HINTERLANDS
A mixed-reality dance work for headsets on the speculative future of
evolution being human, digital and extremophile.
Created by Rebecca Evans and Collaborators
Hinterlands
In production
Direction and Choreography
Rebecca Evans
Lead Creative Technologist
Clemence Debaig of Unwired Studio
Animation and VFX
Alexander MacKinnon
Creative Technologists
Rebecca Evans
Jon Higgins
Sound Artist
Christian Duka
Dramaturg
Joanne Skapinker
Intimacy and Consent Coordination
Mira Loew
Original Dancers
Ania Varez
Jan-Ming Lee
Anna Kaszuba
Producer
Ombeond
Mentoring and support
Alexander Whitely and Naomi Smyth.
WHAT AUDIENCES SAY SO FAR.....
‘Did not want to leave’
‘Incredible, Magical Space’
‘The dancing was gorgeous, especially the merging of the three dancers and the entity.’
‘Beautiful, otherworldly experience.’
‘I like the creature gradually unravelling and building to the point where it is connected to the dancers and you.’
‘I loved this place and would like to go back now and again.’
‘Loved the digital and physical interaction, it felt almost more than real’
‘A bit speechless’
Inspired by microorganisms called extremophiles that live on the edge of habitability,
in some of earth’s most inhospitable environments,
Hinterlands is a mixed reality headset experience about the speculative futures of human evolution.
Movement, spatial sound and augmented reality come together to create a
space that unfolds differently for you and the dancers.
Through an invitation to move, you will
explore our entanglement with the natural and digital world and
our possibilities for surviving, evolving and becoming.
The team explored live motion capture streamed to headset to move a non-humanoid entity in mixed reality using passthrough mode to three untethered Pico 4s.
(Wearing a headset you will see both the real world around you and
a mixed reality layer. At certain points, the dancers' movements
will move and affect the augmented layers through the use of a motion capture suit).
Three dancers and three audience members navigate this space
through a structured improvisational score.
What has been created is a three-part experience over 20 minutes
that considers how extending participants' kinaesthetic and spatial awareness in MR
heightens senses and possibly connection to self, other and environment.
First R&D in Autumn 2023 support from UWE Bristol, Knowle West Media Centre and The Studio.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
Rebecca is now looking to share and test the work as well as explore further development and touring opportunities.
Image: Mira Loew and Alexander MacKinnon
Video: Alice Underwood