Experimental Opera
Yūrei: Ghost of the AI Empire
‘Pioneering audience-driven opera where live voices, AI creativity and real-time visuals co-create a story of choice and consequence.’
– Alexandra Huang-Kokina, Director
OUR ROLES
UX/UI Design
Digital scenography
Web programming
Graphic & motion design
Operactive Arts approached us to help develop and deliver a progressive and experimental operatic show. Still in development, with a sell-out pilot show under its belt, this boundary testing project is continuing to explore new possibilities within the artform.
Audience interaction
In collaboration with the creative team we developed and tested crowd interaction via mobile devices, to the delight of the audience, during the pilot show at Reid Hall in Edinburgh. The audeince we’re called on at a key moment in the show to decide how to progress the narrative by deciding the fate of the main character.
The audience decides
Dynamic audio-visual system updated live as the audience voted.
Live Interaction
The moment the audience voted.
Reid Hall, Edinburgh 2025
Concept development
We proposed and developed a simple interactive system to merge seamlessly into the show while supporting the narrative. Our goal here was to test the technical limitations and posibilities of mobile tech in this instance, as well as the willingness of an audience to interact in such a way. Over 75% of the 200 audience members interacted at this moment, accompanied by a jubulant ripple that ran through the crowd as they interacted.
Onboarding
As the audience entered and took their seats they were encouraged to log-onto the show system with a simple QR code scan. There was good mobile coverage in the venue but Wi-fi details were also provided prior to the show allowing for a smooth onboarding experience.
Digital Scenography
Shinto Garden
For the next iteration of the show we are designing dynamic digital backdrops for the key scenes.
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CREDITS
Creative Team Vision & Storyworld Creator: Alexandra Huang-Kokina
Director: Alexandra Huang-Kokina and Arturs Kokins
Composer & Conductor: Atzi Muramatsu
Librettist: Alexandra Huang-Kokina
Dramaturg: Alexandra Huang-Kokina
Digital Media Designer: Ray Interactive
Backdrop image generation: Jiarong Yu
Cast
Jacob (Tenor/Baritone): Colin Murray
Oiwa (Lyrical Soprano): Stephanie Lai
Ohana (Mezzo-Soprano): Lynn Bellamy
Narrator (Spoken or sung role): Stephanie Lamprea
Musical Team
Piano: Alexandra Huang-Kokina
Violin: Paul Docherty
Cello: Robin Mason
Technical & Production
Team Production Manager: Arturs Kokins
Technical Director: Arturs Kokins
Audience Interaction Design: Ray Interactive
Videographer: Paul Maguire
Sound Engineer: David Waugh