Tracking the Danish Debut: Mikkel Bedsted chooses zactrack SMART

For the first time in Denmark, Herlev Musical & Teater staged the musical BE MORE CHILL. The production brought a fresh, high-energy vibe to the stage, blending vibrant visuals with an innovative technical setup featuring zactrack SMART. The lighting concept, designed by Mikkel Bedsted, included a front projector, numerous special effects, and bold, colorful lighting.

The Danish production of Be More Chill in June 2025 featured zactrack SMART for precise performer tracking. Lighting design and programming by Mikkel Bedsted. © Louise Eriksen

Mikkel wore multiple hats as lighting designer, zactrack technician, operator, and video programmer, ensuring the system was fully integrated into the visual storytelling. It marked a significant step in Danish theater tech, showcasing how smart tracking systems can enhance both function and artistry on stage.

The stage design is brought to life by dynamic moving images projected from the front, creating a visually immersive experience. While the projections posed a challenge for traditional lighting setups, zactrack SMART ensured the actors remained perfectly lit at all times. © Louise Eriksen

What if popularity came in a pill - would you take it?

BE MORE CHILL is a sci-fi coming-of-age musical about Jeremy Heere, a high school student who takes the supercomputer pill “SQUIP” to become popular. As the SQUIP begins to control his choices, Jeremy must decide how far he's willing to go to fit in.

Aligning with the contemporary storyline of high schooler Jeremy, the Danish production features a simple yet impactful set design. "The stage is bathed in vivid neon green and deepwater blue hues, enhanced by dynamic moving images cast by a front projector. To support this bold visual concept, lighting designer Mikkel utilises the zactrack SMART system for precise and immersive lighting effects.

Accompanied by bolt, neon green lighting, an actor appears on stage as a physical embodiment of the pill, illustrating its influence on Jeremy. © Louise Eriksen

Smart Tracking, Simple Solution

"zactrack SMART helped me achieve my design vision for the show. Because we used a set with video, I needed a way to highlight the actors on stage without interfering too much with the video projection. Since it would have been too expensive to hire many manual follow-spots and operators—who could only help me light the actors from one angle—I knew I had to find another, more flexible solution” says Mikkel. The system was supplied by zactrack’s local distributor, Gobo A/S.

In BE MORE CHILL, zactrack SMART tracked five actors, each with two tags for redundancy. Ten anchors were placed in a circular layout at varying heights around the stage for optimal coverage. © Louise Eriksen

zactrack’s radio technology as big advantage for complex stage designs

Mikkel set up tracking for a stage measuring approximately 11 x 11 meters. Five actors were each equipped with two tracking tags to ensure redundancy and reliability. He deployed ten anchors, strategically positioned in a circular arrangement around the stage at varying heights. This setup ensured consistent coverage and precise 3D tracking from all angles.

Mikkel highlights the operational advantages of working with zactrack and the limitless possibilities for integrating it into existing setups. “The decision to select zactrack SMART for the task was easy, due to its straightforward workflow, the ability to integrate with my MA3 system, and compatibility with all lights regardless of brand or type. The radio system behind zactrack made it possible to hide the anchors within the set, without the fear of blocking the signal.”

More information on Herlev Musical & Teater: https://www.herlevmusicalogteater.dk/

To get in contact with our local distributor Gobo A/S: https://gobo.dk