A mystical spectacular has launched in Angus on the back of a shortlist nomination in Scotland’s tourism Oscars.
The Dragon Matrix augmented reality production opens to the public in the dark woods of Monikie country park today, with those behind last year’s inaugural show boosted by the nomination in the prestigious Scottish Thistle Awards.
Edinburgh-based theatre company Vision Mechanics is one of three finalists in the best cultural event or festival category of the Central, Fife and Tayside regional finals of the awards programme after last year’s Dragon Quest impressed judges.
The awards are based on five regional programmes, with winners progressing to the national final next year.
Scottish Thistle Awards industry panel chair, Rebecca Brooks said: “There have been a record number of applications this year, with an exceptionally high quality of entries.”
Regional winners will be announced at an Edinburgh event on November, with the national gongs handed out in March.
Dragon Matrix is set to wow park visitors throughout this month with a family of virtual creatures, landmarks such as the fairy path and the red witch tree, as well two baby dragons in their newly-built dragon nursery.
Vision Mechanics artistic director, Symon Macintyre, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious award, fantastic praise after just one year of running the event.
“Last year, DragonQuest attracted over 5,000 visitors and we are very much hoping to match or exceed that when this year’s sequel kicks off this week.
“Not only are we providing a completely unique family event but providing the perfect footfall driver to this beautiful part of Scotland and particularly to ANGUSalive’s Monikie country park.
“More generally, we are particularly proud of how Vision Mechanics’ profile has grown over the past 12 months both within Scotland and internationally, with increased recognition of the company’s expertise in developing and delivering bold, ambitious, high quality site-specific productions.”
Dragon Matrix is supported by EventScotland, part of the VisitScotland events directorate, and is also part of the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016.
The event is also supported by ANGUSalive, the culture, sport and leisure trust for the county of Angus and, for the first time, by The Space, which works with artists and arts organisations to support them to create great art and reach new audiences using digital technologies and platforms.
Kirsty Hunter, Chief Executive of ANGUSalive said: “Their shortlisting for this renowned tourism award is clear recognition that the DragonQuest, now Dragon Matrix, experience is not only attracting residents and visitors in its own right as an outdoor theatre spectacular, it is also captivating the attention of those in the tourism industry.”
