Download 3rd May 2016 For immediate release fabulous wonder.land, a

3rd May 2016
For immediate release
fabulous wonder.land, a Virtual Reality (VR) music video inspired by the National Theatre
musical by Damon Albarn and Moira Buffini, will be shown as part of the first ever VR
selection at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival.
Virtual Reality music video fabulous wonder.land has been selected to be screened at Cannes
International Film Festival’s Film Market NEXT, the industry programme dedicated to the future of
cinema. fabulous wonder.land will be shown alongside five other VR videos, as part of the first
ever NEXT VR focus, in a series curated by Michel Reilhac, NEXT’s artistic consultant. fabulous
wonder.land is a first of its kind collaboration between the National Theatre, 59 Productions and
Play Nicely, with Executive Producer Mahdi Yahya, Managing Director of Room One.
fabulous wonder.land was created to explore wonder.land, the National Theatre’s musical created
by Damon Albarn, Moira Buffini and Rufus Norris, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic Alice in
Wonderland. It is the first Virtual Reality experience the National has ever developed for its
audiences.
Over 70,000 people have already experienced fabulous wonder.land as part of enter
wonder.land, a free digital exhibition at the National Theatre (2 December – 30 April). The
experience is currently available via the iTunes App Store and Google Play.
fabulous wonder.land is experienced through Oculus Rift and allows you to fall down the rabbit
hole and land in wonder.land – a vibrant world with a unique soundscape. As the full multicolour
brilliance of wonder.land is revealed, the Cheshire Cat hovers above, serenading you to fabulous,
an original composition by Damon Albarn with lyrics by Moira Buffini.
Toby Coffey, Head of Digital Development at the National Theatre, says: "We are both delighted
and honoured to have been selected for the first ever VR strand at the Cannes film festival. It’s
great to see our work in this category, further assuring the relevance of theatre to this exciting
new form for storytelling."
Oliver Lindsey, Director of Play Nicely says: “We're touched to be invited to bring fabulous
wonder.land to the Cannes audience, and for it to be screened in such a unique fashion alongside
more traditional formats can only serve to cement Virtual Reality as an exciting new medium in
film making and storytelling, and the continued convergence of creativity and technology."
Lysander Ashton, Creative Director at 59 Productions says: “We are thrilled to bring fabulous
wonder.land to Cannes, as the festival introduces a new VR strand in its programme. At 59
Productions we are eagerly exploring the frontiers between theatre, film and virtual reality, to find
new ways of using technology to bring stories to life. It’s a further affirmation of the importance of
this exciting creative quest that it has been recognised by a festival as prestigious and wellrenowned as Cannes Film Festival.”
Mahdi Yahya, Executive Producer and Managing Director of Room One, says: “This project has
opened the door for exciting new technology in theatre. It has shown the world that there are
always engaging and original ways to communicate with our audience, the international attention
we received so far has been overwhelming and I feel very proud to take part in this exciting new
venture.”
The NT’s digital development department worked closely with the shows creative and production
teams to create the installation including wonder.land set designer Rae Smith and associate set
designer Tom Paris.
ENDS
For images, please click here.
For further information contact Emma Hardy on 020 7452 3231 / [email protected]
Notes to Editors
1. Play Nicely is a Bristol based creative technology studio, delivering cutting edge digital
experiences for the arts, culture and entertainment sectors. Established in 2009, Play
Nicely Ltd has always been at the forefront of emerging technologies for online, mobile
and performance, delivering AR and VR since their infancy. With Paramount Pictures,
Warner Bros, The Old Vic, RSC, The Globe, Bristol Old Vic and National Theatre among
their clients, Play Nicely has a huge part to play in theatrical digital extension and is
already considered a leading exponent of the creative use of technology.
2. 59 Productions is the multi award-winning company of artists behind the video design of
the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games, the Tony Award-winning An
American in Paris currently running on Broadway, globe-trotting smash hit, War Horse,
and record-breaking David Bowie is exhibition. Led by Creative Directors Leo Warner,
Mark Grimmer, Lysander Ashton, Richard Slaney and Ben Pearcy, they combine
technology and art to tell amazing stories, and are world leaders specialising in design for
stage and live events. Since 2006, 59 Productions has mounted more than 120
productions across the world at venues including the National Theatre, Royal Court,
Young Vic, the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, New York’s Metropolitan
Opera as well as at theatre festivals in Salzburg, Berlin and Avignon. In August, 59
Productions return to open the Edinburgh International Festival with Deep Time as newlyappointed Associate Artists to the Festival for the next three years.
3. Room One is a group of companies spanning art, theatre, film, music, media, and TV. It
partners with artistic organisations to encourage the adoption of ground breaking new
technologies, such as virtual reality.
The National Theatre is dedicated to making the very best theatre and sharing it with as many
people as possible. We produce productions on the South Bank in London each year, ranging
from re-imagined classics to modern masterpieces and new work by contemporary writers and
theatre-makers. The National’s work is seen on tour throughout the UK, in London’s West End,
internationally (including on Broadway) and in collaborations and co-productions with regional
theatres.
In 2014-15 the NT:
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Staged 25 productions and gave 3,380 performances in the UK and internationally
Reached audiences of 4.1 million worldwide
Had a larger audience on tour in the UK than on the South Bank- 46% of the UK audience
of 2.9 million were outside of London
Broadcast, via the NT Live programme, to over 2,000 cinemas in 50 countries around the
world.
Opening the Clore Learning Centre in 2014 saw the NT expand programmes for schools, young
people, families, community groups and adult learners. The nationwide youth theatre festival
Connections and playwriting competition New Views engage thousands of young people around
the country. Further, over 2000 secondary schools have signed up to the free streaming
service, On Demand in Schools since its launch in September 2015.
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
@nationaltheatre