Mixed Reality Heritage Performance (MRHP) is an innovative approach that fuses smart AR glasses (e.g., Microsoft HoloLens 2) with live theatre to create immersive, story-driven experiences within heritage sites. Two flagship performances (US/UK) were designed to explore the design of socially impactful, participatory storytelling, with a focus on hidden and difficult histories of the transatlantic slave trade. Drawing on the insights and evaluations of these two performances, I will outline key design considerations for creating a responsive cyber-physical space that engages audiences emotionally.

Speaker:

Mariza Dima is an interaction designer with experience in XR and games design. She is Associate Professor in Games Design at Brunel University London and the director of the Brunel Games Research Lab, a space for interdisciplinary research in applied/serious games, interactive storytelling, ludomusicology, and immersive reality.  Equipped with abundant curiosity and an interdisciplinary background in applied mathematics, Human-Computer Interaction design (HCI), and media and games studies, she explores the design processes of meaningful, engaging, seamless experiences with games and digital technologies in different contexts. She has worked with physical, mobile, haptic and Mixed Reality interfaces to serve interactions in performance art, cultural heritage and social innovation with social justice as a drive.