Interactive theatre experience uses VR

An immersive experience that tells a father and son’s story about coming to terms with dementia.

Virtual reality has changed the way companies can interact with its target audience. Once the workings of futuristic fiction, VR has integrated into a multitude of industries to expand the consumer experience and offer something a little different. Springwise has written of a variety of ways in which the technology can otherwise function. This includes via an app to help learner drivers and also by an airline to streamline the seat selection process. The possibilities for VR manipulation are endless, making it an exciting side of technology for businesses to explore.

VR has even taken to the stage. UK agency Limbik utilised the technology as part of its interactive theatre experience, Fatherland. The experience uses real-time motion capture and VR technology to bring the journey of a son and father to life. The pair come to terms with dementia and disembodiment in a modern world.

Digital Catapult and Art Council England named Limbik one of the 20 CreativeXR teams to watch at the start of the year. CreativeXR is a new programme enabling the UK’s arts and cultural sector to lead the field in immersive content creation and digital innovation. The agency received funding to expand its immersive projects and gained access to Digital Catapult Immersive Labs in London, Brighton, North East Tees Valley and Belfast. Fatherland was created using HTC Vive trackers, IKinema Orion and Live Action, and Epic’s Unreal Engine. Immersive experiences are becoming a popular way for charities, startups and corporations to connect with an audience that may not otherwise understand its offering.

This innovation has also been featured in the report ‘The Future of Immersive Content’, which was inspired by recent research conducted by our partner Digital Catapult, the UK’s leading advanced digital technology innovation centre. Download the full report here.