Performance Lab: Innovating Practice-led Research and Development in Immersive and Digital Technologies in Theatre and Performance

皇家中央演讲和戏剧学院（中央）将更新和升级其设施，并推出表演实验室，这将成为沉浸式和数字技术的戏剧和表演研究和开发的催化剂。作为一家小型专业机构，Central已经与行业合作伙伴合作开展了世界领先的研究，正如我们的REF2021（2021年卓越研究框架）结果所证明的那样，我们是排名第一的小型专业机构，我们75%的研究评级为4*。随着我们设施的升级，我们的目标是加强中央在应用戏剧和表演，沉浸式和参与式实践，声音和音频表演以及数字表演者培训中沉浸式和数字技术的实践主导研发能力，以提高我们的知名度和弹性，并通过与外部合作伙伴合作，支持英国的创意和文化经济。我们的研究目前通过知识交流翻译与整个剧院和表演行业及其他领域的外部合作伙伴，包括NHS信托，博物馆和遗产组织。这笔资金将使性能实验室的推出，以支持沉浸式和数字技术的挑战主导研究的发展，这将巩固我们目前的研究，并扩大其影响范围，可见性和可持续性。这笔投资将使中环能够提升我们的表演和媒体设施，推出表演实验室，加强现有的合作伙伴关系，并在文化产业中建立新的联系，增强我们目前的知识交流能力，促进和促进外部使用中环的设施进行产业研究和发展，并在使用和商业利用创意产品方面提供专业发展。研究与开发（R&D）将为剧院和表演产生原创的创意方法和新形式的沉浸式声音和XR，并使Central能够支持外部合作伙伴的研发。由Central的研究人员、技术和媒体经理以及行业合作伙伴组成的性能实验室咨询委员会将确保其工作在研究领域保持相关性，并可供外部合作伙伴使用。沉浸式和数字化方法在戏剧和表演研究中的应用在英国具有巨大的增长潜力。为了跟上行业发展的步伐，中环将通过升级现有设施，在创意和文化经济中发挥重要作用。

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (Central) will renew and upgrade its facilities and launch Performance lab, which will act as a catalyst for research and development in Theatre and Performance in immersive and digital technologies. As a small specialist institution, Central is already producing world-leading research in collaboration with industry partners, as demonstrated by our REF2021 (Research Excellence Framework 2021) results in which we were the top-ranking small specialist institution with 75% of our research graded 4*. With the upgrade of our facilities, our aim is to enhance Central's practice-led research and development capabilities in immersive and digital technologies in applied theatre and performance, immersive and participatory practices, sound and audio performance, and digital performer training to increase our visibility and resilience, and, through working with external partners, to support the UK's creative and cultural economy. Our research is currently translated through Knowledge Exchange with external partners across the theatre and performance industry and beyond, including NHS trusts, museums, and heritage organisations. The funding will enable the launch of Performance Lab to support the development of challenge-led research in immersive and digital technologies, which will both consolidate our current research and extends its reach, visibility, and sustainability. The investment will enable Central to upgrade our performance and media facilities, launch Performance Lab, strengthen existing partnerships and generate new links in cultural industries, augment our current Knowledge Exchange capabilities, promote and facilitate the external use of Central's facilities for industry research and development, and provide professional development in the use and commercial exploitation of creative outputs. Research and development (R&D) will generate original creative approaches and new forms of immersive sound and XR for theatre and performance and enable Central to support R&D for external partners. An Advisory Board for Performance Lab comprising Central's researchers, Technical and Media Managers, and industry partners will ensure its work remains relevant in the research landscape and accessible to external partners. The application of immersive and digital methods to theatre and performance research has significant potential for growth in the UK. In order to keep pace with industry advancements, Central will make a major impact in the creative and cultural economy through the upgrade of our current facilities.