Lightbulb Sessions

In 1879 Thomas Alva Edison created the first commercially practical incandescent light. A lightbulb. In 1881 the Savoy Theatre in London replaced limelight and footlights with the first complete electric theatre. Lightbulbs quickly became the dominant theatre technology in the 20th Century. This had a profound impact on the form, style, even reasons for making theatre. Actors acted differently. Writers wrote differently. The world was looked at and understood differently because of the humble lightbulb.

Data-driven technology has revolutionised our everyday lives at least as much as the lightbulb. So how is it going to change theatre and live performance? Come to the Lightbulb Sessions and imagine what data driven theatre and live performance could and should be. 

The sessions will be led by hacker, inventor and tech journalist Rupert Goodwins with playwright and Artistic Director of Civic Digits, Clare Duffy.

The Lightbulb Sessions are monthly workshops looking at a different aspects of data driven theatre: From exploring what data driven tech is and how you could/should use it, to IP and contracts, from finding and commissioning technologists, to designing inclusivity and accessibility into new tech, to thinking about security and ecologically responsible tech.

Each month there will be a different topic, an expert speaker and exercises supporting you to develop your new ideas for new tech. At the end of the 12 months there will be two grants of £2000 available to apply for to get a new idea started, which Civic Digits and its partners will mentor and support. 

This series of Lightbulb Sessions has now ended. Keep an eye on our social media for upcoming opportunities.