This week we explore how systems of care for performers, backstage workers and audiences can be integrated into both the rehearsal process and live aspects of immersive experiences. We discuss the challenges and developments in creating cultures of care as well as the methodologies and mechanics used to keep everyone involved safe both in the making and delivery of live work..

Our Guests

Dan Burman has been an immersive performer, fight director and maker for over a decade. From larger scale maximalist projects such as Secret Cinema and Boomtown Fair, to smaller and more intimate happenings he has honed his craft to integrate systems of care within the chaotic play space of the immersive sphere, both for those who inhabit and make the world, and those who come to play in it. Find Dan @dan_burman on insta and twitter

Ruth Parry is a Freelance Consultant In Production Stage Management and Producing. Previous projects include Rumble In The Jungle, The Gunpowder Plot and The Greatest Night Of The Jazz Age. Find Ruth on LinkedIn

Natalie Scott is a Director and Creative Producer of immersive experiences and Interactive Performance. She is an Artistic Director of The Lab Collective and since 2010 has been creating work in abandoned office blocks, greenfield festival sites, studio spaces and site specific locations in both the third and commercial sectors. https://www.natalie-scott.co.uk find Natalie on LinkedIn

Hosted by Dr Joanna Bucknall and produced by Natalie Scott for the Immersive Experience Network’s, Knowledge Bank. Funded by Arts Council England.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immersive-experience-network/

Instagram @immersiveexperiencenet

Mailing List https://immersiveexperience.network/sign-up

The IEN is made possible by the support of our industry partners. Illusion Design & Construction, Mance Communications, White Light, Unlocked Vision, Clockwork Dog, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment , Entourage, and Vista Insurance.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe is joined by Adipat Virdi to explore participatory practice in immersive contexts; we follow Adipat’s journey from the path from architect to a creator of participatory immersive work, uncovering the powerful impact of connecting with audiences to reframe perspectives and more deeply understand the world around us.

Our Guest

Adipat Virdi engineers the creative potential of XR for commercial impact within global organisations (Meta, Charlotte Tilbury, BBC…) This has involved: evolved / immersive audience engagement ecosystems; streamlined business processes; open innovation-led agile workshopping; metaverse architecture; virtual commerce blueprinting and cutting edge storyworld and IP building to pivot brand DNA to be immersive-ready.

Adipat is also working to pioneer how powerful XR narratives can deliver real world social change. His latest projects centre around (1) eradicating honour crimes, globally, through participatory engagement: story as software and (2) understanding how to overcome difference through a playable theatre experience that will be, amongst others, at Edinburgh Fringe in August 2024. Find Adi on LinkedIn or Twitter: @adipatvirdi

Hosted by Dr Joanna Bucknall and produced by Natalie Scott for the Immersive Experience Network’s, Knowledge Bank. Funded by Arts Council England.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immersive-experience-network/

Instagram @immersiveexperiencenet

Mailing List https://immersiveexperience.network/sign-up

The IEN is made possible by the support of our industry partners. Illusion Design & Construction, Mance Communications, White Light, Unlocked Vision, Clockwork Dog, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment , Entourage, and Vista Insurance.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re joined by Rob Morgan and Joumana Mourad to discuss the joys and challenges of integrating immersive technology into live contexts - taking a deep dive into the myriad types of available tech ad different scales and exploring how the creative processes involved in creating tech forward immersive experiences inform the relationship between the work and the audience.

Our Guests:

Rob Morgan (he/him) is a writer, experience designer, digital dramaturg, and founder and Creative Director of London-based AR design studio Playlines. Rob writes and narrative-designs award-winning AR & VR experiences and has helped create story worlds and immersive experiences for some of the world's largest licences, attractions and cultural institutions. He is a pioneer of Mixed Reality theatre, and has collaborated on some of the most critically-acclaimed games in VR and interactive narrative. https://robmorgan.space/

Joumana Mourad is The Bob Lockyer Award for Digital Innovation nominee in 2022. Step into the captivating world curated by Joumana Mourad, where boundaries blur, and innovation reigns supreme. As the Hybrid Performance Curator at Open Online Theatre and the visionary Artistic Director of IJAD, Joumana orchestrates a symphony of dance, science, and technology, transcending conventional norms. She has Transformed traditional theatres into immersive wonderlands, where dancers gracefully descend from ceilings and walls, defying gravity and challenging perceptions. In works like Pas de Cinq, audiences find themselves surrounded by projected water films, becoming integral parts of the performance.

IJAD's global footprint is undeniable, from mesmerizing crowds in Taiwan to captivating audiences across 32 countries with the spellbinding In-Finite Space Part 2. Through commissioned productions and collaborations, Joumana and her team craft authentic narratives that resonate deeply with communities worldwide. At the heart of it all lies Open Online Theatre (OOT), a virtual haven where artists converge, pushing the boundaries of hybrid performance. Joumana's dedication extends beyond the stage, nurturing and mentoring artists through OOT's residency program, ensuring a future where art, technology, and cultural enrichment intertwine seamlessly.

Hosted by Dr Joanna Bucknall and produced by Natalie Scott for the Immersive Experience Network’s, Knowledge Bank. Funded by Arts Council England.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immersive-experience-network/

Instagram @immersiveexperiencenet

Mailing List https://immersiveexperience.network/sign-up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re joined by Meri Mance and Sarah Morris to uncover the nuts and bolts of marketing immersive experiences, across different scales - exploring how targeting audiences for immersive work differs from traditional cultural experiences, from managing and enhancing audience expectations to your top tricks and tips to getting tickets sold!

Our Guests:

Meri Mance is the founder of Mance Communications; founded in 2009, Mance Communications specialises in taking brands from start-up to business leader; pop-up to establishment and consulting on strategy and market positioning . Focusing on the immersive and experience sectors the team at Mance Communications have twenty + years’ experience and have established some of the UK’s foremost experiential, competitive socialising, food & drink and travel experiences. Find Meri on instagram @mancecomms and LinkedIn

Sarah Morris is a Bristol-based Creative Producer who specialises in immersive and interactive theatre, location-based attractions, midway entertainment, and experiential marketing and advertising. Over the past 13 years, Sarah has been a driving force behind the creation and development of a diverse range of projects, guiding them from inception to delivery on a global scale. Her expertise spans both the creative industry and commercial sectors, showcasing a versatile and dynamic approach that is audience-centered - as a cultural studies graduate, Sarah's work is often inspired by popular culture, some of Sarah's highlights were creating the UK's longest-running immersive experience, Zombie SWAT, and co-created Merlin Entertainments first Escape Room for Madam Tussards San-Francisco. Find Sarah on Linkedin

Hosted by Dr Joanna Bucknall and produced by Natalie Scott for the Immersive Experience Network’s, Knowledge Bank. Funded by Arts Council England.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immersive-experience-network/

Instagram @immersiveexperiencenet

Mailing List https://immersiveexperience.network/sign-up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Were joined by Carl Dolamore, Oliver Lansley and Megan Stewart for a dynamic discussion which takes us deep into the creative processes and complex methodologies involved in casting and rehearsing for immersive experiences and the key differences in practice between these and traditional theatre making practices.

Our Guests:

Carl Dolamore is an actor and voice artist, currently studying on the MA Voice Studies course at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He has worked in live and immersive theatre for about a decade and has recently started teaching and coaching actors as well. Carl has worked on Secret Cinema's Stranger Things & Rocket Raccoon in Secret Cinema's Guardians of Galaxy, Manuel Faulty Towers Dining Experience, Maze Master for The Crystal Maze, Money Heist Live Experience Show and Boomtown Fair.

Oliver Lansley is a British, Neuro-divergent writer, director and performer who works across stage and screen. Lansley is Artistic Director of the multi award-winning and pioneering theatre company Les Enfants Terribles. The company has created many ground-breaking productions, including the Olivier Award nominated Alice’s Adventures Underground - which has enjoyed sell out runs in London and Shanghai; The Game’s Afoot for Madame Tussauds; Inside Pussy Riot, and recently The House with Chicken Legs (based on the best selling book by Sophie Anderson) - which has also just been nominated for an Olivier Award. The Company will be opening their own permanent immersive theatre venue - 'Labyrinth' in Waterloo in 2024 with the return of Alice's Adventures Underground.

Megan Stewart is a Scottish Writer, Senior Creative and Director. Her writing specialties are adaptations of existing IP; dialogue writing; character writing; game writing; and blended medium writing for the immersive theatre format. Her directing specialties include close- proximity immersive; personalised storylines within roaming group adventures; and crafting authentic audience experiences. Her performance direction is centred around building the ensemble and discovery through structured improvisation. Megan additionally consults for immersive theatre, advising in script development, actor safety, show flow, audience flow and operations. She is currently the Associate Director at multi-award winning immersive theatre company, Layered Reality in London; and Associate Creative Director & Writer at Sarner. Megan has worked on The War of the Worlds (Layered Reality), The Gunpowder Plot (Layered Reality), Money Heist (Bearded Kitten, Fever & Netflix) and further shows with Luna Cinema, Bompas & Parr & Path Group.

Hosted by Dr Joanna Bucknall and produced by Natalie Scott for the Immersive Experience Network’s, Knowledge Bank. Funded by Arts Council England.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immersive-experience-network/

Instagram @immersiveexperiencenet

Mailing List https://immersiveexperience.network/sign-up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re joined by Sheena Patel and Mark Sarfo-Kantanka to discuss the nuts and bolts of scaling into commercial work - from managing budgets and finances to developing pitches, finding investors, exploring the international market and Obtaining IP.

Our Guests:

Sheena Patel is an Experience Designer and Creative Producer with over a decade's experience across experiential campaigns and immersive productions.She co-created and produced Time Run (voted one of the best escape games in the world TERPECA 2018) and Sherlock: The Game is Now (Visit London’s 'Best New Tourism Business' 2020). As Director of YonderBeyond, she supports brands, independent companies and agencies such as Flavourology, Bearded Kitten, Bompas & Parr and Hotel Wonderland to consult on, devise or deliver new immersive experiences Other titles and brands she has worked on include Money Heist, Peaky Blinders and Disney.

Mark Sarfo-Kantanka is Co-Founder of NEXUS, an incubator for creative, digital & tech innovative SME, helping them to scale. Mark is also Co-Founder of Cellar Door an audacious event management group that challenges people’s perceptions by implementing ground-breaking creative experiences unconstrained by venue capacity or location. Find Mark on Socials: @nexuscreativehq @cellardoorgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-sarfo-kantanka/

Hosted by Dr Joanna Bucknall and produced by Natalie Scott for the Immersive Experience Network’s, Knowledge Bank. Funded by Arts Council England.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immersive-experience-network/

Instagram @immersiveexperiencenet

Mailing List https://immersiveexperience.network/sign-up

The IEN is made possible by the support of our industry partners. Illusion Design & Construction, Mance Communications, White Light, Unlocked Vision, Clockwork Dog, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment , Entourage, and Vista Insurance.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re joined by Polly Barker, Marie Klimis and Natasha Stanton to explore how organisations and individuals approach seeking funding, to create work in immersive contexts. From applying for public funds, through to the requirements of research bodies and third sector trusts and foundations - we get into the nitty gritty raising funds for immersive experiences.

Guests:

Polly Barker is Punchdrunk Enrichment’s Head of Development, leading fundraising with individuals, Trusts & Foundations, and corporate partners. Polly studied English Literature at Sussex before beginning her career in the Museum sector, working at the V&A in London, and at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide. Polly loves learning, the visual arts, travelling and is writing a novel in her spare time. https://www.punchdrunkenrichment.org.uk/, https://www.instagram.com/punchdrunkenrichment/

Marie Klimis is is currently Senior Producer at Coney. She has worked as a Producer and Project Manager for a range of organisations, including the City of London Festival, Horniman Museum, Pure Expression or Arts and Gardens. She is a founding member and director of 27 degrees, a migrant-led collective specialised in socially-engaged immersive theatre. As a writer and designer, she specialises in intimate immersive projects in unusual spaces, including “I am Bird and The Paper Traveller”, two choose-your-own-adventure projects in library spaces. https://www.instagram.com/marieklimis/

Natasha Stanton is a Senior Portfolio Manager at the Economic and Social Research Council and previously was a Senior Investment Manager at the Arts and Humanities Research Council and an International Stakeholder Engagement Manager at UKRI (UK Research and Innovation). https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-stanton-8413b589/

Hosted by Dr Joanna Bucknall and produced by Natalie Scott for the Immersive Experience Network’s, Knowledge Bank. Funded by Arts Council England.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immersive-experience-network/

Instagram @immersiveexperiencenet

Mailing List https://immersiveexperience.network/sign-up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.