Immersive Experience Network Podcast

Kat Gill (Access Producer), Jane Ensell (Audio Describer) and Colin Nightingale (Associate Creative Producer) discuss accessibility requirements and sensitivities in immersive experiences with Joe Bucknall (Immersive and Interactive Scholar). Their discussion explores their reflections on the successes and challenges of accessible productions they have been involved with, as well as the importance...

Paddy Dillon introduces the Theatre Green Book as a model for making live arts and entertainment more sustainable, and offers a use case for how its advice can be applied to Live Immersive Experiences. From design elements to production processes, and covering performer riders and marketing as well, this deep dive into sustainable practice offers an argument for how immersive work in the UK can fe...

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...

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 im...

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 Morga...

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 Communic...

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...

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 imm...

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 En...

We’re joined by Katie Day, Arlo Howard and Chloe Mashiter - exploring how playability and gaming intersects in immersive contexts to offer a deep experience for audiences. We discuss how generating playable mechanics form part of the creative process, the importance of playtesting mechanics before experiences come to life and the common challenges that makers face when introducing audiences to pla...

Summary: In the second part of our working with Venues theme, we explore the processes involved in setting up a space for immersive experiences - from business rates and running costs to grumpy neighbours. In this episode, Dr Joanna Bucknall chats with David Ralf, Tom Black and Joe Ball about programming and developing relationships with venues that host immersive work and the opportunities and ch...

A huge feature of immersive experiences is the intense sensory experience and different routes that participants can take through physical spaces - from the complex architecture of shaping narrative and agency to creating worlds with audience experience in mind, making this work is a multifaceted process for creatives and production. In this episode Dr Joanna Bucknall talks with Colin Nightingale...

Immersive Experiences often take place in non traditional cultural venues and finding a space that fits can pose a real challenge for makers and producers.  In this episode we’re talking to Will Ma and Andy Barnes about all things venues, from finding them to making sure they’re safe and legal to host a project in.  Our Guests: Will Ma is a Location Scout and Manager for Secret Cinema, D...

Making large scale immersive work can be daunting; in this episode we discuss the creative, operational and financial aspects of scaling up live experiences for larger audiences in a variety of venues. We’re talking to industry experts to discover the exciting journey’s they’ve made towards getting a production live as well as what keeps them awake at night as makers and producers.   Our...