Alex Book Chief Strategy Officer

ABOUT

'A Vixen’s Tale' is a mixed physical and digital experience designed to immerse opera-goers new and old in the story of Leoš Janáček’s iconic opera, The Cunning Little Vixen. The work was commissioned by Welsh National Opera (WNO), and launched at WNO’s Explore Opera Day on October 5th at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

It uses play to integrate digital innovation with theatre to create a unique, delightful and hugely rewarding approach to immersive storytelling. Fusing together music and theatre with augmented reality, visitors use iPhone XR devices paired with stylised bluetooth headphones to ‘follow the vixen’ through a series of gamified vignettes, each unlocking a section of the story. The dramatic experience plays out across a series of five beautifully crafted wooden arches that represent the passing of time and the vixen’s personal emotional narrative arc.

The result is a multi-layered experience: the visually imposing arches with embedded speakers make for an arresting and intriguing experience for passers-by to explore; fun AR Snapchat lenses bring casual audiences closer to the vixen’s and her tale; and the curious are rewarded with a full, deeply immersive and rewarding visual and audio experience as they journey through the arches alongside the vixen herself listening to impressive WNO opera recordings.

‘A Vixen’s Tale’ ran throughout October 2019. During this time the installation welcomed 5,939 recorded visitors through the opening hours alone, of which 80% were part of group including younger visitors - an important metric for WNO. It has been a fainalist for several awards including VR days: Halo Awards, Virtuality: XR Awards and Creative Review, and is due to tour nationally and internationally throughout 2020.

MADEIT CREDITS

  • David MasseyClient
  • Alice Kim3D Modelling
  • Darren JoyceHead of Operations
  • David MasseyCreative Digital Producer
  • Kassiani KoufakiCreative Director
  • Leon DexterAnimation
  • Olly ShapleyHead of Drawing Office
  • * Arcade
  • * Simon HobbsCDO
  • * Alex BookStrategy & Concepting
  • * Jon MeggittCreative Director
  • * OwenSound Design
  • * James HarveyAR Developer
  • * Xavier SegersVisual artist & designer
Project featured: on 30th November 2020

A Vixen's Tale

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Comments