Rose Bruford College opens 'extended reality' stage for design students

Rose Bruford College has opened its ‘extended reality’ stage, which will help students learn about immersive technologies and is being billed as the first facility of its kind in a UK drama school. 

Extended reality refers to technologies that can provide digital enhancement or expansion of the real world, such as virtual reality headsets.

The XR Stage has a permanent home at the drama school’s Sidcup campus and has been funded using money from a £1.9 million grant from the Office for Students. 

It was officially opened last week at a launch event by acting principal Mary Oliver, who also revealed upgrades to lighting, audio and IT systems that were made possible by the grant. 

Oliver said: "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."

The stage will be used as a training resource for students on Rose Bruford’s existing technical and performance courses, as well as for research and development, and live and recorded events. 

The college is also launching a course in September called Design for Performance, which will make use of the resource and will see students explore and then specialise in design for set and costume, lighting, film, virtual production, gaming or virtual reality experiences.

The XR Stage uses supplier White Light’s SmartStage technology, which integrates film and broadcast technologies and can be reconfigured for future work. 

White Light business development consultant Sarah Cox said: "This incredible facility has been designed with deep consideration at every step and is equipped to provide a great framework for learning and exploration within virtual production and immersive technologies."