Nick Cave joins the cast of Dream – an online theater production based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Cave will give the piece his vocal cords as the Voice of the Forest, a “strange and mystical figure who accompanies the audience as they explore the rivers, flowers and trees of a virtual midsummer forest,” according to a press release. The production was created March 12-20 on the Dream website with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Manchester International Festival, the Marshmallow Laser Feast and the Philharmonia Orchestra.
“Music is an integral part of the dream experience and we are delighted to have Nick Cave’s voice alongside Jesper Nordin and Esa-Pekka Salonen’s vibrant, dynamic score,” said Jane Beese, director of music at the Manchester International Festival, in a press release . “With his mystical voice and dark vowel tones, Cave is the perfect person to represent the forest and help the audience traverse the otherworldly land of dreams.”
The 50-minute show, recorded during lockdown, combines theater, music and motion capture technology and features actors alongside their own avatars. Viewers can interact with the cast in real time. The piece was originally supposed to open in spring 2020.
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis released their joint album Carnage last week.
