Immersive Storytelling, Shared Across Borders
by Judi Alston
I had the pleasure of joining the XR Women Global community in the ENGAGE platform to present a talk Immersive Storytelling for Social Change: Exploring XR, Empathy and Impact.
Judi Alston showing “The Poppitech Exception” to XR Women
This was my first time presenting in a virtual space, both as an avatar and to an audience of avatars. The talk brought together work from One to One Development Trust and Dreaming Methods, exploring how XR, film and game-based storytelling can connect audiences with lived experience, memory, place and underrepresented voices.
I shared projects including The Peace Garden, The Abandoned Library, Revealed: Triptych and Streets of Change, using 360 extracts so the audience could experience the work together rather than simply hear me describe it. My long-term collaborator and creative partner Andy Campbell supported the presentatio I n, smoothly assembling and curating the changing 360 environments so that each project had its own atmosphere and sense of place.
We were also joined by Chloe the Canary from Revealed - Triptych, who appeared as a 3D visitor within the virtual space. Her presence brought a playful and symbolic element into the conversation, helping connect the talk with the virtual world around us.
The warmth and generosity of the XR Women community made the event memorable. I am particularly grateful to Karen for the care she gave to helping us prepare the 360 space so that it worked exactly as we had hoped.
"“Streets of Change” Presented
Because of a current eye condition, I was unable to use a VR headset myself. I had wondered whether that might leave me feeling a bit detached, but the opposite was true. Even viewing and navigating the space on screen with the presence of the audience and our shared togetherness through the changing environments felt genuinely immersive.
26 people joined the event, representing eight countries: the UK, US, Canada, Brazil, Peru, Israel, India and Mexico. That international mix brought real value. Immersive work may begin with a particular person, place or community, but the conversations it generates can travel much further when opportunities allow.
XR Women audience exploring “The Abandoned Library”
The chance to meet the audience and the Q&A was a real highlight. The thoughtful questions opened up conversations around storytelling, empathy, access and collaboration.
Thank you to everyone who joined and contributed. I hope to attend many more XR Women events and, when my eye allows, return wearing a headset to experience the virtual space from within.
Revealed “Trtiptych” being shown to XR Women
