The Show Must Go On!
Smart Axis chooses STOBER gearboxes for the moving seating blocks of “The Hunger Games: On Stage”
For “The Hunger Games: On Stage” – a live spectacle that places the audience right at the heart of the action – Leeds-based Smart Axis Stage Engineering Limited developed moving seating blocks for up to 112 people, housed in the purpose-built Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre in London.
On demand, each block has to move a dynamic load of 26 tonnes silently and seamlessly, without the audience noticing the motion. For this demanding task, Smart Axis commissioned STOBER to supply all the gearboxes for the production. The centrepiece of the installation is the unique set of moving seating blocks, which rotate quietly and make spectators feel part of the spectacle. With helical bevel gearboxes in a range of sizes, STOBER thus contributed to the extraordinary arena atmosphere and visual effects.
Pforzheim, 19.06.2026 – Martin Radmall is the co-founder of Leeds-based, Smart Axis. Radmall and his team deliver stage engineering for live events, TV, film, exhibitions and festivals. “We make projects lift, shift, twist and turn,” he explains.
Operating globally, Smart Axis provides a holistic approach to the products and services it supplies to the entertainment industry. The company has a proven track record for providing a variety of sub-contracted support to artistic and cultural projects with a focus on initial design, build, fabrication, installation as well as predictive maintenance of its creations.
In 2024, Smart Axis won a contract to be a supplier to The Hunger Games: On Stage.
The project
The Hunger Games: On Stage aims to re-imagine Suzanne Collins’ bestselling novel set in the fictional world of Panem, a nation made up of districts numbered 1 to 13 specializing in different industries, and Lionsgate’s $3 billion film franchise into a live, in-the-round arena experience. The Hunger Games: On Stage had its world premiere at the 1,200 seat Troubadour Canary Wharf theatre in November 2025.
“The £26 million Troubadour Canary Wharf theatre is a state-of-the art venue that was purpose built in just six months with the objective of staging a fully immersive production for audiences seated in the various districts of Panem,” outlines Radmall. “Working predominantly in the global entertainment industry, we’re used to working around ambitious sets being built rather than an entire new building being erected around us while we work!”
Adapted by Olivier Award winning playwright, Conor McPherson, and directed by Matthew Dunster, the production features breathtaking aerial display, live fire effects, LED walls and an arena-style configuration that positions spectators at the heart of the Games themselves.
Continues Radmall: “The Troubadour was specifically designed to incorporate all these show-stopping elements and seating blocks, named after each of the districts, to place audiences right at the heart of the arena where the Hunger Games take place. This is where Smart Axis and STOBER came in. The production team wanted the districts to be moving sections of seating around a huge stage on which performers in the Hunger Games would fight on the floor and in the air at 90 degrees to the walls.”
The technical requirements
“A key focus of the project was to design, create and manufacture seating drive bank systems capable of noiselessly moving an incredible 26 tonnes dynamic load and comfortably seating 112 people. Whilst each block had to move on demand, the production team did not want the people sitting in the block to realise they were moving. That’s no mean feat and, since the ‘districts’ are a key element of the show, every element of the engineering had to be smooth, seamless and, of course, safe.”
Smart Axis brings STOBER on board
“When we knew we had won the contract to be a supplier to The Hunger Games: On Stage, I contacted Martin Preece, Head of UK Subsidiary for STOBER. I have worked with him successfully on previous entertainment projects and knew he and STOBER would be able to meet our very specific requirements; and I wasn’t wrong,” states Radmall.
The challenge
Outlines Radmall: “One of the first challenges we had to overcome was that the actual design of the theatre building itself changed whilst we were in the design and build stage. This imposed tight space constraints compared to the initial concept, so we had to adapt and flex our design to ensure we could still deliver the same power and speed to provide the customer experience but in a somewhat tighter envelope.
“I contacted Martin on a few occasions to ask about the various gear technologies available from STOBER and discuss, for example, the best implementation to provide the smooth, quiet and trouble -free operation needed, but also now fitting into a much smaller space than we had previously anticipated. Every time he was entirely proactive and worked through our specific requests and, as ever, delivered options and discussions points for us to optimise the design into a ‘Smart Solution’.
“The engineering that went into the seating blocks was critical which is why we chose STOBER’s right-angle helical bevel gearboxes. STOBER’s gearboxes worked in conjunction with several drives to move audience members seated in the ‘districts’ effortlessly in a smooth, gliding motion that was silent.”
States Martin Preece, Head of UK Subsidiary: “Our brief was to help Smart Axis to size and select the gearboxes that would fit into the space-restricted areas under the seating blocks. Their main application was in districts 1 and 2 and their operation had to be silent in order not to disrupt the suspense and magical illusion of the production. This demanded strong and powerful components because, on opening night, and beyond, there was no room for failure – the show must go on!
“Martin was also able to utilise the STOBER Configurator during the design process to easily produce product data sheets and drawing files as required. The resulting STOBER solution fitted the requirements perfectly with the helical gearing delivering smooth operation, one-piece housing for rigidity and highly compact dimensions.”
The STOBER components supplied
• 8 x helical bevel gearboxes for four seating bank drive systems that are capable of moving the incredible 26,000kg dynamic load and positioning the audience at the heart of the production. The 8m x 3.6m main lift was engineered for ultimate reliability and safety with every part of the system designed to perform at the very highest level.
• 8 x helical bevel gearboxes size 1-4 were included in the 8m x 3.7m drop & slide mechanism, built for speed and seamless integration, and four perimeter lifts – one at each corner of the ‘main contender zone’ – and further drop & slides engineered to EN17206.
Continues Martin: “Selecting STOBER gearboxes for the project offered several benefits to Smart Axis. The units feature single-cast housing which provides exceptional torsional rigidity and durability, ideal for the loads involved they were required to move. A wide range of housing designs in also available to facilitate flexible mounting options for the various installation scenarios demanded.
“At the same time, the outstanding quality of the helical gearing ensures quiet operation and high efficiency. Obviously, the last thing that both Martin and the stage production team wanted was a noisy, clunky seating bank that broke down every night – not on our watch!”
Success factors
“The fact that Martin, and STOBER, we able to support the various changes we encountered was extremely beneficial to the overall success of this project for us,” comments Radmall.
“From on-time delivery, compliance with safety standards and a successful launch of the show itself, STOBER was always able to provide an answer and a solution which is exactly what we need from our suppliers. We know that STOBER products are both reliable and compliant which is vital for us as a specialist contractor of our type to the entertainment industry. Every project we complete must be compliant to a variety of European safety standards and codes. And, of course, safety is paramount something which Martin and the team at STOBER more than understand.
“Lead times were also short and were met and, in one case, exceeded which ensured our work was always on track and that reflected well on the Smart Axis team as a whole.”
Caption:
Photo credits: STÖBER Antriebstechnik GmbH + Co. KG
STOBER develops and produces precise, highly efficient drive components and systems, including gearboxes, motors, gear racks and drive controllers for custom solutions. They are used in various industries, including automation and robotics, as well as the plastics, packaging and machine tool industries. STOBER has 14 locations and 80 service partners in over 40 countries. In addition to its headquarters in Pforzheim, Germany, there are also production facilities in Hungary and the US. The family-owned company currently employs around 1,000 people worldwide.
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