‘Within Touching Distance’ launched earlier this year at the International Sheffield DocFest, developed by ZU-UK in collaboration with the University of Greenwich’s Learning and Simulation Centre, Centre for Creative Futures, Practice Hub, and external support from Liverpool Cares, DadaFest, InnovateUK and the Arts Council England.
DaDa and ZU-UK welcome an invited audience of stakeholders from the arts and immersive theatre sector to experience ‘Within Touching Distance’ hosted at LJMU on 6th July. The event has been developed as part of ZU-UK’s continued commitment to research and development on this project and improving accessibility
The unique, patient-developed production takes one audience member at a time through a journey from childhood to old age through the medium of a bedtime routine.
‘Within Touching Distance’ is part of a wider research project exploring the potential of remote haptic technologies, in the under-realised area of touch, for nurses and carers, co-designing sound and 360º video to explore the potential in healthcare simulation training and digital mental health therapy settings.
The project was recently winner of Inclusive Innovation Awards 2023 (Innovate UK) and shortlisted for the Unlimited International Partner Awards 2023, and the International Alternate Realities Competition at Sheffield DocFest.
The practice research project was also presented at Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology: Infrastructure Roundtable.
Writer and director Persis JadéMaravala, said: “Touch is important in human development, it unlocks the automatic response system of the body to recognise safety and is therefore an important tool in the treatment of mental illness and trauma. As a patient now in recovery myself, it helps with the lingering effects of depersonalisation and derealisation. We wanted to explore this through Within Touching Distance, combining touch with the synchronised use of VR in order to invite audiences to experience empathy through human contact.”
ZU-UK is an established multi award-winning disabled-led theatre and digital arts non-profit organisation based in Newham and Liverpool and creates interactive experiences using games, performanceand technology.
Executive Producer at DaDaFest Rachel Rogers said: “We are thrilled to co-host this innovative performance with LJMU. Through linking with ZU-UK we are continuing our commitment to work with disabled led organisations from outside Liverpool, connecting with and learning from oragnisationswho have digital expertise beyond our own and bringing an award winning performance to a local audience. We are keen to continue to work in depth with diverse communities and develop impactful immersive and inclusive projects inspired by this in the future.”
You can find out more about the project here:
#WithinTouchingDistanceVR