Theatres Trust support our virtual ‘theatregoing’ project

Virtual reality performances for those who cannot go to the theatre

We’re using cutting edge virtual reality technology to make shows more accessible for those who cannot attend the theatre. 

Wearing headsets, these ‘theatregoers’ will view immersive recordings which make the experience as close as possible to watching a live show in the theatre with an audience. 

A £4,753 grant from the Theatres Trust is helping us buy cameras, headsets and equipment for the project.  

People who can’t go to the theatre building in the city centre will watch the recording wearing a headset. The experience will feel as if they are sitting in the audience, able to see other theatregoers if they turn their head. 

“The idea is to replicate the live theatre experience as much as possible,” said Chief Executive Tom Bird. “This is a cutting edge digital project aimed at those facing barriers to attending the theatre in person, making shows more widely accessible.” 

The grant was part of £49k given to 10 theatres by Theatres Trust, through its partnership with the Linbury Trust, to ten UK theatres to make essential repairs and improvements to enhance accessibility, sustainability measures and facilities. 

The project harnesses cutting edge technology to build on research and development already under way. The theatre has been working with York University-based XR Stories to develop this concept and across two trials have fine-tuned a methodology for producing immersive recordings. 

“Our aim is to build on this by installing a VR camera system in the theatre and purchase equipment to deliver these experiences to small groups in our community,” explained Mr Bird. 

The immediate aim is to take the theatre’s work out to members of the community that are not able to visit the theatre in person. This could be people who are still fearful of crowds due to coronavirus, people with specific mental health needs, people unable to travel to the theatre, people in care homes, or inpatients in hospitals.  

Over the next two months, the VR recording of The Coppergate Woman, York Theatre Royal’s community production staged at the theatre in the summer, will be taken to The Hut and the Kyra Women’s Project, and used as part of a drop in at York Theatre Royal for the International Day of Older People. 

“We see the combination of this technology with our ability to tell important and engaging stories as a pathway for those that feel there are barriers to them attending the theatre. It can engage a far broader young audience, remove social-economic barriers and provide a safe way for neuro-diverse individuals to experience theatre,” Mr Bird added. 

“Over time, we aim to reach larger and more diverse audiences to increase access and engage more of our community but also leverage the commerciality of the concept and provide greater financial stability to the  theatre. 

“The secondary aim is to build relationships with organisations in Yorkshire that specialise in digital media and work towards new and exciting immersive performance content. 

“As York is a UNESCO City of Media Arts, potential partners with the city and region are working at the leading edge of immersive and interactive storytelling. Having the equipment necessary to build partnerships with exciting young companies will enable us to develop a new strand of digitally enhanced performance art that will grow as available technology progresses.”