ASD Immersive Sound In Theatre
Panel Discussion
Weds 25th January 2023
10am-11.30pm GMT
Presented on Zoom
Immersive Theatre is becoming increasingly popular in our theatrical landscape in the UK and indeed the world.
Audio is an integral part of creating a fully immersive environment in this style of entertainment.
In this panel discussion, we will talk to Liam Mc Dermott (Alice's Adventures Underground), Luke Swaffield & Niamh Gaffney (Secret Cinema) about their experience of working with using sound in the context of promenade and immersive performance environments.
Panel to Include:
Liam Mc Dermott, Luke Swaffield & Niamh Gaffney
Chaired by Gareth Fry
Liam Mc Dermott (he/him)
Sound Designer
An alumnus of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Liam has been working in the professional entertainment industry for over a decade holding both creative and technical roles and across a wide range of productions. A regular collaborator with Les Enfants Terribles among others, Liam also consults for Virgin Voyages as Resident Sound Designer.
Sound Design credits include:
Alice’s Adventures Underground & Adventures in Wonderland, both in London & Shanghai, The Trench (Southwark Playhouse) and The Terrible Infants (Wilton’s Music Hall) for Les Enfants Terribles, Tamburlaine (Arcola) for Yellow Earth, Raymond Briggs’ The Bear for Pins & Needles (The Albany), Crows on the Wire for Verbal Arts Northern Ireland (Touring), The Last 5 Years and The Sunshine Boys for Life In Theatre Productions (Epstein Theatre, Liverpool), and Call Mr. Robeson (Touring)
Liam’s recent Associate Sound Design credits include:
Choir of Man (West End, UK & International Touring), The Book Thief (Bolton Octagon) Kan Yama Kan (Global Theatre, The Boulevard, Riyadh KSA) and Secret Cinema’s ‘Casino Royale’ in Shanghai.
Luke Swaffield (He/Him) – Autograph Sound
Sound Designer
Graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama Stage Management and Technical Theatre in 2008.
Luke specialises in; immersive, site specific and ‘non-linear’ performances as both a sound designer and show control programmer. Luke has been the sound designer and head of sound for Secret Cinema since 2016 and has worked with them throughout London as well as transfers to the US and China. Most recently Luke has designed Bridgerton and Guardians of the Galaxy for Secret Cinema, Peaky Blinders: The Rise and Dr Who Time Fracture for Immersive Everywhere plus Monopoloy-Lifesized and Saw: The Escape Experience for The Path Entertainment Group.
Luke enjoys most the challenge of Immersive Theatre, taming often difficult acoustic spaces and having multiple rooms running simultaneously. Luke loves the ability to use sound to move and transport the audience to a new location or time and to use sound to help truly involve the audience in the world of the show they are experiencing. For Luke the important thing with immersive theatre is to keep the technology as transparent as possible and disguise speakers/microphones as much as possible so the audience can truly believe the world they are inhabiting.
Niamh Gaffney (She/They) – Autograph Sound
Associate Sound Designer/Programmer
Graduated from LAMDA Production & Technical Arts: Sound Design 2020
Previous Immersive Credits include;
Cabaret Pre-Show (Kit Kat Klub London), Secret Cinema presents Bridgeton & Guardians of the Galaxy and Immersive Everywhere Peaky Blinders: The Rise
“What Niamh enjoys most about an immersive project is the opportunity, and ability, to influence a member of the audience’s feelings as they move from one room to the next. Most spaces can have a large contrast between them so you can influence the energy of this experience, creating interesting worlds. The difference in these experiences between theatre is sometimes you want the audience to engage and mix with the performance adding to the energy in the room for the audience to join in.”
Please note, the ASD reserves the right to make changes to the programme without prior notice. Such alterations may occasionally be necessary due to circumstances beyond our control.
All events will be filmed and photographed - your presence confirms your permission for the ASD to use any images or recordings of you in our publicity materials and seminar archive.
The ASD does not accept responsibility for anyone acting as a result of information or views expressed on its training courses including course material. Opinions expressed are those of individual trainers and not necessarily those of the ASD. Participants should take professional advice when dealing with specific situations.
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