PERFORMANCE & XR (PXR)

PXR, hosted by Single Thread and Electric Company Theatre, is a new model for digital convening among artists and technologists. This annual hybrid gathering (in VR and in-person across Canada) consists of a series of interactive presentations and discussions by artists and digital content creators on how they are using virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality (collectively known as XR) in the creation of live performance.

Since 2020, this annual gathering has:

  • Resulted in numerous new partnerships between artists

  • Provided 100+ artists across Canada with Oculus Quest headsets

  • Established IBPOC and Northern fellowship programs

  • Inaugurated a national XRtist Link-Up

PXR has drawn international attention in the area of virtual reality, with attendance from journalists, artists and technologists from the UK, France, the United States, South Africa and Australia, including leaders in the XR field such as Dan Miller of Unity, and Yelena Rachitsky of Oculus, both of whom have presented at PXR.

The conference is curated and produced as a joint effort between Single Thread Theatre Company and Electric Company Theatre, with the support of a steering committee comprised of live performance and technology experts across Canada: Beth Kates, Davis Heslep, Ian Garrett, Milton Lim, Jacob Niedzwiecki, Raven Two Feathers, and Maize Longboat.

Learn more at performanceandxr.com.

Keynote by Kent Bye, host of Voices of VR podcast on “Immersive Story Trends, Live Performance, Interaction Design, & XR Ethics”.

Behind-the-scenes in VRChat with Finding Pandora X - an immersive theatrical VR experience that made its world premier at the 77th Venice International Film Festival in September 2020 and its national premiere at SXSW 2021.

Gathering in the main tent for PXR2021


PXR2023: Presentations, workshops, and panel conversations


Fellowships created for IBPOC creators


Articles, interviews and more about PXR