From 2022 to 2024 I led on the UK side a collaboration between academic researchers, heritage organisations, and Mixed Reality developers in UK and US to explore ways of fusing Theatre and Mixed Reality design to create immersive heritage performances that support the decolonisation of heritage sites with a focus on underrepresented stories of the 18th century transatlantic slave trade. Our two Mixed Reality Heritage Performances took place in 2023 in both heritage sites. They are the world first fusion of Immersive Reality and Theatre and the project was nominated for the prestigious Museums+Heritage Awards for Best use of Digital category.

Two experiences were created, one at the site of Historic Deerfield in Massachussets, USA and one at Marble Hill House, London, UK. The research exemplifies a model for interdisciplinary collaboration that brings together historians, immersive technology designers, digital storytellers, performance makers, cultural heritage researchers, on- site staff, and marginalised communities at each heritage site.

The research furthers future transatlantic industry innovation by providing heritage professionals, and their creative industry partners, with two toolkits:

1) a design framework to help ideate and develop, in collaboration with technologists, experiences that use MR and live performance to reframe complicated and uncomfortable histories that serve to challenge hegemonic power structures at heritage sites.

2) a training toolkit for heritage staff and performers, that can help the heritage industry build digital capacity, create sustainable engagement with hybrid technological experiences as tools for decolonising museum sites, teach them innovative theatrical techniques in working with MR platforms, and explore emerging digital and performance skill sets and roles.

PI UK: Dr Mariza Dima (CBASS)

Co-Is UK: Dr Damon Daylamani-Zad (CDEPS) & Dr Holly Maples (University of Essex)

UK partner: Dr Dominique Bouchard, Head of Interpretation, English Heritage

PI US: Dr Mary Caulfield (State University of New York)

US partners: Dr Barbara Mathews, Director, Historic Deerfield & Dr Vangelis Lympouridis, CEO, Enosis VR