A new musical based on an Irish book, Castle Gillian: An Irish Tale, marries music, technology, and Irish heritage in a captivating blend.
The world’s first virtual reality musical, it is the brainchild of two talented developers, Dr Kevin Purcell and Victor Kazan.
Australian Dr Kevin Purcell, a distinguished composer and conductor with deep Irish roots, has poured his heart and soul into this musical journey. With a career spanning over 35 years across the USA, Europe, and Australia, Purcell’s passion for orchestral and opera music shines through.
His connection to the Celtic Club in Melbourne, where he has been a member since 1975 and used to work in the bar many moons ago, adds a personal touch to the musical’s significance within the Irish community of Victoria.
Dr Kevin told Anglo&Celtic: “I’m Australian but my great-grand parents on both sides were from Tipperary.”
Teaming up with book writer and lyricist Victor Kazan, Purcell’s musical genius breathes life into Castle Gillian.
Based on the novel by Irish author Maurice Walsh, this virtual reality musical ventures into uncharted territory. The first-ever full-length musical designed as a VR experience, it utilises ground-breaking technology to transform live actors into avatars, making it an immersive visual delight.
Dr Kevin told us: “Castle Gillian: An Irish Tale is the world’s first musical ever created in 360 degree virtual reality. It is 127’ (feature film length). Most importantly, it is a celebration, as a theatrical adaptation, of the storytelling of the Irish author, Maurice Walsh. He is somewhat forgotten now, but he was one of Ireland’s most successful novelists throughout the 1930-40s. His stories are sublime.”
The musical unfolds in 1948, following Gill Morris, a young Irishman grappling with the scars of WWII. Determined to rescue his ancestral home, Castle Gillian, he embarks on a journey of love, faith, and redemption. The engaging storyline is elevated by the expertise of 12 of Australia’s top musical theatre performers, who were motion-captured to create the avatars.
Embrace the magic of Castle Gillian: An Irish Tale by exploring the trailer here and understanding the various viewing formats here.
The musical is available for a limited time as an online event as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Secure your tickets here and experience a musical odyssey that transcends boundaries and embraces Irish roots.
It is available to view in 360˚ video on desktop computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone or view immersive in any head-tracking equipped head-mounted display, such as MetaQuest 2 or MetaQuest Pro VR headset.
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