Sir Ian McKellen leads UK premiere of mixed-reality theatre show An Ark

Sir Ian McKellen will star in the European premiere of a mixed-reality theatre production in Manchester this year, with audiences watching pre-recorded videos of the actors onstage.

An Ark debuted in New York City earlier this year and is a 47-minute play written by Simon Stephens, which is an emotional exploration of the human experience through mixed-reality glasses. The 87-year-old actor stars alongside Golda Rosheuvel, Arinze Kene, and Rosie Sheehy in the innovative new show, which promises to place audiences “at the heart of a moving exploration of life, love and loss”. Factory International has revealed it will be staging An Ark next spring at its Aviva Studios venue in Manchester, as the arts organisation unveiled its 2027 programme. Sir Ian said: “A new Simon Stephens play is always an excitement but when it is written to be performed in this unique way, it feels more like an explosion. “The four of us in front of 50 cameras simultaneously, relishing the chance to explore a new way of acting. “New York has already been impressed with the result – now it’s Manchester’s turn.” The cast were filmed in a studio using 52 cameras to create volumetric recordings, which audiences will experience as 3D holographic videos through mixed-reality glasses designed to form “an impossibly close connection between actor and audience”. Sheehy described the making of the production as “a true adventure”, adding: “Experimenting with what theatre can be is always a thrill – when the boundaries are being stretched this far it can feel terrifying at times. “However, being surrounded by such an extraordinary group of people took away that fear and replaced it with excitement and reward. “It felt very good to be part of it all.” The show will enjoy a run from March 27 to April 10, while a dance production reimagining Russell T Davies’ award-winning TV series It’s A Sin will begin its Manchester run at the venue on February 16. The hit show follows a group of gay men and their friends as they navigate the UK’s HIV/Aids crisis throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, with Davies and 1980s pop duo Pet Shop Boys serving as executive producers of the new theatrical adaptation. Aviva Studios will also host a production featuring 24 women and non-binary performers ranging from their 20s to 80s in a “striking journey” through health, identity, ageing, technology and the limits of the human body. It is titled A Year Without Summer, referencing the unusually cold weather of 1816 which followed the 1815 Mount Tambora eruption in Indonesia. Other shows include the UK premiere of Genesis: The Beginning And End Of Time, a dance opera exploring the quest for black liberation, as well as Deadlift, an “intense visual performance” focused on endurance and rebuilding in Palestine. Philip Glass’s opera Einstein On The Beach will be presented in a “new spectacular immersive adaptation”, while Hetain Patel’s production Come As You Really Are will celebrate Greater Manchester’s diversity in an interactive exhibition. Party In The Sky is a genre-bending show combining circus, dance, drag, theatre and aerial performance and music in “a bold and joyful celebration of life”, and Cinema Tehran is a “major new theatrical work” exploring revolution and mass belief across a blend of performance, documentary techniques and visual tricks. Other events include the return of Manchester International Festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2027.

Published: 13/10/2026 by Radio NewsHub