At MIF19, director Leo Warner, choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, writer Lolita Chakrabarti, architects and artists 59 Productions and contemporary dance company Rambert came together for the first time to present the extraordinary world premiere of Invisible Cities – a hugely ambitious work of theatre, choreography, music, architectural design and projection mapping.

Inspired by the renowned 1972 novel, which centres on the relationship between Kublai Khan, the volatile head of a vast empire, and explorer Marco Polo, who must transcend the barriers of language to describe it for him –  the new work was a festival highlight – described by The Telegraph as a “spellbinding spectacle.” 

Following its world premiere in Manchester in 2019, Invisible Cities travelled to Brisbane Festival in Australia – and was due to make its Asian debut in Hong Kong this year for the New Vision Arts Festival before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

To overcome the current impossibility of international touring and to reimagine the production for a new VR and online audience, 59 Productions in collaboration with Jeffrey Shaw and City University of Hong Kong, have created Stones of Venice – a digital glimpse of the world that will now be brought to life on stage next year for the 2021 New Vision Arts Festival in Hong Kong.

Explore for yourself a stunning new virtual universe and discover that it is not stones but stories that hold the cities of the world together.

Stones of Venice was created by 59 Productions – collaborating with Lolita Chakrabarti on the screenplay, Rambert on the staging, Gareth Fry on the sound design and A Winged Victory For The Sullen on the score.

Please note that although it is possible to watch this at a computer, the experience is much better using a VR headset and headphones. If you do not have a headset, we would recommend watching on a mobile with headphones.