Given the Bard’s huge influence on all things theatrical, an actor can expect to play plenty of William Shakespeare roles throughout their career.
But for Mark Quartley, who plays Ariel in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s current production of The Tempest at the Barbican Theatre, it’s a part quite unlike any other.
Simon Russell Beale and Mark Quartley in The Tempest at the Barbican Theatre (Photo: Topher McGrillis, RSC)
Mark wears a motion capture suit which follows his movement in real time, driving a live digital avatar which appears alongside him throughout the performance. This ground-breaking production, which is in collaboration with Intel, has granted the RSC the opportunity to pioneer motion capture on stage:
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Fortunately for us, Mark invited us backstage to take a look at his preparations for a revolutionary performance:
1. The Wig
“The first thing to do is get this guy on. There are two bits – he has to hide a head sensor (see later on…) – so it’s quite an elaborate piece.”
2. The radio mic
“Next, the radio mic is attached through the wig, before make-up (various shades of blue) is applied.”
3. The physical warm-up
“I always warm up in these dance shoes I wear for the show. The stage is free now, but various cast members will appear over the next 20 minutes or so.”
4. The vocal warm-up
“The show has a wonderful live band playing throughout. For now, myself and the Musical Director (on the piano) sing through one or two songs.”
5. Into the suit
“My costume is effectively a reverse-engineered Xsens motion capture suit. It conceals seventeen sensors between the two linings.”
Simon Russell Beale and Mark Quartley in The Tempest at the Barbican Theatre (Photo: Topher McGrillis, RSC)
6. Calibration
“I then head back down to stage level to get these sensors in and calibrated, so the computer can sync my movements with the avatar.”
7. Fit the head-mounted camera
“I only use this once in the show – for Ariel’s appearance as a harpy. The head-mounted camera captures my facial expressions to the harpy’s face can move simultaneously with mine.”
Our huge thanks go to Mark for taking these photos, and for taking us through the preparations for inhabiting a digital avatar on-stage!
RSC’s The Tempest, in collaboration with Intel and in association with The Imaginarium Studios, plays at the Barbican until 18 August.
Mark Quartley and Simon Russell Beale in The Tempest at the Barbican Theatre (Photo: Topher McGrillis, RSC)