Veteran actor Ian McKellen is set to star in the UK premiere of the mixed-reality play “An Ark” in Manchester next spring, but he will not appear in person. Multiple outlets report that he takes part as a hologram or projected image while the production uses wearable technology for the audience.
The play, which debuted in New York earlier this year, is described as a new theatrical format that blends live performance with digitally projected elements. Audience members are expected to wear smart glasses that display the actors in the room, creating an illusion of McKellen’s presence alongside the onstage performers.
While outlets agree on the core premise—McKellen’s participation in a mixed-reality staging and the Manchester timing—coverage differs mainly in how it describes the technology and McKellen’s role (projected/hologram versus the general “not in person” framing). All accounts place the emphasis on the novelty of the production’s audience experience ahead of its European premiere.
