16 Jun 2026
2 min
CueBoard: a tool for video operations in theatre
A tool for video operations in theatre
CueBoard came out of the need to plan, before a production begins, what runs when on which output. Which camera, which playback source, which fade time, which cue.
CueBoard stores no video, only information about it. A timeline of tracks, clips and cues.
The building blocks
- Output. A physical destination (projection, TV, LED wall) with a name, resolution and colour.
- Input. A source: live camera or pre-produced content. Custom properties can be added freely.
- Track. A row on the timeline, independent of any output. Multiple tracks can share an output.
- Clip. A box on a track: "input X runs from second A to B", including fade-in/out and a comment.
- Cue. A coloured marker with a line across all tracks, optionally with a note.
What it does well
The live strip under the timeline shows continuously what is playing on each output, with fade status and time to the next change. During playback it tracks live, which makes it the actual rehearsal view.
Music, bars and tempo
Many entries are tied to the music, not to the second. So CueBoard understands songs: with a bar count, time signature, tempo changes and repeats. A score can be imported as MusicXML, and bars and notes then appear right above the timeline.
That way a cue means not just "at second 92" but "in bar 19, third repeat".
Working together in real time
Several people can edit the same show at the same time. Changes appear immediately for everyone else, without getting in each other's way while typing.
From cue to shoot schedule
Video in theatre often means shooting your own material. So a shoot schedule is part of it: date, location, which theatre departments are needed (props, costume, hair and makeup, stage, lighting, sound …) and what they prepare, who arrives when and in which costume.
Output and sharing
Everything can be printed as PDF: the full show sheet, just the cue list, or the shoot schedule, in German or English. Plus CSV tables for spreadsheets and a complete JSON export as a backup.
CueBoard is bilingual, runs in light or dark mode and works on mobile too, with a vertical timeline for the phone.
Availability
CueBoard is not a public product. It runs on private infrastructure and is unlocked on request for individual productions. Anyone who would like to use it for a production or project is welcome to get in touch, access and a show password follow from there.