Can digital mixed reality technology offer an engaging sensorial experience for audiences with additional needs?

“Sensorial Dreams,” an immersive VR theatre experience presented at The Royal Exchange Theatre, combined sensory exploration with Shakespearean inspiration. Led by Debbie Bandara, SODA lecturer, the project integrated olfactory, proprioceptive, and vestibular senses for inclusivity. Graduate students Phoebe Bonser and Ton Fitzsimmons, along with Jake Hatt (Technical Manager), contributed to its creation.
The pilot study involves developing a robust methodology for testing audience engagement to touch, sound, and visual sensory outputs. Bespoke digital Mixed Reality technology were created as part of the pilot study. It was carefully crafted based on a Shakespearean script and performed at The Royal Exchange Theatre in October 2024. The piece was highly emotive, meditative experience crafted for audiences with additional needs.
A trailer created to document the process of creating immersive theatre for audience with additional needs was produced with support from AHEAD funding, as well as an evaluator to join during the performance to collate qualitative evidence to further support the next stage of the research.
Debbie Bandera will be presenting a workshop in February 2025 sharing her work and practice as a Director and Choreographer
Immersive Storytelling in Theatre with Debbie Bandara
Pay What You Can:
Target Audience: Theatre practitioners, storytellers, designers, and educators
Session Overview: This hands-on workshop focuses on the principles and techniques of immersive storytelling in theatre. Participants will explore how to engage audiences in a multi-sensory experience, breaking traditional boundaries and inviting them into the narrative.
Objectives:
Understand the fundamentals of immersive storytelling and its significance in contemporary theatre.
Experiment with different techniques to create engaging, interactive experiences.
Collaborate in small groups to develop and share immersive storytelling concepts.