Academy of Live Technology International Symposium 2024

2024 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM PROGRAMME

Day 1 - Monday 15th April

11h30-12h05

12h10-13h00 4Wall

Workshop

- 3D Scanning: Reality Capture of Architecture and Objects (ALT Students only)

Professor JR Luker, USA

Welcome Address by Rachel Nicholson, Head of Institution and Jim Farmery, Director of External Affairs

Panel 1: Learning from each other across the international community

About OISTAT - International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians / Dr Aby Cohen, Brazil / UK

20 Years of International Education Projects - Building on Each Other / Chris Van Goethem, Belgium

Panel 2: Wakefield Creative Programmes and Oportunities

Practical Support for Creatives / Rosalind Hill, Clare Hunt, Paige Cottam, Iain Bennett, UK

Panel 3: How we do it and what can we do better?

Industry Partnership at Production Park / Miles Marsden & Guests, UK

How to make a more responsible and sustainable industry by learning from the past / David Evans, UK

13h00-14h00 Centr Stage Lunch Break

14h00-14h20 Studio 004

14h30 - 17h00 Studio 003B

Virtual Production Demo

Lights of the Round Table / James Ward, UK

Workshop 1A: 3D scanning: Reality Capture of Architecture and Objects (ALT Students only). Professor JR Luker, USA

Panel 4: Connecting through AI

14h30-14h50 4Wall

14h55-15h45 4Wall

15h45-16h00

Will AI replace localisation in translation? / Dr Maria Selezneva, Russia / UK

Can AI be used to understand communication between symbiotic organisms? / Sophie Kirkpatrick, UK

Panel 5: Creative AI

Artistic Evolution: How AI is Shaping Our Creative Practice / Shannon Harvey, USA / UK

How CREATECH is reshaping the creative industries / Dr Trevor Davis, UK

15-Min Interval

Breakout Room 1

Time Room

16h00-16h45 4Wall

16h50-17h30 4Wall

Breakout Room 2

Time Room

16h00-17h30 Studio 004

17h40-18h00 Studio 004

Session

Panel 6: Digital Era I: Education R-Evolution

Drama Studio 2.0: A template for the performance learning space of the future / Professor Nick Hunt, UK

Virtual and Real: Resources for Theatre Education / Professor Matt Kizer, USA

Panel 7: Digital Era II: Creative Solution and Accessibility

Absent Sitter - Explorations in Immersive Performance / Ben Eyes, UK Scenographic creation in the digital era in Morocco: experiences of the new Moroccan scene. (session in French with english translation) / Dr Tarik Ribh, Morocco

Session

Roundtable 1: Converging Creative Communities

Building and Supporting Local, Regional, and National Networks for Digital Creatives

CoSTAR LiveLAB, Creative Wakefield & XPLOR representatives

Virtual Production Demo

Lights of the Round Table / James Ward, UK

18h00-19h30 Centr Stage Creative Networking

Day 2 - Tuesday 16th April

11h45-12h05 4Wall

12h10-13h00 4Wall

Panel 8: Changing PerspectiveI: Emerging Technologies shaking existing models

Making Musicals in the Metaverse: Madame X in the Storyplex / Mary Stewart-David, UK

The Creative Potentials of Virtual Production / Serena Bliss, Australia / UK

Exploring Sculptural Qualities of Embodied Dance Improvisatory Approaches in Motion Capture Environments: Bridging Education and Emerging Technologies / Lucie (Lee) Sykes, Czeck Republic / UK

Panel 9: Changing Perspective II: Portfolio

Midlife Mother Makes A MOVE: Choosing Higher Education / Jayne Curry, UK / USA

Roundtable 2: Between the Education & the Floor

Theatre technical education on the floor / Chris Van Goethem, Belgium. MAKE a DIFFERENCE, ABTT Conference Report / Mig Burges Walsh, UK

13h00-14h00 Centr Stage Lunch Break

Panel 10: Heritage: Past & Future

Your Heritage, Your Story: Interactive documentary as an inclusive storytelling practice to forefront migrant experiences of heritage in the UK / Zulfiya Hamzaki, India/ UK

14h00-15h10 4Wall

15h15- 15h30 4Wall

Digital Archive: Cultural heritage sites as virtual reality models / Professor JR Luker, USA

WSD- World Stage Design: Reflecting on Future Heritage / Professor April Viczko, Canada

Closing Notes by OISTAT Chairs, Vice Chairs and members

Location

Studio 002

Immersive Installation by Eduardo Bernal Perez, Spain /UK

*The installation runs all day, starting every 30 minutes from 10h00 am until 18h30 (last entry 18h00)

The intent is to present an art installation that delves into the current state of humanity and the challenges we face in the modern world. By using ‘Synaesthesia’ to create a multi-sensory experience, it will take visitors on a transformative journey through different narrative stages, encouraging reflection and exploration of our collective role in shaping the future. Key categories include Doomsday Clock Reflection, Celebration of Human Achievements, Confrontation of Harsh Realities, Synesthetic Fusion, Reflection and Contemplation, and Exploration of the Unknown.

Doomsday Presenter

Eduardo Bernal Perez, Spain / UK

Perez is an ARB registered Architect with 15 years’ experience. Design Manager for 8 years in complex high-end projects in the UK and abroad. He is passionate about all art media and growing towards the design of live events. Thanks to his training at the Academy of Live Technology, he is currently working as an Entertainment Architect at STUFISH.

Studio 003B

Location Workshop

3D Scanning: Reality Capture of Architecture and Objects

Using several types of scanners including a Leica Geosystems BLK360 Lidar Scanner and several handheld scanners to demonstrate the technology and workflow used to capture digital time capsules of environments and artifacts. This type of workshop is for small groups so everyone can gain some experience using the equipment and then processing the point cloud data into usable virtual models.

Limited capacity: 20 people (ALT Students only)

Presenter

Professor JR Luker, USA 10h30-13h00

Professor Luker is a Technical Director & Asst. Professor at California State University Fullerton who archives the past with reality capture technologies. Member of OISTAT Technology Commission.

Panel 1 Location Learning from each other across the international community 4Wall Room

Presenter Welcome to OISTAT

Introducing OISTAT – Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians and the power of international networking. www.oistat.org

Dr Aby Cohen, Brazil / UK

Dr Cohen is a Brazilian theatre and exhibition designer, curator and educator. Internationally recognized for her work in Theatre, Exhibition, Film and Live Events, with projects realized in more than 10 countries. Awarded with the Prague Quadrennial Golden Triga in 2011 as designer and curator of Brazil`s National Exhibition. Prague Quadrennial 2015 International curator of SharedSpace /Politics.

IDCA2013 awarded as Best Exhibition Design for a project delivered to the Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam. PhD in Theatre Theory and Practice. Currently living and working in the UK as the Head of the Postgraduate Department at the Academy of Live Technology. President of OISTAT elected in World Congress.

Location 4Wall Room

20 Years of International Educational Projects; Building on Each Other

An overview of 20 years of collaboration between educational institutes, professional training and the performing arts sector. A journey that shows how projects can build on each other and change the way we think about education and training. Also, how we can share expertise and content to enrich a niche field and strengthen each other’s work.

Presenter

Chris Van Goethem, Belgium

Goethem became a stage manager through self-training and toured with many companies throughout Europe. He expanded his field to include teaching and consultancy in technical theatre. He advised on the development of professional profiles and qualifications, safety policy and training policy. His research field is the history of technical theater as a source of innovation. Van Goethem is an internationalist and proud member of OISTAT. Vice-Chair of OISTAT Education Commission.

Location

4Wall Room

Panel 2

Wakefield Creative Programmes & Opportunities

Practical Support for Creatives

Creativity is unlimited whilst time, resources and funding are not. Getting the right support, at the right time, in the right way can make all the difference. We’ll explore a new way of delivering practical business support for our Creative, Cultural Industries. Describe how it works in practice and share opportunities to get involved. For people who are seeking to work in the Creative Industries, set up a small business or freelance practice, looking to change direction, seeking tailored support, ready for growth and for anyone interested in the Wakefield way of doing things.

Presenters

Rosalind Hill, UK

Ros is the Creative Network Manager at Wakefield Council and a Trustee of Spectrum People. In her early career she embarked on an academic research pathway but life had other plans and she pivoted to a career in the Creative & Cultural Sector. She has spent time at Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Culture Consortium and Cinema for All and more recently discovering the extraordinary and inspirational creative people and places of Wakefield District. Ros is passionate about supporting the creative sector to thrive and believes it can be a dynamic force for positive social change.

Clare Hunt, UK

Clare Hunt is the Enterprise Manager for Economic Growth at Wakefield Council. Clare oversees the strategic aspect of the range of business support programmes. Clare is passionate about Creative and Digital sector development and sees the role of a bespoke support service for this sector as vitally important. Clare spent twenty years in the third sector before joining the council mainly running creative and heritage projects with her specialism being writing funding applications for a broad range of initiatives.

Paige Cottam, UK

Paige is the Business Support Officer for Wakefield First. Paige loves working with a range people to help them realise their goals and drive positive growth of their business. Paige studied Fine Art at Leeds Arts University but has since stepped into the world of business support through various roles within the council, finally joining up her experience to support creatives in demystifying the world of business.

Iain Bennett, UK

Iain is the Director of The Fifth Sector, which he founded in 2011. He was Sector Leader for Digital and Creative Industries at Northwest Regional Development Agency (2006-11), leading the development of regional strategy to support development of MediaCityUK. Over the last thirteen years he has led significant projects focusing on cultural and creative-led growth across England. Ian is a Trustee of UP Projects and a member of the Creative Industries Councils’ Regions & Clusters working group and the Arts & Humanities Advisory Board of Royal Holloway, University of London. He has just embarked on delivery of the freelance and microbusiness skills and support offer as part of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s ‘You Can Make It Here’ programme of support for creative industries.

SYM POS IUM 20 24

This session is supported by by Wakefield Council, Regeneration, Environment & Economic Growth Directorate, Creative Wakefield (Cultural Compact) and presented as part of Our Year, Wakefield District Year of Culture.

12h10-13h00

Location 4Wall Room

Panel 3

How We Do It and What Can We Do Better?

Presenter Industry Partnership at Production Park

An overview of the industry partnership and opportunities for students

at Production Park

Miles Marsden, UK

Having been introduced to theatre and performance from an early age, Marsden was drawn to the technical side of production, culminating in establishing a small recording studio in the early years of his career. A qualified mechanical design engineer by trade, at the age of 25 Marsden co-founded an audio system installation company which over the following two decades became one of the leading UK companies in the sector. In 2010, Marsden joined the development team at Production Park, formerly Litestructures. As the Academy and Production Park campus continued to develop and grow, Marsden was appointed Industry Partnerships Director in 2019.

Provocation

Presenter How to make a more responsible and sustainable industry by learning from the past

Looking at models from the 1860’s where theatre tours involved just the lead actor with all other roles provided locally. How we can learn from this model to create a touring model that is significantly less impactful on the environment and less demanding of theatre makers. Leading in time to well-staffed venues rather than the four wall venues currently in vogue, staffed by people with a work/life balance that is currently not available to them. This might in time contribute to staff retention and perhaps in time making the industry attractive to new entrants and graduates again.

David Evans, UK

Evans is Head of Production at National Theatre Wales, and Co-Chair of the ABTT -Association of British Theatre Technicians; he was part of the producing team and Co-Host of ITEAC 2023 and on the coordination committee of The Theatre Green Book. David is a Trustee of the Lagos Theatre Festival; an Honorary Fellow of Rose Bruford College and Lifetime Member of The Stage Management Association.

Lights of the Round Table

Lights of the Round Table aims to provide an affordable solution to expanding the filming capabilities on a Virtual Production (VP) set, whilst also streamlining the process of using lens data. LORT’s focus is to show the development for the filming capabilities of a VP set by utilising a rotating stage that will rotate the UE background in real-time – moving the space through the camera instead of the camera through the space. Discussion will include this project’s development along with why it is being developed, to show its current state and potential future developments.

James Ward, UK

Presenter Ward is currently an MSc Virtual Production student at the Academy of Live Technology. At the age of 22, with a BSc. in Applied Comp. Ward is a 3dfx content designer who aims to create working methodologies which provide more affordable and universally usable tools, lowering the bar to entry for filmmakers and Virtual Production.

14h30-17h00

Location Studio 003B

Workshop

3D Scanning: Reality

Capture of Architecture and Objects

Using several types of scanners including a Leica Geosystems BLK360 Lidar Scanner and several handheld scanners to demonstrate the technology and workflow used to capture digital time capsules of environments and artifacts. This type of workshop is for small groups so everyone can gain some experience using the equipment and then processing the point cloud data into usable virtual models.

Limited capacity: 20 people (ALT Students only)

Presenter

Professor JR Luker, USA

Prof. Luker is a Technical Director & Asst. Professor at California State University Fullerton who archives the past with reality capture technologies. Member of OISTAT Technology Commission.

Location

4Wall Room

Panel 4

Inspiration

Will AI replace localization in translation?

Translator’s role connects cultures and countries. The internet brought new ways of connecting with culture; travel guides, films, cartoons, magazines. Learning about countries and cultures has become more accessible. Using AI, I am translating a cartoon containing cultural and historical allusions from Russian into English. Then comparing AI translations with the versions localised by translators before. My aim is to see how close AI translation is to the original meaning. Including the tone and style of the original text. Thus, learning if AI can bring localisation methods to the new stage.

Presenter Connecting through AI

Dr Maria Selezneva, Russia/UK

Dr Selezneva is a PhD graduate of the University of Exeter in 2019. Her thesis explored how similar cultural concepts are differently translated for Russian and English speakers around the world. Currently managing translation projects in the field of sports.

Inspiration

Symbiosis, the mutual relationships between different organisms. Many forms of technology, from writing and language to phones and the internet have changed how we interact with each other and the world around us. Faced with the mysterious future of AI, how can we ensure this technology benefits all inhabitants of our planet? Can AI act as an interface of communication between humans and different species, letting us enter their inner worlds and cultural exchanges?

Presenter Can AI be used to understand communication between symbiotic organisms?

Sophie Kirkpatrick, UK

Kirkpatrick is an MSc Bio-Integrated Design student at UCL, previously studied Natural Sciences at the University of Leeds in biotechnology. Her project is focused on the exchanges of energy, science and architecture, forest ecosystems and fermentation as a bridge between science, culture, and micro-organisms.

Location 4Wall Room

Panel 5

Creative AI

Paper

Artistic Evolution: How AI is Shaping Our Creative Practice

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as a revolutionary force, reshaping techniques and creative expression. Opening a realm of possibilities, where algorithms and machine learning models assist in creating unique work and collaborating synergy between human intuition and computational power. We’ll explore the process of AI in our business at Creative Alchemy. Mentioning our personal experiences with AI in art and exploring its impact on our endeavours. Exploring the challenges, ethical considerations, the future influences, while we share our aspirations for future AI-collaborative projects.

Presenter

Shannon Harvey, USA/ UK

Harvey is the Creative Director at Creative Alchemy. Over 15 years, his journey has been an adventure through a diverse array of displays. From concert tours, storytelling immersive exhibits, television, and large-scale events. His passion lies in crafting unforgettable experiences with pixels.

Moderator: Taela Jones

How CREATECH is reshaping the creative industries

Since OpenAI released its service ChatGPT in 2022, interest in generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the Creative Industries has surged. However, research from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) shows that AI is only one of several disruptive Industry 4.0 technologies infusing the sector. Companies such as Engineered Arts, who create humanoid robots for events, and Moeai, who make 3D motion capture and realtime animation simpler, are examples of innovative businesses identified as Createch. Createch businesses bring creative and commercial opportunities. They also bring social and environmental harms. A University for the Creative Arts survey in 2022 shows 77% of Createch said that sustainability is core to their strategy. However, only 5% have a sustainability policy. In September 2023, UCA launched a free online tool aimed at Createch founders and CEOs to close the gaps, as well as enabling business leaders to benchmark their sustainability.

Presenter Dr Trevor Davis FRSA MBCS, UK

Dr Davis is a consumer industry futurist, a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and former IBM Distinguished Engineer. He’s an expert in developing and launching sustainable products and services. From over 30 years, Trevor brings deep industry insight on technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Industry 4.0. Other Collaborators: Professor Martin Charter FRSA. Prof. Martin has been Director of The Centre for Sustainable Design® at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) since 1996 where he has led a range of international, national and regional research, consultancy and training programmes focused on sustainability and sustainable innovation.

15h45-14h00

16h00-16h45

Moderator: April Viczko

Interval for breakout rooms

Breakout Room 1

4Wall Room Digital Era 1: Education R-Evolution

Location Panel 6 Paper

Drama Studio 2.0: A template for the performance learning space of the future

The digital revolution in the entertainment industry continues to challenge and change everything. Influencing the training and education of performers, designers, technicians and others, but specifically training spaces. Like the ‘black box’ studio in theatre moved from traditional to outmoded. Rose Bruford College (RBC) is responding with a new concept for a training space. A Drama Studio 2.0, developed over four years, includes facilities for motion capture, green-screen and an XR stage. Discussing the past, current and future training needed in the industry, and the College’s pedagogies, to meet the needs of the next generation of practitioners.

Presenter

Professor Nick Hunt, UK

Prof. Hunt is Professor of Lighting Design, Performance Technologies and Digital Research and Innovation Fellow at Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance. Head of the School of Design, Management and Technical Arts. His research interests include the performative potential of light, digital performance, and theatre technology history. He is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Performance Arts and Digital Media, and has served as co-convenor of the Scenography Working Groups of IFTR and TaPRA.

Vritual and Real: Resources for Theatre Education

A wide variety of virtual resources have been produced and have been evolving over the past twenty years. These virtual labs and resources include content for many aspects of lighting design, theatre architecture, collaboration, acting, and directing. Collectively, their evolution provides insight into the needs in current classrooms. Students tend to be using inexpensive laptops, theatre or rehearsal spaces are limited whilst virtual alternatives provide alternate types of access. Collectively, these represent a sort of conversation between one instructor and the educational theatre community globally.

Presenter Provocation

Professor Matt Kizer, USA

Prof. Kizer is the coordinator of the Theatre Program for Plymouth State University, has designed national tours, theatres, and universities internationally. Presented workshops for institutions, including the Cyprus OISTAT Centre, the National Opera Association, World Stage Design, and the Prague Quadrennial. Vice-Chair of OISTAT Education Commission.

Location

4Wall Room

PANEL 7

Digital Era 2: Creative Solutions and Accessibility

Paper

Absent SitterExplorations in Immersive Performance

‘Absent Sitter’ is an immersive audio-visual. Initially, we investigated the relationship between performance and artist. Placing the audience on stage in an empty theater and using immersive audio techniques to bring the theater to life. The pandemic influenced two performances; first ‘Absent Sitter’ was presented using Zoom, at York Mediale festival 2020. The second was presented at Ars Electronica using VR and immersive audio in York, in 2022. The challenges to present engaging immersive experiences remotely, both online and in person, are discussed within.

Presenter

Ben Eyes, UK

Eyes is a composer, sound engineer and musician working in the North of England. His work covers a wide range of styles from live improvised modular synthesis to Kongolese techno.

Inspiration

Presenter Scenographic creation in the digital era in Morocco

Portfolio of experiences of the new Moroccan scene.

Dr Tarik Ribh, Morocco

Dr Ribh is a research scenographer laureate of the ISADAC - Higher Institute of Dramatic Art and Cultural Animation, in Rabat. Where he is a deputy director responsible for continuing training and internships at ISADAC. In parallel with his professional involvement with several theater groups, he completed a master’s degree in theater studies at the Ibne Toufail University in Kénitra, with research on: “scenography and its fields”. PhD in theater studies on “street theater in Morocco”. Artistic director and co-founder of the International “Thé-Arts” Festival, in Rabat. Awarded and nominated from several festivals, nationally and in the Arab world, in scenography and costume design. Individual member of OISTAT.

Location

Studio 004

Representatives from CoSTAR LiveLAB, Creative Wakefield & XPLOR 16h00-17h30

Breakout Room 2

Roundtable 1

Converging Creative Communities - Building and Supporting Local, Regional, and National Networks for Digital Creatives

In the era of digital innovation, the convergence of technology and creative expression has given rise to dynamic ecosystems of digital creatives. However, navigating this terrain comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities. Hosted by CoSTAR Live LAB team, experts from industry to engage in a public debate with the public, we’ll explore the challenges for digital creatives, from access to resources and infrastructure to the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration. The aim is to identify strategies for fostering inclusive and vibrant creative communities.

Presenters

This session is supported by Wakefield Council, Regeneration, Environment & Economic Growth Directorate, Creative Wakefield (Cultural Compact) and presented as part of Our Year, Wakefield District Year of Culture.

Jamie is the Managing Director – Games Republic Ltd. He began his career in the games industry more than two decades ago as a writer and editor of magazines and websites such as Arcade, Official PlayStation 2 Magazine and PC Zone. Jamie is now the Managing Director of Yorkshire and Northern England games business network Game Republic. Jamie has led Department for Business and Trade missions to the Game Developers Conference and Gamescom in Cologne since 2010 and organises events for the world’s biggest games business website GamesIndustry.biz, including the GI Investment Summit at PAX East/West and EGX London.

Jamie Sefton, Co-star Prof. Jon Hook, Co-star

Professor of Interactive Media in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies at the University of York. Prof. Hook is a researcher in the field of Human-Computer Interaction, exploring the design and development of new interactive media content forms and tools to support their creation. He is a Co-Investigator of CoSTAR Live Lab, in which he leads research on Audience, HCI and UX and the project’s Access Programme.

Laura Partridge, Co-star

Laura is the Associate Director for CoSTAR Delivery & Partnerships. CoSTAR is the UK’s R&D network for creative technology to provide the UK’s screen and performance sectors with the state-of-theart facilities and expertise they need to conduct world-class Research & Development. The CoSTAR infrastructure network is formed of five Labs and brings together a diverse range of creative industry and academic partners from across the UK.

Caroline Cooper Charles

Caroline is the Chief Executive of Screen Yorkshire. Caroline champions the film, TV and wider screen industries in Yorkshire & Humber, providing leadership to a talented team of industry experts who deliver skills and talent development, production support and content investment. Caroline’s 25-year career within the screen industries has evolved from running her first production company with acclaimed music video director Dawn Shadforth to her previous role as Head of Creative at Screen Yorkshire.

Phil Adlam

Phil is the CTO at Production Park and Head of XPLOR - a Creative Industries Innovation Centre.

He is an experienced MD, delivering high profile technologies, systems and management - from Production for Stadium Shows & Arena Touring to System Analysis, Design, Simulation and Optimisation. His qualifications include FHEA & MEng Electronic Engineering. Passionate about the stage and screen, pushing boundaries for immersive experiences, ultra scale events, Film and HETV virtual production, real-time capture, sustainability & ethical AI.

Jo Verrent

Jo is director of Unlimited, with a mission to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists until the whole of the cultural sector does. Funded by Arts Council England, Arts Council of Wales, Creative Scotland, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the British Council, it commits for this work to change and challenge the world. Jo is an artist, creating Take Me to Bed with Luke Pell, cofounding Sync with Sarah Pickthall, and is also a granny.

Location

MSC Virtual Production Research Projects Studio 004

Lights of the Round Table

Lights of the Round Table aims to provide an affordable solution to expanding the filming capabilities on a Virtual Production (VP) set, whilst also streamlining the process of using lens data. LORT’s focus is to show the development for the filming capabilities of a VP set by utilising a rotating stage that will rotate the UE background in real-time – moving the space through the camera instead of the camera through the space. Discussion will include this project’s development along with why it is being developed, to show its current state and potential future developments. 17h30-17h50

Presenter

James Ward, UK

Mr. Ward is currently an MSc Virtual Production student at the Academy of Live Technology. At the age of 22, with a BSc. in Applied Comp. Ward is a 3dfx content designer who aims to create working methodologies which provide more affordable and universally usable tools, lowering the bar to entry for filmmakers and Virtual Production.

Location

Centr Stage

Creative Networking

An opportunity to enjoy refreshments and connect with inspirational creatives from local businesses to international organisations. Meet and connect with our Enablers and tell them what you need to make your creative business fly! Welcoming remarks from our hosts at ALT, Cllr Michelle Collins – Portfolio Holder Arts, Culture and Leisure Service, Wakefield Council and Dr Steven Michael OBE, Independent Chair Creative Wakefield, Cultural Compact. This session is supported by Wakefield Council, Regeneration, Environment & Economic Growth Directorate, Creative Wakefield (Cultural Compact) and presented as part of Our Year, Wakefield District Year of Culture.

Dr Steven Michael, OBE FRSA

Presenters Independent Chair, Creative Wakefield Cultural Compact, Steven started his career as a registered mental health nurse working in the North East. His career progressed through work in the NHS and charitable sector, occupying clinical leadership and managerial roles, culminating in being CEO of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. In 2014 he was awarded an OBE for services to healthcare. In more recent years Steven has been an Independent Chair of health and care partnerships in Greater Manchester and East Cheshire, as well as chairing Spectrum People, a local charity and ImROC, an international mental health recovery organisation. Steven is passionate about creativity and the arts in general. He is a fellow of the RSA and his doctoral research concerned sustaining creative innovation in complex human systems. Steven has lived in Wakefield since 2000.

Cllr Michelle Collins

Portfolio Holder - Culture, Leisure, and Sport. Ward: South Elmsall & South Kirkby

Location

Studio 002

Immersive Installation by Eduardo Bernal Perez, Spain /UK

*The installation will run throughout the day, starting every 30 minutes from 10h00 am until 16h00 (last entry 15h30)

The intent is to present an art installation that delves into the current state of humanity and the challenges we face in the modern world. By using ‘Synaesthesia’ to create a multi-sensory experience. It will take visitors on a transformative journey through different narrative stages, encouraging reflection and exploration of our collective role in shaping the future. Key categories include Doomsday Clock Reflection, Celebration of Human Achievements, Confrontation of Harsh Realities, Synesthetic Fusion, Reflection and Contemplation, and Exploration of the Unknown.

Doomsday Presenters

Eduardo Bernal Perez, Spain / UK

Perez is a ARB registered Architect with 15 years’ experience. Design Manager for 8 years in complex high-end projects in the UK and abroad. He is passionate about all art media and growing towards the design of live events. Thanks to his training at the Academy of Live Technology, he is currently working as an Architect at STUFISH.

10h40-11h40

Location

4Wall Room

Panel 8

Change Perspective 1: Emerging Technologies

Shaking Existing Models

Making Musicals in the Metaverse: Madame X in the Storyplex

Madame X is an interactive and immersive musical designed by a team of researchers and practitioners in Film, Music Theatre and Games-making to be performed live in VR and Unreal Games Engine. Lead by Narratologist, Mary Stewart-David (University of York) and Scenographer Professor Rob Morgan (Washington University, St Louis) this show is currently in Pre-Production, debuting in June 2024 at the York Festival of Ideas. Madame X tells the story of John Singer Sargent’s iconic painting.

Presenter Provocation

Mary Stewart-David, UK

Stewart-David is a writer/producer in musical theatre. Currently working in immersive and interactive virtual theatre production and completing a PhD in Interactive Media at the School of Arts and Creative Technologies, University of York.

The Creative Potentials of Virtual Production

In filmmaking, Virtual Production (VP) is a beacon of creative liberation and innovation. The focus exploring the possibilities it offers to creators in conceptualising and realising their visions. VP is not just a set of tools; it’s a canvas that invites filmmakers to dream bigger, push boundaries, and redefine the art of storytelling. This fusion of storytellers and digital environments enables creators to experiment with and adjust their stories in ways previously unimaginable. It encourages you to play with elements of lighting, space, motion and perspective in real-time differently.

Presenter Paper

Serena Bliss, Australia / UK

Bliss is a Young Entrepreneur and Co-Director at Creative Alchemy, known for her innovation in Creative Product Development and a Thought Leader in Virtual Production. Passionate about turning imagination into reality. The past four years have focused on immersive exhibits and virtual production.

Paper

Exploring Sculptural Qualities of Embodied Dance Improvisatory Approaches in Motion Capture Environments: Bridging Education and Emerging Technologies

Discusses the author’s practice on exploring embodied dance improvisatory approaches within motion capture environments. As emerging technologies reshape pedagogical landscapes, this research on sculptural qualities explores new perspectives in education and training, particularly emphasizing the transformative potential of motion capture technology. By employing qualitative methodologies rooted in artistic inquiry, this research navigates the intricate interplay between corporeal experience and technological mediation.

Presenter

Lucie (Lee) Sykes, Czeck Republic/ UK

Lucie (Lee) Sykes is a PhD academic, researcher and artist in dance and digital performances. She is fascinated by movement and the interactions between body-mind and digital technologies. By using cuttingedge digital technologies, she explores and experiments with themes of embodiment, human-machine interactions and immersion, she creates interactive dance performances and installations with multi-sensory output.

Panel 9

Location Change Perspective 2: Portfolio 4Wall Room

Inspiration & Provocation

A MOVE: Choosing Higher Education

In the UK, our lack of ‘presence’ has meant it’s difficult to be taken seriously by peers in the live events industry. My vision is an events company with an emphasis on the combining of design and live performance. In the USA, there’s opportunities with budgets/performance spaces and an appetite for development. However, tech partners have been unreliable and have basic knowledge. It is almost impossible to find companies/individuals with the skills or vision to develop this area. I aim to continue personal development to solve the issue between availability and opportunity but doesn’t have technical expertise to support it.

Presenter Midlife Mother Makes

Jayne Curry, UK/ USA

Curry is a master’s graduate in Live Event Design at the Academy of Live Technology. She’s a professional business owner in the cruise ship industry, developing high-quality entertainers in Europe for the American Cruising market. She’s Vice President of the Black Box Booking LLC in Florida providing live events.

Location

Room

Roundtable 2

Between the Education & the Floor

Provocation

Technical Education on the Floor

The specialist dual education is slowly entering the different European countries. How do we engage the sector to participate? How can educational organisations adapt? Is this the best of both worlds? And is this the keystone of future educational pathways?

Presenter

Chris Van Goethem, Belgium

Goethem became a stage manager through self-training and toured with many companies throughout Europe. He expanded his field to include teaching and consultancy in technical theatre. He advised on the development of professional profiles and qualifications, safety policy and training policy. His research field is the history of technical theater as a source of innovation. His research field is the history of technical theater as a source of innovation. Van Goethem is an internationalist and proud member of OISTAT. Vice-Chair of OISTAT Education Commission. 4Wall

Report

The ABTT’s MAKE A DIFFERENCE Conference

Bridging the gap between education and employment to make a better industry. In this presentation Mig will share more about this year’s 2024 MAKE A DiFFERENCE conference, where we hosted 100 industry guests from across the education and employment sector. Sharing more of the issues that each side feel they wanted to share so that everyone could better understand each other’s points of view. What education wanted employment to know, and what employment wanted education to understand. She will then share more about what some of the agreed actions and ideas were that came out of this proactive conference and how she hopes that both sides will work more together on improving our industry for all.

Presenter Mig Burges Walsh, UK

Mig is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Surrey teaching at the Guildford School of Acting on the Theatre production course. She is a trustee and Co-Chair of the ABTT, a trustee of Backup Tech, the technical backstage charity helping those in need. She is also a qualified Mental Health First Aid instructor. Mig has over 20 years’ experience in live entertainment and theatre production. Her passion is lighting, but she loves all aspects of the creative arts sector, designing, producing and making. She is at her happiest up a ladder focussing a light!

Location

4Wall Room Heritage: Past & Future

Panel 10 Paper

Your Heritage, Your Story: Interactive documentary as an inclusive storytelling practice to forefront migrant experiences of heritage in the UK

Your Heritage, Your Story is a space where migrant experiences are valued for their rich contribution to archaeology and personal heritage. Storytelling in archaeology and heritage has primarily been from a white, middle-class perspective. Britain has rapidly grown with migrant populations; these groups have not been represented in their sense of place and heritage. This practice of interactive documentary is an inclusive and creative storytelling model for voices of underrepresented recent migrants in the UK. It rethinks documentary filmmaking by adopting participatory processes for personal voices and self-representation.

Presenter

Zulfiya Hamzaki, India / UK

Hamzaki is a documentary filmmaker and practice-based PhD researcher at the University of York’s School of Arts and Creative Technologies. She led the research for XR-Stories funded interactive documentary project “Your Heritage, Your Story” with the Council for British Archaeology (CBA), looking at how digital storytelling can help achieve inclusivity in heritage through a practice-based, co-creative project with immigrants in the UK. Her research explores the intersection of documentaries and interactive media in migrant and immigrant stories in the USA, Native American issues and refugee resettlement in California’s Bay area.

Digital Archive: Cultural Heritage Sites as Virtual Reality Models

Digital archival of historic theatres using the reality capture process. I’m seeking to share the research I’ve been doing to document existing conditions of cultural heritage sites as virtual reality models and point cloud data sets. My efforts are to help create open-BIM, open-source documents of historic theatre buildings and stagecraft artifacts to help trace and preserve the evolution of entertainment architecture, design, and technology.

Presenter

Prof. Luker is a Technical Director & Asst. Professor at California State University Fullerton who archives the past with reality capture technologies. Active member of OISTAT Technology Commission.

Inspiration

WSD- World Stage Design: Reflecting on Future Heritage Professor JR Luker, USA

World Stage Design is a unique festival, an OISTAT project, which takes place every 4 years in a different country and region. It includes shows, workshops, a world congress and a large international exhibition of contemporary scenography: set design, costumes, lighting and sound. WSD is a live learning experience which provides a space for people to present, exchange and reflect on different ways of doing and thinking through the space and design for performance in different contexts, inviting to get out of the comfort zone.

Presenters

OISTAT Chairs, Vice Chairs and OISTAT members are invited to address the closing notes reflecting on the themes of the Symposium. Moderator: Dr Aby Cohen Location Closing Notes 4Wall Room

Professor April Viczko, Canada

Prof. Viczko has worked on over 100 productions during the last 30 years. April is a Department Chair, University of Alberta, Canada. She is a full member and past president of the Associated Designers of Canada. April is the project lead for World Stage Design 2022, which was co-hosted with CITT/ICTS at the University of Calgary. In 2000, she received a Tyrone Guthrie Award at the Stratford Festival of Canada, where she spent four seasons as an assistant designer. At UCalgary, April has received multiple awards for her teaching and research. April apprenticed in Rome, Italy with Scenotecnia Piu’, a company known for its fine craftsmanship and majestic scenography.

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