XR-Research Symposium
June 17, 2026
Rose Bruford College
Sidcup, Southeast London
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa-jisc.exe?A2=ART-TECHNOLOGY;f0beb81a.2604

Deadline for submission of proposals: May 4, 2026

Rose Bruford College is hosting a symposium to bring together academics, artists and technologists using XR technologies for research in theatre and performance.

The use of XR (augmented/mixed/virtual reality) tools and techniques is now well-established in many fields of artistic practice and academic enquiry, from their use to make various kinds of digital performance to VR reconstructions of historic theatres. Through this one-day symposium, we want to bring together academics and practitioners to share, discuss and explore how XR can be used for performance research, to ask questions such as:

• How does research into digital performance that uses XR technologies differ from other kinds of research? What methodologies are useful?
• How can XR technologies be used to investigate performance histories?
• What are the barriers to making XR performances accessible to all users?
• How can artists and technologists working with XR engage with and benefit from research in universities?

We are seeking contributions to the event in one of two forms:

20-MINUTE PRESENTATIONS:
Presentations about research projects making use of XR technologies, in the field of theatre and performance. We encourage proposals for presentations about projects involving collaborations between academics and practitioners.

Please submit proposals of up to 300 words, with 100-word biographies of the presenter(s).

40-MINUTE DEMONSTRATIONS:
Demonstrations of research projects using XR technologies in the field of theatre and performance. We encourage demonstrations that enable some or all the audience to participate interactively, though this is not a requirement. The symposium will take place in the College’s Digital Studio, which has an LED volume, motion capture, green screen, lighting and sound facilities. We appreciate that XR research may involve a very wide range of technologies, not all of which we will be able to support in the context of this event. Please include as much information as possible about what you will need to help guide the selection process.

Please submit proposals of up to 300 words, with 100-word biographies of the presenter(s) and detailed technical requirements needed to support your demonstration.

Please send proposals to research@bruford.ac.uk.

DATES:

Deadline for proposals: Monday 4th May 2026
Confirmation of acceptance: Wednesday 13th June 2026

THE SYMPOSIUM:

Wednesday 17th June 2026, 10:30-17:30
Rose Bruford College, Sidcup, DA15 9DF

Ticketing arrangements for this free event will be announced soon.

Best wishes,

Nick.

—
Dr Nick Hunt (he/him)
Professor of Lighting Design and Performance Technologies
Senior Research Fellow
Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance
nick.hunt@bruford.ac.uk
https://bruford.academia.edu/NickHuntwww.photoscenography.org.uk