Studio/Lab played a pivotal role in shaping the technical and emotional landscape of Humira Imtiaz’s immersive XR performance, The Kids Are Halal (But The Pub Isn’t). Blending motion capture, spatial audio and immersive storytelling, the project reimagines the childhood of two working-class, South Asian Muslim siblings growing up in 1990s Yorkshire. From their council estate bedroom, they transform the culturally off-limits pub below into a Bollywood-inspired dreamscape to explore memory, belonging and imagination. 

Supported by an Immersive Arts Experiment grant, the research and development phase focused on building a 15-20 minute interactive mixed reality prototype using hand tracking and spatial sound. Studio/Lab’s professional sound facilities were central to this process.

“The dedicated use of Studio Lab at FACT was instrumental for Kids Are Halal… Utilising the dedicated sound editing studio was a game-changer… allowing us to meticulously craft the audio environment from immersive pub ambience to intimate monologues.”

Access to high-quality recording space enabled the team to refine spatial audio as the emotional backbone of the piece. The Lab’s flexible layout now supports ongoing technical refinement ahead of a 2026 sharing, allowing Humira to test a fully realised prototype in an intimate setting and gain vital audience feedback.

For Gregory, Studio/Lab at FACT became a space to experiment, prototype and test ideas in real time while developing The Hum, a multispecies opera exploring how collaborative storytelling might inspire action in the face of climate emergency.

At the centre of the project are handheld interactive devices called “conductors” that guide participants through visual and sonic experiences responding to real-time environmental data. Studio/Lab’s sound-recording facilities and 3D printing equipment enabled Gregory to prototype these devices and collaborate closely with sound artists, creative coders and data analysts.

“Studio/Lab was a key factor in helping me realise my ideas from start to finish. Their sound-recording facilities and 3D printer enabled me to effectively collaborate with the artists involved. The team is incredibly friendly and supportive, which gave me the confidence to experiment and develop the work using new equipment."

Through access to tools, mentorship and technical support, Studio/Lab became a springboard for accelerating Gregory’s practice into creative coding, real-time data and immersive storytelling beyond the gallery context.

Sarah Green was awarded funding to explore virtual and augmented reality through her project Lost and Found in the Forest, a 360-degree accessible audio-visual storytelling experience combining immersive video and binaural sound.

Initially, Sarah saw immersive technologies as a daunting gap in her skill set: “I have always felt stifled by my lack of expertise and knowledge in this area, and I feel that the funding will allow me to experiment with a whole new range of possibilities.”

She developed new technical capabilities using audio recording, editing and production equipment to experiment with 360° and binaural sound. She also tested projection methods to explore how the work might be presented, and used 3D printing to prototype movement-reactive speakers.

After this period of research and skill development, Sarah joined Studio/Lab as an Artist Member, where she continues to develop her practice with immersive technologies. Reflecting on the experience, she said: “There is a whole world of possibilities in immersive arts, which is growing and developing every day, and this has been a really enriching experience for me both personally and as a creative professional.”

For Sarah, Studio/Lab has become a space to close the knowledge gap, continue her learning, and to transform uncertainty into experimentation.