CoSTAR Live Lab Presents: Dr Mike Richardson | Interpersonal Physiological Synchrony of Audiences | 20 May 2026

Book your free ticket today!

We are excited to welcome Dr Mike Richardson for an inspiring talk as part of our CoSTAR  Live Lab Presents series. Mike will cover research from lab and field investigations on interpersonal physiological synchrony of audiences. The event will take place on Wednesday 20 May from 13:00 to 14:30 at Production Park in Wakefield. 

CoSTAR Live Lab is an innovative R&D facility based at Production Park near Wakefield. Live Lab is part of the £75m government-funded CoSTAR Network, and supports innovation in immersive, multisensory and interactive technologies to transform audience experience, shaping next-generation live experiences for screen, stage and into the metaverse.

Dr Mike Richardson, a Research Associate in the CREATE Lab, Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, and an honorary researcher in the School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol. For the last 4 years, he has worked in the Audience Understanding team on the MyWorld Project, a large-scale UKRI-funded collaboration between academia and industry in the West of England that explores the future of creative technology and performance. Mike’s research sits at the intersection of experimental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and human-computer interaction, investigating audience experiences of performance and immersion. You can connect with Mike on his LinkedIn page.

In this talk, Mike will discuss three projects using heart rate and motion detection methods to explore: A live-streamed major theatre production of ‘Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead’ (in partnership with Bristol Old Vic and Complicité); a live jazz and classical lunchtime concert (in partnership with St George’s Bristol); and, an interactive musical virtual reality performance (in partnership with Aardman Animations and Tom Morris Productions). The results of these studies demonstrate how innovative experimental techniques can inform and compliment creative productions and gain a deeper understanding of audience experience.

Event timings:

This is a hybrid event and, as such, we advise that those joining us online log onto the zoom link in time for Mike’s talk, which will take place between 1:00 - 2:30pm. If you’re joining us in person, we ask that you arrive for the event by 12:45pm, to allow us time to greet you and guide you to our Live Lab facility. The main programme will be finished by 2:30 pm, but there will be an optional chance to network and have follow-up conversations with our team and other attendees in the CentR Stage Cafe afterwards. This will be an excellent opportunity to engage with our speakers, fellow attendees and to meet the CoSTAR Live Lab team.

If you would like to attend this event, please sign up for a free ticket using this link: Sign-up Form

Your access needs:

When signing up for the event, we will give you the choice to complete a brief access rider form, which will help us to ensure that our event is planned to accommodate your needs. If you would like to attend, but are unable due to the proposed time, or for any other reason, we would really like to hear from you (costarlivelab-admin@york.ac.uk). Your feedback will enable us to learn about how we can make future events and activities as accessible as possible to everyone who is interested.

How to get to the event:

If you are attending in person, you can find detailed travel instructions in your confirmation email. You can also find information on how to travel to Production Park by car and public transport here. 

If you are attending online, a webinar link will be provided in your confirmation email.

Book your free ticket today!