Supporting Sound and Fury at Sheffield DocFest 2026

XR Stories has supported the team at creative studio Project 1961 to deliver six open R&D rehearsals for their hybrid theatrical and gaming experience ‘Sound and Fury’ at Sheffield DocFest 2026.

The experience featured as part of the festival’s Alternate Realities Development Space where audiences become part of the live creative process by attending, participating in and providing feedback on immersive projects.

Funded by Immersive Arts, and drawing on research and development undertaken as part of an XR Stories residency in 2025, Sound and Fury reimagines Shakespeare’s Macbeth within the virtual world of an online computer game. Performed simultaneously on stage and inside the game, it bridges physical and digital spaces. 

Macbeth and his wife Lady M are gamers manipulating their avatars like puppets, with in-game action projected immersively onto screens to create a layered experience that challenges traditional ideas of theatrical presence. At its heart lies a question central to both gaming and Macbeth: who is really in control?

Audiences are not just spectators but ‘players’, joining flashmob battles in-game, shaping scenes, and feeling the impact through responsive lights, sound, and haptics. Integrated BSL and creative captioning ensure access is woven into the performance’s fabric, making this hybrid experience inclusive, immersive, and unpredictable.

Project 1961 is led by Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls. Sam comments: “XR Stories’ support has been genuinely transformative for Sound and Fury. As a company, we’re used to finding unconventional ways into new technology, but a project like this, bridging live theatre, gaming, and immersive projection simultaneously, demands a level of technical expertise, infrastructure, and logistical coordination that we at Project 1961 simply couldn’t have assembled alone. 

“The team at XR Stories helped us think through and articulate the project’s ambitions from the ground up. They connected us with the technical team at Sheffield Hallam, navigated the complexities of presenting at Alternate Realities at DocFest and across two days brought their skills, passion and experience to the event. 

“This open rehearsal is just the beginning. The conversations and support that XR Stories has facilitated have opened up a real pathway for us to develop the piece further, and we’re excited to see where it leads”.

Jamie Wright, Studio Manager, XR Stories said: “XR Stories has supported Sam from a research residency through to a public R&D showcase at Sheffield DocFest. We look forward to continuing support for Sam, Pinny and Project 1961 as part of our work as a University of York project helping creatives and organisations to advance in the creative sector.”

Image by Pinny Grylls.

Published on 17 June 2026