Shakespeare's Tempest gets mixed reality makeover

"Oh brave new world that has such people in it," says Miranda at the end of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

She is referring to the humans but magic is at the heart of the play and at the Royal Shakespeare Company theatre in the bard's birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon, technology is playing a big role in bringing that to life.

Hovering above the stage is a blue figure - nicknamed Mushy by the crew - a virtual version of Ariel, Shakespeare's shape-changing sprite.

Lurking in the shadows is cyber-thespian Mark Quartley, speaking the words of Ariel and also controlling the movements of Mushy.                   

He is wearing a motion-capture suit that allows him to dictate the movements of the avatar in real time.