Alistair Aitcheson creates interactive stage shows with video game technology. His 2016 debut stage show, The Incredible Playable Show, won awards including IndieCade's Jury Choice Award in Los Angeles. It's been followed up with shows about game-glitching, livestreaming and art-making. He builds custom-made game controllers, invites audience members to become props, and gets everyone in the room collaborating to direct the performer. Alistair's latest project sees him perform as a clown, sharing the stage with a dummy voiced by the audience through their phones. 

In this talk, Alistair will explore how game technology allows us to transform the stage into a playful space. He'll show how the lessons of clown theatre can turn binary digital input into fertile ground for free-form creativity, and enable every audience member to become active creative partners in the performance. And because seeing really is believing, he will perform these clown games, with you, here at the Pervasive Media Studio!

Alistair Aitcheson has been developing games as a one-man indie studio since 2010. His work has received awards and nominations at festivals including IndieCade, A MAZE, the Creative Gaming Awards and Game Developer's Conference.

Join us online on YouTube Live, or in the building on Friday 16th June 2025 at 1pm for the talk and to take part in the Q and A discussion afterwards. 

The Pervasive Media Studio is a partnership between the Watershed, University of the West of England and University of Bristol. The lunchtime talks are partly supported by MyWorld, a project led by the University of Bristol to support creative industries in the region. Watershed is supported by Arts Council England.

Address:

Watershed, 1 Canon's Rd, Bristol BS1 5TX

Directions:

The Lunchtime talks take place in the Pervasive Media Studio Event Space. To access the Studio, please go to the Main Watershed Box Office entrance and go upstairs to the Café Bar. Walk across the cafe bar, turn right and walk towards the double doors. Go through into the corridor and walk all the way down until you reach the Studio. A member of staff will sign you in, and check your ticket, if you have booked.

The Studio is wheelchair accessible, and the events space has a hearing loop. The last talk of every month is BSL interpreted. 

For more information on accessing the studio take a look here.

*Please note this is a hybrid event and will be live streamed so please be aware you will be in the live broadcast and recording when watching in the Studio.