Swinburne's Centre for Transformative Media Technologies is bringing First Nations stories to life as the host of the Extended Reality Black Theatre (XRBT) program.
The virtual and augmented-reality (VR/AR) based immersive theatre experience is bringing Australian First Nations story worlds into hybrid physical/digital spaces.
Using real-time motion capture, 3D projection mapping and ambisonic sound driven live by performers, the project aims to prototype indigenous content for potential future XR technology such as smart glasses using today's technology as a base.
Troy Russell (Biripai/Kamilaroi) is the artistic director and founder of the concept, which is bringing the works of his mother, artist Elaine Russell, to life.
Elaine Russell created work that captures mission life, such as attending school and routine inspection days, animated in her bold and colourful style.
Director of the Centre for Transformative Media Technologies, Professor John McCormick explained how people's movements are tracked and understood along with real-time modelling and understanding of the physical environment surrounding the performers.
"We are using motion capture to track the actors and using their movement to animate 3D versions of characters from Elaine Russell's books and paintings. The actors embody those amazing characters and scenes," he said.
"The audience gets to see all this unfolding in real-time before their eyes as the scenes come to life."
"We aim to seamlessly combine the virtual and the real environments to generate totally unique stories and experiences from the blend of traditional artforms and emerging technology.
"Visual and sonic outputs are spatially positioned in the performance venue so the distinction between physical and digital becomes fluid if not irrelevant."
Professor McCormick said he is thrilled to be working with Tim Leha (Kamilaroi/Tongan) as the media and story consultant and Adam Nash (Ally, Melbourne) as the VR/mixed reality performance consultant.
"This project will prototype these future indigenous theatre experiences using the motion capture and game engine technology that allows deployment of the same content, live in real-time or recorded and played-back, online via 'game worlds', as well as scaling from large urban theatres to small remote venues," he said.
"We aim to empower young Black creatives and performers across Australia to develop the skills and knowledge of these digital tools to encourage a new genre of mixed reality Black performance, futuristic and ancient at the same time."
The project will consult with Moogahlin Performing Arts in Sydney, and a range of indigenous writers, musicians, performers and dancers. Funding for the project has been procured from Creative Australia.
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