Mixed-Reality Play An Ark Extends Off-Broadway

Mixed-Reality Play An Ark Extends Off-Broadway

Written by Olivier and Tony winner Simon Stephens, the piece uses mixed reality for a unique, immersive experience.

February 17, 2026 By Margaret Hall

The Shed has extended the Off-Broadway world premiere of Simon Stephens' An Ark, a work created for and in mixed reality.

Written by Olivier and Tony winner Stephens, and directed by Sarah Frankcom, the production was originally scheduled to run for seven weeks at the Hudson Yards venue, from January 9-March 1. It will now continue through April 4.

An Ark is a meditation on a single human lifetime, compressed down to just 47 minutes. From the wonder of childhood and the joy of first love to the complexities of parenting and the inevitability of death, the play invites audiences into a deeply personal exploration of what it means to live, to grieve, and to connect.

The ensemble cast, who are not physically present for the performance, includes Tony winner Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings, X-Men, Amadeus), Golda Rosheuvel (Bridgerton), Arinzé Kene (Misty, Get Up, Stand Up!), and Rosie Sheehy (Machinal).

Produced by mixed reality pioneer Todd Eckert, An Ark is a genre-defying production using the voices of numerous high-profile actors to created a dimensionally recorded theatre experience. In the production, an audience of up to 200 people will be seated in the gallery with a headset as each of the actors speak directly into their ears. While the actors are not be physically present, the production is augmented by mixed reality technology.

“Throughout my professional life I’ve defined myself as a theatre artist, and I’ve historically only ever been interested in working in the live medium. However, I’ve become very excited about how mixed reality might take an audience into a remarkable relationship with a group of actors and create completely new opportunities to experience a play and make theatre," said director Frankcom in a previous statement. "This new medium creates a magical space for an extraordinarily intimate and mesmeric encounter with actors and story.”

For more information, visit TheShed.org.