Rose Bruford College has opened its ‘extended reality’ (XR) stage, offering design students further opportunities to learn about immersive technologies.
Billed as the first facility of its kind in a UK drama school, the stage has a permanent home at the institution’s Sidcup campus, and provides students with digital enhancements, such as virtual reality headsets.
In September, a new Design for Performance course will be launching at the school and make use of the resource. Students taking part will explore the use of the stage, and then specialise in design for set, costume, lighting, film, virtual production, gaming, or virtual reality experiences.
Acting principal Mary Oliver opened the new stage at its launch event in mid-January, saying: ‘This future-facing investment follows in the college’s long history of being the first in the field to develop innovative degree-level technical courses.
‘We are the only drama school in the UK with this resource currently, and it demonstrates our understanding of how the theatre crafts are expanding into a wide range of media production sectors.’