Summit25
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Program
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Session

Big tech/Small tech: Technology, Play, and the Art of Interaction

Weds
Workshop

A decade of immersive experiences have been defined by “big tech”, but what role should technology really play in immersive experiences for the next decade?

Join Deterministic’s Theo Holloway, and Ivan Carić, director of Lemon Difficult, for a lively conversation exploring the balance between technological complexity and audience playfulness. Drawing on contrasting approaches — Deterministic’s technology-rich environments and Lemon Difficult’s stripped-back, playful designs — we’ll ask:

  • When is technology an enabler, and when is it a barrier to great work?
  • How can we encourage play as an entry point for audiences new to immersive work?
  • And how do we, as creators, decide which tools — from elaborate show-control systems to the simplest of props — best support the kinds of connection we want to spark?

This session won’t just talk about interactivity; it will embody it. Expect a conversational, workshop-style format with plenty of space for audience voices.

Workshops have limited availability and must be booked in advanced. Booking will be made available on the event app ahead of the Summit dates.

Ivan Carić
Lemon Difficult Studio

Ivan is the founder and Creative Director of Lemon Difficult Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed overnight 24 hour immersive shows The Key of Dreams and The Locksmith’s Dream.

Before starting Lemon Difficult Studios, he worked for a couple of decades experience in process design, operations, business improvement for large corporates. A few years ago following the death of his father during Covid he decided to completely change career and look to bring some delight and wonder into the world.

Blending immersive theatre, narrative puzzles, fine dining and an open world, Ivan is fascinated by the possibilities of how technology, performers, props and the audience can create incredible opportunities for emergent play and dramatic moments in settings where people can go anywhere.

Theo Holloway
Deterministic Limited

Theo is a creative technologist and director of Deterministic Ltd, where he leads the development of Wintermute, a show-control platform powering world-leading immersive productions since 2018. He also works as a sound designer and composer, mostly for immersive entertainment and theatre, with a particular interest in room-scale 3D audio.

He was playing computer games before it was cool.

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