Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games boasts serious holographic effects from Holo-Gauze, including a dance battle featuring a holographic triptych of Michael Flatley.
Other effects utilising Holo-Gauze include fire, burning trees, sunbeams, an exploding clock, giant floating head and The Matrix-style text appearing to float in front of performers. Holo-Gauze will be utilised for the duration of the world tour, with the producers looking into new and different ways of deploying the metallic, highly transparent gauze throughout the run.
Theatre blogger and journalist Terri Paddock commented on her popular blog, "In addition to the pounding Irish dancing - performed by a 40-strong company of world champions - and evocative music, there are some truly mind-blowing holographic projections (care of a new screen design technology called Holo-Gauze)."
The London Palladium run also features new costumes, new choreography and a special appearance by former Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle, as well as Michael Flatley in his final West End performances. The world tour begins at the SSE Arena Wembley, London, on 30 October 30th, followed by shows in Belgium, Israel, Scandinavia, Dublin, Belfast, and South Africa, before Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games returns to the UK next year.
Holo-Gauze comprises a metallic highly transparent gauze and is designed to be used with 3D polarised projection systems and can also achieve believable 2D hologram effects. The brainchild of audiovisual artist and composer Stuart Warren-Hill, Holo-Gauze was developed when Stuart required a new type of portable holographic 3D display to tour his new 3D Blu-ray and CD project, Holotronica.
"I'm delighted to see Holo-Gauze at such an influential venue as part of such a well-respected show," says Stuart Warren-Hill. "Michael Flatley really bought into the Holo-Gauze concept, and the three-battle segment of the show is very believable and has had audiences in raptures. I can't wait to see how audiences elsewhere in the UK and around the world respond to it."
Launched to market in early September, Holo-Gauze has also featured during the promotion of US TV show Almost Human, with a hologram android that responded to tweets, as well as facilitating 3D effects for this summer's Ibiza residences of DJs Hed Kandi and Chase and Status.
(Jim Evans)
