Immersive Opera for an Audience of One

Read how Relative Motion brought Puccini's beloved Tosca to Virtual Reality

Robin Bailey reviewing his performance in the headset (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

Virtual Reality has created a new performance space and a compelling new way to tell stories. Relative Motion is a VR storytelling studio that works with artists to create amazing narrative virtual reality content and to share it with their audiences in unique, inspiring and intrinsically theatrical ways.

Tosca VR - Tosca (Justine Viani), Cavaradossi (Robin Bailey) (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

The team have been working on Giacomo Puccini's celebrated opera: Tosca - a violent political thriller set in tumultuous Napoleonic era Rome. The plot centres around three main characters: Floria Tosca, her lover Mario Cavaradossi (a painter and republican), and the corrupt Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia.

Chris Lane (director) , Justine Viani (Tosca) and Robin Bailey (Cavaradossi) in rehearsal (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

Why choose opera?

Justine Viani, Robin Bailey, Andy Purves, and Chris Lane in rehearsal (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

"Fusing opera and VR has been something we’ve had in the mix since starting the company. With that said, I think the most important reason for combining the two mediums is that the narrative structure of opera (like Shakespeare and his contemporaries) is crafted in a way that casts the audience in several different roles."

Robin Bailey (Cavaradossi), Matthew Palmer (Angelotti) in rehearsal (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

"Some operas can shift between these roles seamlessly throughout the story. One moment you’re a voyeur, in another moment you’re the conscience of one of the characters - and in another, you may be a character yourself. In Tosca VR we cast you as both a character and a voyeur simultaneously. It’s a nice balance" (Christopher Lane)

Justine Viani with Joe Louis Robinson (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

VR - the ultimate "Fly on the Wall"

Chris Lane and Chloe Miller Smith co-ordinating during rehearsals (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

“Tosca VR is like being the ultimate fly on the wall. Tosca VR drops into the centre of a prison break, a love story, and an orchestra. You experience a truly human story in the most remarkable of ways.” (Christopher Lane)

"It's a new way to experience storytelling, and an incredible one to experience opera through. It puts you where you could literally never be in a theatre performance." Chloe Miller Smith, Production Director

Andy Purves (technical director) at the sound desk (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

"Tosca VR is an intimate encounter with an artform that usually thrives on a grand scale. There’s no red curtain, no proscenium arch and no expensive ticket… but there is a super-engaging story and fantastic music. VR allows us to surround you with the drama and the sound-world of Puccini’s Tosca in a way you simply couldn’t experience in a theatre. I think it’s a pretty exciting and stirring place to be, whatever your tastes or background might be."
Andy Purves, Technical Director

Justine Viani Robin Bailey, and Chris Lane (director) in rehearsal (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

What's different about directing for VR?

Justine Viani with Joe Louis Robinson (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

"I suppose the most important thing to consider is that the camera, be it physical or virtual, is a person who has agency and who is present in the story with the characters." (Christopher Lane)

Justine Viani and Joe Louis Robinson (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

"You have to keep this front-and-centre for all involved, creatives and performers alike, as it underpins everything about how you craft the story experience."

Robin Bailey (Cavaradossi), Matthew Palmer (Angelotti) in rehearsal (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

"That’s why we call the camera 'SAM' (Single Audience Member): This lovely name subconsciously reminds us all that there is someone, not something, at the centre of the stories we are crafting." (Christopher Lane)

Tosca VR - Cavaradossi (Robin Bailey), Tosca (Justine Viani) (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

Technical and Creative Opportunities 

Justine Viani, Robin Bailey, Andy Purves, and Chris Lane in rehearsal (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

"We are keenly aware of the perceived exclusivity around opera that seems to turn away potential new audiences before their interest can be piqued." (Andy Purves)

Andy Purves fitting up Robin Bailey with his mic and in-ear monitor (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

"There are significant numbers of people who can never envisage themselves walking through the doors of an opera house. A major opportunity in transposing the artform to a virtual reality performance space is one of increasing accessibility – socially, economically and physically – it’s really important to us." (Andy Purves)

Chloe Miller Smith (production director) discussing the shoot with an interviewer (off camera) (2020) by Craig MaretThe Space

"While this is just an excerpt, we’d love to make the entire Tosca opera in VR. The piece has so many magical moments, which would translate brilliantly into VR, and we’d love to show people the rest of a work we love in this new way." (Chloe Miller Smith)

Relative Motion - Making Tosca VRThe Space

Before we see the film, here's a short documentary on making the production, including an interview with Musical Director Joe Louis Robinson on orchestrating music specifically for VR.

Relative Motion - Tosca VR | World's First Made-For Virtual Reality OperaThe Space

Credits: Story

Cast:
Robin Bailey (Cavaradossi)
Matthew Palmer (Angelotti)
Jake Stewart (Sacristan)
Justine Viani (Tosca)

Musicians:
Jemima Clark (Violin)
Edwin Ireland (Bass)
Bridget Mansfield (Viola)
Chris Pointon (French Horn)
Maria Rodriguez Reina (Cello)
Honour Watson (Violin)

Director Christopher Lane
Musical Director Joe Louis Robinson
Technical Director Andy Purves
Production Director Chloe Miller Smith
Video Design/Editor Christopher Lane
Sound Design/Editor Andy Purves
Orchestrations Joe Louis Robinson

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Music Copyist Sarah Morrison
Recording Supervisor Mat Clark (Sonica Studio)
Recording Engineer Paul Clark (Sonica Studio)
Audio Equipment Better Sound and Josh McNorton
Ambisonic Reverb Noisemakers.fr
Press & Marketing Holly Close
Project Videographer Craig Maret for Rewind Media
Digital Asset Design Andrew Madden
Sonic Branding Joe Louis Robinson
Catering & Hospitality Jean Stewart
Accommodation The Stewarts
Location Barbara Preece and Anne Mitchell

Special Thanks to:
The residents of Toft
St. Andrew’s Church Community
Joseph Bell for Sideburn Panda
Angela Hughes, Rob Lindsay and Fiona Morris at The Space
Kelly Jean Williams
Kelvin Lim
Sonica Studios

https://www.relativemotion.co.uk/

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions (listed below) who have supplied the content.
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