Guildhall Professor Dr Toby Young is the recipient of the Future Leaders Fellowship. Awarded by UK Research & Innovation, the fellowship includes of a grant of £1.4 million and has been given to fund Dr Young’s new research project ‘Immersive Opera’ which aims to investigate immersive performance practice and technologies in opera.

Working in collaboration with immersive theatre company Punchdrunk Enrichment as well as partners from National Opera Studio, Opera North, Royal Ballet & Opera and Scottish Opera, Dr Young will develop a series of training resources and workshops to enable opera companies to implement and develop immersive opera for the future. A large part of the project will involve exploring Extended Reality; utilising Spatial Audio, audio-mapping and visual and haptic interfaces in order to better promote interactive and participatory productions.

Dr Toby Young says ‘Opera is a powerful and emotionally compelling art form, but as a sector, we are facing significant challenges around perceived relevance, accessibility, and financial and environmental sustainability. Working together with the opera community, this project will develop and test innovative approaches to operatic performance and composition that enhance our existing traditions rather than try and reinvent them.’