KZB340 Performing in Immersive Environments

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Performing in Immersive Environments extends your artistry as a physical performer. This unit incorporates a range of physical practices to enhance your embodied intelligence and kinaesthetic awareness for performing in contexts such as virtual production, motion capture, immersive and/or interactive performance with and without technology, and/or with audiences. 

The focus of this unit is the role of the performer as co-creator and the skills required for performers to be effective in these expanding contexts. You will learn techniques of the body and perspectives such as; performer as guide; creating scores for improvisation; how to create processes to sustain ongoing physical enquiry during development; and how to create meaningful engagement between yourself/performer, collaborators, the environment/s and audiences. 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Develop embodied intelligence as a performer within immersive and interactive contexts
2. Interpret and develop dynamic, immersive, and interactive performance systems using a range of technologies in various contexts
3. Develop collaborative skills with human and non-human agents in response to their feedback
4. Contextualise your practice as a performer in digially immersive environments with reference to relevant historical, creative, and and industry contexts

Content

Learning Approaches

You will engage in practical workshops that will support your understanding of physical practices and contexts for working as a performer in immersive and interactive contexts as well as contextualising these practices within the broader iacademic and professional field. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Iterative feedback will be provided within the workshops via self reflection, peers and academic staff. Written feedback will be provided for each assessment item by academic staff. 

Assessment

Overview

Over the course of the semester you will develop skills and understanding of performance practice in immersive environments. In the early part of the semester you will participate in weekly workshops and lecture focussed on establishing core skills and knowledges required to develop and perform immersive works. This culminates in assessment 1 where you will individually deliver a work in progress that makes use of the techniques explored in the workshops along with a practical demonstration of the processess and methods you have explored. 

Following assessment 1 you will form groups of 3-4 to commence development of an immersive performance work. You group will  work independently on a conceptual framework for the work before classes recommence in the final weeks of semester. During the final four weeks, you will work intensively with your group to refine your work and present your performance outcome for assessment 2.   

For Assessment 3, you will individually submit an artist statement that contexualises your perspectives on the work presented for Assessment 2 and the processes involved in creating it. Your artist statement will The statement contextualise your experiences with respect to relevant literature and professional contexts.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Work in Progress

Present an immersive/interactive performance work in progress, including an oral presentation and demonstration of the processes and methods you have explored to develop the work.  

Assessment: Immersive Performance Work

Working as a member of a collaborative group, devise and present a digitally enabled immersive/interactive performance work. 

Assessment: Artist Statement

Write an artist statement to accompany your Assessment 2 performance that contextualises your perspectives on your group's assessment 2 presentation and the collaborative process, relationships, and ecologies that enabled you to participate in its creation. The statement must also contextualise your experiences with respect to literature on the history of performance technology and principles of immersive and interactive performance.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

This unit contains physical performance practices. Full physical participation in class requires adherence to safe movement practice principles. 

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information. For CIESJ Tier 2 Health and Safety requirements, you will be instructed on safe procedures and the required safety gear for all studio and workshop processes that are demonstrated. 

This unit involves physical work in purpose-built movement studios and industry standard physical performance/rehearsal venues and in some instances, non-traditional performance venues. Full  participation in any class is subject to compliance with safe movement practices. 

The development of essential risk-management skills that minimise potential injury is a high priority with all teaching staff. All students are taught safe physical practice principles as life-long learning skills, and it is expected that you apply them in this unit. Due to the nature of performance practice, academic staff will provide necessary duty of care in emergency situations that arise on campus, through first aid resources and health and health safety officers.   

Please be advised that this unit may include the presentation and scholarly analysis of material and subject matters that may be considered confronting, such as certain representations of race, class, gender and violence. QUT counselling support is available should you feel the need to avail yourself of these services.