Welcome to the Mesmer website

Mesmer are a collaboration of video and projection designers, with over 20 years experience of integrating video media into performance

Primarily, we are video designers - creating films, animations and motion graphics for integration into theatre, opera and dance productions, fashion shows, art installations, concerts and live events. As part of this approach, Mesmer offer a full technical service, installing complete projection, playback and control systems for our designs. We also function as animators, editors, projectionists and technical consultants.

 

Current and Recent projects

  • The Gods Weep

    Ian William Galloway and Finn Ross create a video design for RSC's production of The Gods Weep, a new play by Dennis Kelly. Directed by Maria Aberg.

  • Knight Crew

    The tale of King Arthur updated to a Brighton council estate in a new opera by Julian Philips directed by John Fulljames with set by Es Devlin and video and projection design by Finn Ross

  • Going Dark

    Ian William Galloway works with Sound & Fury and Ales Valasek on development of the Linbury Prize-winning design for Going Dark in the Roundhouse Studio

  • Wallpaper

    Wallpaper* Design of the Year Awards. Animations and projections for the party room.

  • Wonderland

    New Musical with music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics by Jack Murphy. Directed by Gregory Boyd and Sets by Neil Patel. Video design by Sven Ortel. Opening December 2009 in Florida. More info here.

  • MICroscope

    MICroscope by Riz MC, aka Riz Ahmed, brings his album to Sadlers Wells Svapnagata Festival.  A theatrical music gig, in the round, projection and live camera effects by Finn Ross.

  • Die Frau Ohne Schatten

    Jonathan Kent directs Strauss' mysterial opera at the Mariinsky in St.Petersburg. Sets are by Paul Brown. Valery Gergiev conducts and Video & Projection Designs are by Sven Ortel and Nina Dunn.

  • The Kreutzer Sonata

    Ian William Galloway designs video projections for a new piece based on Tolstoy's Kreutzer Sonata at the Gate theatre, directed by Natalie Abrahami.

  • Leona Lewis at Hackney Empire

    Leona Lewis' first live show featured Projection Design by Ian William Galloway, working with creative director William Baker at Hackney Empire.

  • Seize The Day

    Seize The day. Written and Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah. Part of The Tricycle Theatres' Not Black and White triple bill. Video-Dick Straker

  • The Spanish Tragedy

    Ian William Galloway designs video for Mitchell Moreno's new production of this rarely-preformed revenge tragedy at the Arcola.

  • The Excursions of Mr Broucek

    The first staging of Janacek's satirical opera in 25 years. Set in Prague after the Spring revolution we follow the excursions of Mr Broucek to the Moon and 15th Century Prague.  Video and Projection by Finn Ross.

  • The Tales of Ballycumber

    The Tales of Ballycumber written by Sebastian Barry and directed by David Leveaux and starring Stephen Rae at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.

  • The Blue Rider

    Part of the Guggenheim Museum's works & process series. A unique collaboration inspired by Kandisnky's journey to abstraction and to coincide with the museum's mayor Kandisky retrospective.

  • It's a Wonderful Life

     Premiere of a new musical based on the classic film. Directed by Peter Rowe and set design by Libby Watson. Video design by Dick Straker.

  • The Mountaintop

    After great acclaim the show has now transferred to the Trafalgar Studios for another six week run. TimesOnline notes Dick Straker's brilliantly realised projection design.

  • Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Mariinsky

    Re-imagined version of the 'Kirov' Ring cycle under the direction of Alexander Zeldin. Conducted by Valerie Gergiev. Video Design by Sven Ortel. Opening July 2009 in St.Petersburg and London

  • Interiors

    "Gorgeously languid atmosphere of sanctuary" surrounds an exploration of Maurice Maeterlinck's symbolist play interiors.  Interiors has won 3 CAT awards and will tour internationally in Autumn 2010. Video and Projection by Finn Ross.

  • Hamlet

    New York's Theatre For A New Audience's first staging of Shakepeare's most popular and controversal play. Directed by David Esbjonson. Designed by Antje Ellermann, lit by Marcus Dosh, sound and music by Jane Shawi.

  • Swan Lake

    Helgi Tomasson's spectacular new staging of  Swan Lake at San Francisco Ballet. Features sets and costumes by Jonathan Fensom as well as Imagery and projections by Sven Ortel and lighting by Jennifer Tipton. Opens February 21st 2009

  • Marguerite

    Video & Projection Design (Sven Ortel) for Boublil, Schoenberg and Legrand's new musical "Marguerite". After London's  Haymarket Theatre this gorgeous production will premiere In Tokyo on February 13th. Directed by Jonathan Kent.

  • Shun-Kin

    "ghostly multi-layered projections" feature in this award-winning production. Returing to London, Paris, Tokyo and Taipei Autum 2010.  Video and Projection deisgn by Finn Ross.

  • A Disappearing Number

    World Tour of Complicite's acclaimed production. Winner of the Laurence Olivier Award 2008 for Best New Play,  Evening Standard Award 2007 for Best Play, and Critics' Circle Theatre Award 2007 for Best New Play.

  • The Little Mermaid

    Video and Projection Design (Sven Ortel) for Disney's major new musical, which opened on Broadway in January 2008. Orginal imagery was created and integrated into the stage design using innovative projection techniques

  • National Theatre Digital Archive

    Mesmer archive an example of each N.T. production on a 3 camera recording system. The archive is now viewable on a digital archive system which was designed by Mesmer at the new N.T. Studio.

News

Livedesign magazine features an article about Sven's work on Swan Lake in San Francisco.

Continuing our collaboration with Complicite Finn Ross will be designing video and projection for their first Opera, A Dogs Heart, at the Dutch National Opera this Spring.

Ian William Galloway and Finn Ross will be desiging Video and Projection for the RSC's forthcoming production of Dennis Kelly's The Gods Weep at Hampstead Theatre.

Sven Ortel talks about the use of projection in theatre and his work on "wonderland" in particular in a interview for the show.

The Evening Standard described the projections for The Kreutzer Sonata as 'poetic' in a 4-star review. The production also scored 4 stars in the Telegraph, the Independent and WhatsOnStage.

The Spanish Tragedy and Seize The Day were both given 4-star reviews in this weeks issue of Time Out

The Londonist applauds the 'excellent and sparing' use of video projection in The Spanish Tragedy at the Arcola theatre.

Mr Broucek has received 4 stars and a glowing review from the Guardian noting the "clever use of projection" in the production. Read here.

The News of the World (!) gave Beggars Opera 5 stars and especially liked the projection.

Read about Sven's work on the mariinksy ring cycle in Live Design Magazine.

It's official: Rebecca will have a Broadway run. The popular musical features projection by mesmer's Sven Ortel.

Click to watch Finn Ross being interviewed by Colin Clark about the design process for Little Otik.

The National Theatre Digital Archive has opened at the NT Studio. Performances, recorded & edited by Mesmer can be browsed and viewed on a system designed by Mesmer.