Entertainment: Joe Fuller

Plunge down the rabbit hole with virtual reality from #TOMTech & Brighton Digital Festival

I’ve had a few virtual reality experiences before that have been fun and intriguing: the sense of agency and immersion is striking and the possibilities are potentially thrilling. Brighton Digital Festival and #TOMTech’s VRLab will take over the whole of the Old Market with over 15 different experiences so we’ll be able to explore what the exciting new technology can offer us.

‘In The Eyes Of The Animal’ (pictured) for example is an animated film told from the viewpoints of the inhabitants of the forest, focusing on the life cycle of three different species. The work uses Oculus Rift, which is considered one of the best Headsets on the market, so it should be a high quality representation of VR if you are new to the form.

The sense of agency and immersion is striking

The festival also features Pattern Recognition, which utilises a system of moving lights that can respond to the dancers it observes. The new work is a collaboration between choreographer Alexander Whitley and digital artist Memo Akten, and the duet includes a score from electronic composer Scanner and cellist Oliver Coates. The piece has been described as “a ravishing synthesis of light and movement” by the Financial Times so I’m looking forward to seeing some beguiling dance at an affordable rate.

Check out the website below to find out more about the complete programme, which also includes SuperEverything (a live cinema performance project by The Light Surgeons on Sat 24 Sep) and Hacked On Classics (a celebration of classic ’80s gadgets on Wed 28 Sep).

VRLab & In The Eyes Of The Animal, 16-18 September, £10/£15
Pattern Recognition, Fri 23 September, 7.30pm, £12.50
theoldmarket.com