After a fantastic break eating lots of chocolate, everyone’s back in the Studio and looking forward to all the exciting events taking place in April. As our usual blogger Hannah is away for the week, this is the combined effort of Vivi, Lisa and Jo and our take on life in the Studio this week.

Tim Kindberg has been working on a new software to support the next version for the upcoming project by Mercurial Wrestler who created  Magna Mysteria for last year's Mayfest.

Digital Cultures Research Centre (UWE) Charlotte Crofts' Lost Cinemas of Castle Park App launch went well with a good turn out despite sub-zero temperatures - some people were out there for 2hours listening to the history of Bristol city centre's forgotten cinemas. 
The project was developed as a part of the REACT Heritage Sandbox programme, a collaboration with creative economy partner, Studio residents, Calvium and Bristol City Council.

These Pages Fall Like Ash is a first of its kind narrative experience, one of the REACT Books & Print Sandbox projects from Circumstance and Tom Abba. It will allow you to become part of its story, to explore the city, and to discover a whole new way of reading. From 20th April you will be able to experience it for yourself and advanced booking has opened this week. 

Helen White is in her last official week of her Communicating Science residency (although we hope she’ll stay a little longer) and is working towards her final showcase event Listen to the Sun on the 18th of April. Tickets are free and can be booked here.

Starterfor10 have announced the winners of their funding programme competition. Studio residents Opposable Games and Calvium, who are working with Cycles Maximus are among the 10 companies selected to develop exciting new digital projects.

Calvium have released AppFurnace+ that allows people with minimal technical expertise to create apps for the iPad, as well as their existing support for iPhones and Android devices. They have also launched a new app this week with the Bristol Architecture Centre entitled ‘Bristol Opening Doors’ allowing users to go behind the scenes of some of the city’s best buildings. Calvium is also developing a new app for the new pop up performance of the Kneehigh Rambles.

James Wheale and Ben Gwalchmai, who were introduced via the Studio and the REACT programme, have been awarded The Writing Platform Bursary Award, supported by the NALD Futures Fund. They plan to create a prototype of their idea Fabler, which will tell you stories as you move. It is lovely to see even more exciting projects spinning out of the Sandbox schemes.

The Craft + Technology residents had their showcase last Thursday. Three project films that track the progress of each of these talented makers were screened, which will be available on dShed from 10 April. The showcase culminated in a fantastic panel discussion exploring the challenges and opportunities involved in bringing technology into the craftsperson’s toolkit and each practitioners plans for the future of their projects.

nu desine’s AlphaSphere will be featured in PAPER Vol:2 magazine and they will be performing at the launch at Co-Lab on Saturday.

Last week Will Luton was in San Francisco for GDC (Game Developers Conference) and interviewed Zynga CEO Mark Pincus for Will’s upcoming book Free2Play: Making Money From Games You Give Away which is available to preorder on Amazon now!
Also, Will's new website and blog went live today: www.will-luton.co.uk

There are free tickets available for students for the Codes of Engagement Conference (CAS/CADE) on Monday 8 April and Tuesday 9 April. E-mail nick.lambert@gmail.com to register for a free ticket. UWE’s Digital Cultures Research Centre has curated a strand of work for the 2013 CAS/CADE conference entitled Re:Materialisations. It will feature some fantastic people from the Pervasive Media Studio network and takes place at Watershed.

Vanessa has been working on a number of Bristol Temple Quarter Commissions:
Uninvited Guest's & Circumstance's Give Me Back My Broken Night had its UK premier last night in the UK in Bristol Temple Quarter, with further shows tonight, Sat and Sun.

Lovely review from Bristol Culture

And a nice tweet from Phil Gibby: "...a bit like Heathcote Williams rewriting Under Milk Wood and turning it into an urban regeneration workshop..."

The Festival of Ideas Bristol Temple Quarter Gateway Competition short list has been announced:
Andrew Kelly announced the 10 successful ideas for the Festival of Ideas Gateway competition and a jury will decide who will win £2500 for the best idea.

And finally, Rik Lander has released a fantastic trailer for The Memory Dealer, his interactive drama that will premiere at this year's Mayfest:  Tickets will go on sale on 22 April and we can't wait.