Ian McKellen will appear in the UK premiere of An Ark through a mixed-reality performance rather than a conventional stage appearance. Factory International plans to present the production at Manchester’s Aviva Studios next spring.
Audience members wear smart glasses that project the actors into the room while leaving the surrounding physical space visible. The organisation distinguishes this from virtual reality, which generally replaces the viewer’s surroundings with an enclosed digital environment.
The Manchester run is scheduled from 27 March to 10 April after an earlier New York debut. McKellen’s role is a virtual presence, so buying a ticket does not mean seeing him perform physically onstage. The production instead tests how theatrical storytelling can share space with projected performers.
