Creative Entrepreneur in Residence talks programme: Authentic Enough? Opening up the past with selective authenticity

1^st December, 1pm Edith Morley 127

All UoR researchers who might be interested are warmly invited to join the talks in this programme. Do join us for the presentations and a chance for cross disciplinary conversation.

Some of the world’s biggest entertainment IPs are rooted in historical stories or eras – from TV series like The Last Kingdom, Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy, to video games such as Assassin’s Creed.

Whilst the past offers clear creative opportunities – a ready-made storyworld and audience familiarity with characters and plot – there is often a tension between historical accuracy and the needs of narrative, audiences and formats.

In this talk we will hear from creatives whose work has addressed these questions in theatre, games and immersive experiences. We will discuss ‘selective authenticity’, where situations when historical fact is at odds with popular conceptions of the past are avoided, to ensure that suspension of disbelief isn’t broken. And will explore the concept of ‘authenticity of experience’ as a means of opening up the past for audiences.

Speakers include:

Luke Holmes is a game designer for Creative Assembly, producers of the multi-million selling Total War series. Prior to this he has been an interpretation manager at leading heritage attractions, including the Tower of London and the SS Great Britain, and is the author of several academic articles on historical gameplay and ludic theory.

Hannah Price is a director and creative director working across theatre, VR, digital, games and events. She is an award winning freelance theatre director, founder and previous Co-Artistic Director of Theatre Uncut and has directed theatre and immersive events across the world. She is Creative Director of the Gunpowder Plot, the new 5 star reviewed immersive theatre and VR experience at the Tower of London – and as a BAFTA-winning video game performance director, she has worked on some of the world’s biggest titles.

And Tim Powell, the University of Reading’s Creative Entrepreneur in Residence.