Theater an der Wien: 200 years of opera, now with wireless control

When tradition meets innovation, reliability is key. At Vienna’s historic Theater an der Wien, a growing demand for wireless DMX control led the lighting team to LumenRadio’s Stardust – bringing multi-universe flexibility, real-time monitoring, and bulletproof performance to every production.

Theater an der Wien has amazed audiences with the world’s finest operas and musicals throughout its over 200 years of history, next year they celebrate their 225^th birthday. As one of Vienna’s oldest theaters, home to more than 1,100 seats, Theater an der Wien is a cornerstone of Austria’s opera scene. Renowned for its bold productions and rich history, the venue blends classical tradition with cutting-edge stage technology.

A growing wireless setup with no room for error

With each new production, the theater’s wireless DMX setup was becoming more complex. They were running a mix of LDDE fixtures with W-DMX and Astera gear with CRMX – placed above the stage, on set decorations, and even inside props used by the cast during performances.

As more and more DMX channels were added to the setup, the need for additional DMX universes increased rapidly. And in a venue filled with competing RF traffic, maintaining reliable connections without cross-interference had become a real challenge. Theater an der Wien’s lighting crew needed a single solution that could handle both protocols, scale with future productions, and provide visibility into the wireless environment.

One device to control it all

The team installed LumenRadio’s Stardust, running multiple universes over sACN in CRMX² mode. Today, it serves as the central wireless hub for every production – handling all CRMX and W-DMX fixtures in the theater.

From Astera Titan Tubes, PixelBricks, AX9, AX3 and HydraPanels to various LDDE fixtures, Stardust seamlessly transmits across both protocols. Technicians link fixtures directly on stage to the correct universe, while the Lighting Manager and Lighting Operator manage universes and monitor performance from the lighting booth – using a real-time frequency spectrum overview accessible in a browser via the Stardust.

The biggest benefit is being able to run multiple universes from a single piece of gear. And being able to access Stardust via a browser for linking and monitoring – that’s a real advantage.
– Thomas Zettauer, Lighting Operator

Faster workflows and future-ready performance

By consolidating all wireless control into one Stardust unit, the theater dramatically reduced setup time and system complexity. Each fixture is pre-linked to its universe so once it’s powered on, it’s ready to perform.

The ability to monitor the full RF spectrum from a browser has become essential in such a signal-heavy environment. It gives the team immediate clarity and control, helping them identify interference and maintain rock-solid connections.

And most importantly? Wireless has become the new normal. Theater an der Wien now have a wireless lighting setup they can grow with.

Most of the time it’s inevitable – you simply don’t have the option to run a cable. Wireless gives us the flexibility we need.
– Karl Wiedemann, Lighting Manager