Shifting Screens: The Future of Immersive | XR Innovate Masterclass 1
Online Panel
Admission: Free
Admission
Free
Run Times & Intervals
1pm–2.30pm (including 30 minutes for participant Q&A)
Age Guidance
18+
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What does the future of immersive media look like — and who’s shaping it?
Panel: Marshmallow Laser Feast, Verity McIntosh and Gareth Fry, chaired by Nigel McAlpine
The opening masterclass in a month-long series sets the tone for the XR Innovate programme by exploring where immersive technologies are heading creatively, culturally, and practically.
As digital tools become increasingly embedded across film, theatre, gaming, and live performance, this panel brings together leading voices in immersive arts, sound design, academia, and innovation to reflect on the state of the sector.
The conversation will investigate how XR is redefining audience engagement, expanding the boundaries of storytelling, and shifting traditional creative workflows. The session will also touch on the challenges of working across disciplines and sectors, and how artists and technologists can future-proof their practices.
Aimed at anyone working or experimenting in immersive forms, this session offers inspiration, clarity, and honest reflections from those helping to shape the medium’s future.
Meet Marshmallow Laser Feast
Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF) is an experiential art collective known for their genre-defying work at the intersection of art, science and technology. Their groundbreaking immersive experiences — ranging from large-scale installations to virtual reality works—use spatial sound, LiDAR scanning, real-time rendering and environmental data to reveal the unseen.
Notable projects include Treehugger, We Live in an Ocean of Air, and Sweet Dreams, which premiered at Tribeca Festival and ArtScience Museum Singapore. MLF’s work invites audiences to reimagine their relationship with the natural world through visceral, poetic encounters.
Meet Verity McIntosh
Verity McIntosh is Associate Professor of Virtual & Extended Realities at UWE Bristol and Principal Investigator for the UK-wide Immersive Arts programme. With a background in digital performance and participatory media, Verity’s work bridges research and practice, supporting artists and organisations to push creative boundaries with immersive technologies. She has contributed to internationally recognised research into ethics, liveness, and inclusivity within immersive experience design.
Meet Gareth Fry
Gareth Fry is an Olivier and Tony Award-winning sound designer best known for his work on productions such as The Encounter, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. With a particular interest in immersive audio and storytelling, Gareth has been a creative force in the development of spatial sound for both stage and VR environments. He is the author of Sound Design for the Stage, and a frequent collaborator on projects that push the boundaries of sonic experience.
Meet Nigel McAlpine (Chair)
Nigel is an experienced and innovative digital content producer with a passion for spatial computing. During 30 years at the BBC he produced unique digital projects, leading teams within BBC Sport, BBC Technology, BBC News and BBC Knowledge & Learning and in partnership with companies within the creative industries. His current role with Digital Catapult sees him engage with a wide range of companies, industry stakeholders and individuals to highlight the potential of Immersive Technology in driving innovative business opportunities in Northern Ireland and beyond.
About the XR Innovate Programme
The XR Innovate training programme is open to a wide range of creatives including those from the screen industries looking to transition into immersive technologies or pursue CPD opportunities, those eager to explore immersive in their creative practice, and students and graduates seeking to gain practical skills to begin their careers.
Funders
The XR Innovate programme is funded by Northern Ireland Screen, supported by the BFI and The National Lottery.
