Show Dates:
July 31 – August 16, 2025
(no shows on Aug 4, 5, 11 & 12)

Time: 4:00 PM (45 mins)

Location:
Lammermuir Theatre
At Pleasance at EICC
Edinburgh, Scotland

*Lovable, Virtual Reality Environment, Wearable Art, Photography*

In her world premiere performance The Ode Islands, artist Ornagh merges live theatre, motion capture, and responsive virtual reality to craft a one-woman show unlike any other — one where the body, voice, and digital world move as one.

Set across a chain of surreal islands, the work follows a woman (performed by Ornagh) cast adrift in a storm, arriving at strange and shifting landscapes that each reflect a piece of her identity — from domestic expectations to sexuality, gender, and body image. These islands aren’t static. They respond to her in real time, evolving with her movement and emotional state. Each moment feels alive, unstable, and charged with meaning.

Along the way, she meets a cast of digital characters, also performed by Ornagh, brought to life through motion capture and AI-generated voices. Their worlds are built from satellite data, thanks to collaborators like ArtEO.earth, the European Space Agency, Copernicus, NASA, and more. What results is a fragmented but emotionally charged exploration of how identity is shaped, broken down, and reimagined.

The digital world of The Ode Islands doesn’t end when the lights go down. With support from creative studio Immersiv.es, every ticket comes with access to a broader digital journey that starts as soon as you book. Using augmented reality, story fragments, and digital keepsakes, the “Immersive Ticket” extends the experience beyond the theatre — deepening audience engagement before, during, and after the live show.

Ornagh describes The Ode Islands as a retrospective of her past virtual environments, now woven together through layered, immersive storytelling. As a contemporary artist, she uses digital tools and AI not just to tell stories, but to challenge ideas around gender, sexuality, and the body.

Content note: This show includes strobe lighting, nudity, and strong language. Suitable for ages 12+

Company information

Director and performer Ornagh Producer Iain Funnell

Sound designer Ben Dawson Choreographer Rosie Greenwood

Technical Artist Lee Powell Cofounders for Immersiv.es Ornagh, Ben Dawson and Iain Funnell

Cast

Ornagh

Digital Cast

Him, Fuego, The Nors, The GLDs, The Shaperson, Hippokiss.

Listings information

Previews 31 July: £15 (£12.50 concs)

Weds – Thurs: £12.50 (£9.50 concs

Fri – Sun: £15 (£12.50 concs)

www.pleasance.co.uk | 0131 556 6550

Social media

X (Twitter): @Ornaghworld

Instagram @ornaghworld

Facebook facebook.com/ornaghworld

Youtube @ornagh

#TheOdeIslands

About Ornagh

Ornagh is a self-taught artist whose bold and unapologetic work explores themes of political and social issues, like societal expectations of gender and sexual diversity, through extended reality (XR) art. She has embraced cutting-edge technologies like 3D scanning, motion capture, and virtual reality to create immersive, surrealist environments.

Originally from Ireland and now based in Hastings, Ornagh has spent years blending video, performance, installation, and XR into surreal, multi-sensory experiences. Her work has shown internationally — from the Turner Gallery to exhibitions in Lisbon, Paris, and Milan — and this marks her debut at the Edinburgh Fringe. She’s also set to headline the Coastal Currents Festival later this season.

For Ornagh, XR is a limitless canvas — one that allows her to build entire worlds free from physical constraints. Through her work, she reimagines past experiences, giving them new narratives and resolutions. Ornagh’s work invites viewers to step into these immersive digital spaces, reflecting on the balance between light and dark, chaos and order, and the tensions that shape our lives. Through XR, she challenges perceptions and offers a space for deeper understanding and dialogue.

Read our interview with Ornagh to learn more about her art, creative process, and inspirations.

About Immersiv.es

Immersiv.es is reimagining the live event journey through its Immersive Ticket platform. Acting as a companion before, during, and after the event, the ticket delivers a stream of personalised, AI-powered content designed to build anticipation, enhance the experience, and forge a deeper emotional connection between audience, story, and performance.