FaustForum Chooses ETC Prodigy for New German Cultural Venue

A new cultural center in Staufen im Breisgau, Germany, is using an ETC Prodigy P2 rigging system to support a diverse program of concerts, theatre, dance, film screenings, and festivals.

The €20 million FaustForum opened in April following four years of planning and construction. Described by German broadcaster SWR as an “architectural masterpiece,” the venue combines a media library with a multifunctional performance space, creating a cultural hub for the region.

With the space regularly reconfigured for different events, flexibility was a key consideration when selecting the venue’s stage technology. FaustForum chose a Prodigy P2-900 system, installed by Scheinwurf GmbH.

“We were looking for a system that could be installed relatively quickly and easily, and that led us to Prodigy from ETC,” says Simon Weiler, Technical Manager at FaustForum. “The complete system was installed across two visits, in a total of just four working days. That really impressed us.”

The installation comprises four motorized hoists – one auditorium hoist and three stage hoists – equipped with Compression Tubes, integrated cable management, six power circuits, and two DMX universes. Around 50 fixtures, from conventional white-light fixtures to moving lights and wash lights, can be flexibly positioned across the hoists.

The system is controlled using an ETC QuickTouch+ Mk2 control station, with a wired remote control allowing the hoists to be operated within the operator’s direct line of sight. An additional emergency stop provides further safety.

“The venue has a clear height of almost seven meters (23 feet), and we regularly change the configuration of the space and use the hoists very flexibly,” says Weiler. “The ETC Prodigy system is ideal for this.”

Since opening, FaustForum has hosted two to three events each week, with the system used by both the venue’s team and visiting technicians.

“It is really intuitive, and with the QuickTouch control I have complete control over all the hoists,” says Weiler. “Prodigy is flexible, the functions can be individually adapted and – because it’s so intuitive to use – visiting technicians can also work with it very easily.”

The integrated load management also simplifies day-to-day operation. “I can see the current load, the position of each hoist, and save different trim heights,” Weiler explains. “That means positions don’t have to be measured again every time. It makes the daily work considerably easier.”

For Scheinwurf GmbH, Prodigy’s integrated design also helped streamline installation.

“As a comparatively small company, we place great importance on making installation times on site as efficient as possible,” says Stefan Bettinger, Managing Director of Scheinwurf GmbH. “That is why we appreciate ETC’s well-designed overall concept, with ColorSource Raceway, integrated cable management, and pre-assembled components.”

A three-person team installed and commissioned the complete system in just four days, including inspection and approval by an independent expert.

Bettinger also highlights Prodigy’s intelligent control system, which provides users with operational information and automatically generates inspection reports.

“It provides the user with all the relevant information at any time and automatically creates a complete inspection report,” he says. “This means that all maintenance and safety-related inspections can be documented continuously. That is a real added benefit for installers, operators, and inspectors alike.”

With a program ranging from concerts and theatre to festivals and educational events, FaustForum needed a rigging system that could adapt to different productions without adding complexity to the working day.

“Prodigy is flexible and intuitive, and it gives us the control we need to use the space in different ways,” says Weiler.