena for this powerful retelling.
Based on the film, we knew from the start that the production demanded a combination of high-impact flame effects and atmospheric enhancements that could move seamlessly with the action.
The Luminous team worked alongside the creative and technical team to design, engineer, and implement an integrated system of special effects that would safely and reliably deliver cinematic-level excitement for the live audience.
“The creative team set out an incredibly ambitious vision, the kind of design that really challenges what can be achieved in live theatre,” says Ed Samkin, cofounder of Luminous. “Delivering it required a range of highly complex, fully integrated SFX systems that could perform flawlessly within a constantly shifting space. It’s the most intricate theatre work we’ve undertaken since Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, where we engineered the custom flame systems for all seven global territories.”
The Challenge
Creating large-scale, mobile, and automated flame effects for a live theatre environment like this one presented a number of significant challenges. Whilst managing multiple theatre projects in the past, the layout of this theatre was different to traditional ones. It meant that some of the effects needed to be fully mobile and wireless, often integrated into flying trusses or wheeled scenic pieces, which added complexity to their design and operation. All elements required synchronised control, ensuring that fire, fog, and pop-up effects worked together seamlessly to enhance the storytelling without disrupting the flow of the performance.
The Solution
Luminous engineered a series of bespoke SFX systems for the production:
Tree Truss Flame System – A 10m linear flame bar built into a flying truss for dramatic overhead fire effects.
TV Studio Flame System – Integrated into wheeled scenic staging, creating a ring of fire.
Tribute Camp Fire – Entirely wireless and self-contained, allowing it to be moved freely around the stage.
Chariot Exhaust Flames – Fired horizontally from flown Chariots, synchronised with movement across the stage.
Wireless Control & Secondary Wired Safety Enable System – Allowed full automation and precise control of all flame effects.
Low Fog System with Automated Pop-Ups
Every element was designed to be safe and reliable, providing the production team with maximum flexibility for rehearsals and live performances. Luminous’ flame and atmospheric systems enhanced pivotal moments on stage. From the fiery reveal of Katniss’ dress to the immersive environment of the Tribute Camp and the chariot sequences, the effects delivered cinematic impact, reliability, and safety, setting a new benchmark for live theatre SFX.
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