The technology has evolved far beyond its original purpose. What began primarily as a lighting tool is now a creative and strategic platform used across multiple disciplines.

A Creative Connector

zactrack Marketing Manager Yvonne Bolhar-Nordenkampf has seen firsthand how the technology brings people together.

“At the very beginning, people implemented it as a technical solution,” she explained. “They had an issue, and it solved that issue. But then it became so much more.”

On London’s West End alone, zactrack systems are currently used in more than 10 productions. Designers who initially adopted the system for automated follow-spot functionality are now leveraging it for immersive audio and media effects, all synchronized to performer movement.

Traditionally, lighting, audio and video departments worked in parallel but rarely in close collaboration. Tracking data is changing that dynamic. With a single, reliable source of positional information, multiple departments can build from the same creative foundation.

“It has become a creative tool, but also a connective tool,” Bolhar-Nordenkampf said. “Hardware and software that were just technical systems are now connecting people in productions.”

That sense of community extends beyond the stage, as zactrack has expanded its online presence by launching a dedicated Discord channel and sharing designer interviews on Instagram, creating spaces where users can connect, exchange ideas and learn from one another. By encouraging long-time users to share their expertise with newcomers, these platforms foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing and a global network of designers and technicians united by shared creative experiences.

Transforming the Audience Experience

For audiences, the impact is immediate and emotional.

Rosenberg describes a simple example: in a traditional theater setup, when a performer walks across the stage, their voice still appears to come from the front. With Ultra-Wideband-based tracking, immersive audio systems can shift the sound in real time to match the performer’s position. Even with eyes closed, the audience senses exactly where the actor stands.

Lighting has undergone a similar evolution. Instead of a single static white follow-spot, any moving head fixture in the rig can dynamically track a performer from multiple angles, eliminating harsh shadows and opening new creative possibilities.

“You are not limited anymore to fixed positions,” Rosenberg said. “When people get these ideas, they start to think more creatively.”

That creativity was on full display at the world premiere of “House of Dancing Water” by Dragone in Macau, one of the world’s most technically ambitious productions. Sitting in the audience after months of development, Rosenberg felt the emotional payoff.

“When you put so much effort and work into a project and then feel how smoothly it goes. Without this technology, the production wouldn’t work. That feeling is really special,” he said.

A Global Stage

Now celebrating its 17-year anniversary, zactrack operates in more than 30 countries and is trusted by global brands and productions, from Maria Theresia - Das Musical in Vienna over The Hunger Games: On Stage in London to AVATAR's In the Airwaves World Tour.

Behind the spectacle is a powerful partnership built on precision positioning. As productions demand greater accuracy, new frequencies and ever-higher reliability, Ultra-Wideband technology continues to unlock new creative frontiers.

“We’re always looking into new technologies to move forward,” Rosenberg said. “And we hope Qorvo is the right brand to go into the future with us; with new ideas, new frequencies, new accuracy.”

For performers, designers and audiences alike, that future looks brilliantly in sync.