Virtual Horizons

By Jack Chamberlain

Jack Chamberlain, producer and director, collaborated with playwright Maureen Lennon to create Virtual Horizons, which explores the future of Hull’s landscape through the mediums of virtual reality (VR) and theatre.

Virtual Horizons was co-created with local communities following conversations about sustainability and the long-term impacts of climate change on their city.

Jack used the CRISS Tool to enhance the storytelling aspects of his project, ensuring that the narratives were grounded in accurate, evidence-based information about climate and sustainability issues.

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How it was done

Approach

We began by collaborating closely with Jack to understand his vision and the specific themes he wanted to explore in “Virtual Horizons.” The CriSS Tool was used to guide the development of the narrative, focusing on key areas such as the critical content, audience engagement, and the broader context of sustainability.

Research informed storytelling

We worked with Jack to incorporate data from climate studies and local environmental reports into the script and VR experiences.

Co-creating climate stories with communities for audiences

We supported Jack’s adaptation of the CRISS Tool for community workshops and to encourage participants to reflect on their own experiences and views on sustainability. This helped to make the co-creation process more relatable and impactful.

Making sense of climate change

The CRISS Tool helped Jack and Maureen place the stories within a wider narrative of global climate challenges, linking local issues in Hull to broader environmental trends and actions

What was achieved

Results

The use of the CriSS Tool enhanced the “Virtual Horizons” project, making it a more comprehensive and engaging experience for participants. The narratives were praised for their depth and accuracy, successfully raising awareness about sustainability in the Hull community.

Increased Engagement

Audience members reported a high level of engagement with the VR and theatre elements, noting that the integration of research evidence made the experience both educational and immersive.

Positive Feedback

The project received positive feedback from both the community and environmental experts. Testimonials highlighted the effectiveness of using VR and theatre to communicate complex climate issues in an accessible manner.

How it helped

Outcomes

“Perhaps what I enjoyed most was the emotional aspect, and the difficulty of assuming responsibility while knowing that really our fate is in the hands of governments worldwide. It made me feel more ready to take action in the future” – Audience member

‘Virtual Horizons’ spurred local discussions on sustainability, leading to increased interest in community-led environmental initiatives.

What they said...

"We took a simplified version of the CRISS tool into the community sessions to help us criticise our own work, facilitating-reflexivity and analysis."

Jack Chamberlain

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