Interactive LED-scene design for immersive theatre: creation, deployment, and assessment

Thesis Abstract

The emergence of immersive theatre demands dynamic, responsive stage technologies that seamlessly integrate visual storytelling with audience perception; however, there remains a gap in systematic design, deployment, and evaluative frameworks for interactive LED scenes that can be reliably replicated across productions. This study addresses the problem by proposing a design–deploy–assess methodology that mediates between artistic intent and technological feasibility, ensuring that LED-scene interventions enhance narrative immersion while maintaining performance reliability. The aim is to develop a coherent framework for interactive LED-scene design in immersive theatre, accompanied by an empirically grounded evaluation of its aesthetic and functional impact. Specific objectives are (1) to design an interactive LED-scene system that responds to actor cues and audience engagement metrics; (2) to implement the system in two staged performances across distinct venues to test adaptability and reliability; (3) to evaluate perceptual immersion, emotional engagement, and perceived realism among audience members using mixed methods; (4) to assess production workflow, technical reliability, and scalability for professional theatre practice; and (5) to formulate a replicable set of design guidelines and evaluation metrics for future productions. The study adopts a mixed-methods research design grounded in design research and performance studies paradigms, drawing on pragmatism to integrate creative practice with empirical evaluation. The population includes professional theatre practitioners, technical designers, and adult audience members participating in two live performances featuring the LED-scene system. A purposeful sample of 12 production staff (including lighting designers, programmers, and stage managers) and 120 audience members per performance (total N = 240) will be recruited, with stratified sampling to ensure representation across age, prior theatre experience, and technological familiarity. Data collection instruments comprise (a) a structured technical diary and system log to capture uptime, latency, and fault rates; (b) a validated immersion questionnaire (e.g., the Immersive Experience Scale) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) to measure perceptual immersion and emotional response; (c) semi-structured interviews with designers and performers to explore design decisions, perceived limitations, and aesthetic impact; (d) a performer-cue alignment rubric to evaluate synchrony between actor inputs and LED responses; and (e) observational checklists and video recordings for qualitative coding of interaction patterns. The data analysis plan includes (i) descriptive statistics and reliability analysis for instrument scales; (ii) regression analysis to examine relationships between system latency, cue accuracy, and immersion scores; (iii) ANOVA to compare immersion and engagement across venues and audience demographics; (iv) thematic analysis of interview transcripts and field notes to extract design rationales and operational challenges; and (v) a content analysis of performance footage to triangulate observed synchrony with quantitative measures. A lightweight operational model will be specified to describe the interaction workflow, incorporating nodes for actor input, LED processing, projection mapping, and environmental sensors. Ethical considerations include informed consent, data anonymization, and compliance with venue safety and data protection standards. Expected findings include (a) a demonstrable positive effect of well-timed, high-fidelity LED interactivity on reported immersion and emotional engagement; (b) identification of critical latency thresholds and cue-synchronization requirements for naturalistic audience–actor interaction; (c) robust design guidelines for modular LED-scene architectures that support rapid adaptation to different productions and venues; and (d) a practical framework for evaluating immersive technologies in theatre that integrates artistic goals with measurable performance metrics. The study contributes to knowledge by bridging design theory, human–machine interaction, and applied theatre practice, offering a replicable framework for interactive scenography and a validated measurement toolkit for immersive theatre evaluation. The main conclusion posits that carefully orchestrated LED interactivity, grounded in transparent design decisions and rigorous evaluation, significantly enhances perceptual immersion without compromising performance reliability. Recommendations include adopting modular hardware and middleware for scalable deployment, refining latency budgets through actor–system rehearsal protocols, and extending the evaluative framework to incorporate longitudinal audience studies and cross-genre analyses.