Cookies

To provide a better user experience, we use marketing cookies. To allow marketing cookies, click accept below or click here to view our policies.

CoSTARCoSTAR

Live Lab

Live Lab is a state-of-the-art R&D facility for the UK’s creative industries, developing cutting-edge technology solutions to revolutionise live performance experiences.

The Live Lab is part of a £75.6m national network of laboratories that are developing new ideas and technologies to ensure the UK stays at the cutting edge of the creative industries.  

The high-tech facilities will create immersive, multi-sensory and interactive technologies, incubate startups, train future leaders in the industry and empower diverse voices and new talent across the sector. Led by the University of York, the Live Lab brings together Production Park, Screen Yorkshire, Wakefield Council, Vodafone and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. It is funded by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). 

Where
Unit 2 The Point Langthwaite Road South Kirkby Pontefract WF9 3AP
Led by
University of York
Partners
Sony Interactive Entertainment Vodafone Opera North TAIT Megaverse Tileyard North Screen Yorkshire York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority Wakefield Council
External shot of CoSTAR Live Lab
Meet our partners

CALLS ARE OPEN — APPLY FOR ACCESS PROGRAMMES

Our funding programmes are delivered through each of the CoSTAR Network labs. For more information go to Funding & Support

How it works at live lab

Funding

We will be involved in Access Programmes focusing on either Enterprise and Commercialisation (E&C) or Prototyping and pilots Programme (PPP). E&C supports early growth businesses and startups with a series of development programmes and PPP invites innovators to apply for funding for specific project opportunities. The Access Programmes are run by the CoSTAR National Lab and can be accessed from any of our labs across the UK.  

Facilities

The Lab's facilities feature dedicated spaces for advancing live performance systems and user experience across screen, stage, and the metaverse. Live Lab drives novel innovations in virtual production workflows including: 

  • User Experience Laboratory 

  • Acoustically isolated Network Performance Studios 

  • ‘Future Venues’ main stage experimental performance space 

  • High resolution motion capture systems (marker and markerless) 

  • Immersive audio and visual provision throughout all spaces 

  • VR and XR displays and technologies 

  • Biometric data capture systems 

  • LED Virtual Production Volume 

  • High Performance Computing infrastructure 

  • Private 5G Network 

Meet the Team

Professor Helena DaffernCo-Director
Read Bio
Professor Gavin KearneyCo-Director
Read Bio
Professor Damian MurphyCo-Investigator
Read Bio
Professor Jonathan HookCo-Investigator
Read Bio
Dr. Dar’ya GuarneraCo-Investigator
Read Bio
Phil AdlamCTO
Read Bio
Glen KellyProgramme Manager
Read Bio
Jacob CooperTechnical Specialist in Immersive Audio
Read Bio
Jack HardwickTechnical Specialist in Creative Technologies
Read Bio
Alan Pedrassoli ChitayatPDRA
Read Bio
Joe WilliamsPDRA
Read Bio
Tyler PalmerCreative Technologist
Read Bio

Meet our partners

Lead Partner - University of York
Read more
Production Park
Read more
The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
Read more
Screen Yorkshire
Read more
Wakefield Council
Read more
Vodafone Technology
Read more
Megaverse
Read more
Opera North
Read more
TAIT
Read more
Tileyard North
Read more
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Read more