Theatre & Performance

Mesmer's collective skills are a natural complement for Theatre and Performance.

We can develop projection and video playback designs with directors and set designers, advise on capital expenditure for long term projects, and assist with the development and organisation of infrastructure. At the National Theatre Mesmer instigated and set up their first video department.

Technically we cover many areas and continue to break new ground. We don't deliver a one-size-fits-all system. Instead, we thrive on finding bespoke solutions to provide unique, innovative projection media, including live camera, video, animation and slide presentations for site-specific locations that integrate with mechanical staging requirements.

Sample projects below highlight services we provide. For more examples follow the PROJECTS page links above.

  • The Lion's Face

    A complete on-location film shoot provided by Mesmer allowed us to film in-period reconstructions of the character's fragmented memories.

  • The Excursions of Mr Broucek

    Content and system design.

  • Knight Crew

    Video and Projection design for the opera.  The set is a large metal cube that rotates and folds open that can be projected on to in any of it's configuerations.  This is done with two Barco CLM's and Catalyst.

    A large underwater film shoot was undertaken, as well as extensive filming of the chorus and lead singers and the development of a graphiti based runic alphabet to create material for the show.

     

     

     

  • Serious Money

    Design and technical realisation.

  • Interiors

    Video and Projection Design.

  • Marguerite

    Video & Projection Design (Sven Ortel) for the world premiere of Boublil, Schoenberg and Legrand's new musical "Marguerite" at the Haymarket Theatre. Original show content production and system design.

  • Shun-Kin

    Video Design, realisation and implementation.

  • Hotel de Pekin

    A Catalyst media server-based system was specified for the first production of the new opera 'Hôtel de Pékin'.

  • Tiefland

    High Definition Imagery production in the style of Leni Riefenstahl. Video effect and system design for live "beaming" and multiple live camera manipulation.

  • Ali to Karim

     The demands of rapidly touring across the U.S. was only possible by careful integration of Catalyst at the earliest stage of the production and having Sam Hunt as a touring programmer. 

    This allowed for the development of the piece when touring, with new actors and script changes and media content, as well as coping with the wide variety of venues and very short get in times.

  • The Wizard of Oz

    Mesmer provide a complete Catalyst media server system, animation and technical design services for the Southbank Centre's 2008 summer show.

  • A Disappearing Number

    Measure for Measure and A Disappearing Number are major collaborations with a unique and innovative mix of live and pre recorded camera, multiple surfaces and live integration with the performance. In 2004 this was the first time Catalyst media servers were used with a dual input mix down of multiple (8) cameras.

  • Little Otik

    Projection and Video Design and specification of new Catalyst System for National Theatre of Scotland.

    Wired camera systems and Laptops building in cameras over WiFi.

    Programming on Grand MA.

  • Rebecca

    Storyboard

    Aquisition/ Filming

    Post Production

    Technical Consulting

  • Measure For Measure

     First major collaboration with Complicite.

  • The Ring Cycle

    ROH - Advised on the capital expenditure of complete projection system prior to the two year production of Wagner's Ring Cycle. Video Co-design of The Ring Cycle and supply of production services to the ROH for these and other productions including Robert Lepage's '1984'.

  • Richard II

    Richard II production by Trevor Nunn with Kevin Spacey. Includes video filming by Mesmer for only the 3rd time of an A list Hollywood actor . (Others being Kristin Scott Thomas and Essie Davis).

  • The Woman In White

    Groundbreaking bespoke development of scenic projection with 3D animation using custom software to integrate our projection design and animation for programming, playback and mechanical staging requirements.

  • Hitchcock Blonde

    Highlights include video design work on Hitchcock Blonde including the water projection 'shower scene' and on Sugar Mummies.

    Recording of the fiftieth anniversary video archive during 2006.