Morning session: Our relationship to sleep

10am-12.30pm

A morning of talks and discussion with world-leading academics from the University of Oxford and beyond, exploring what happens to our brains when we sleep, the link between sleep and mental health, and how our relationship to sleep has shifted over time.

The Science of Sleep
Learn about the latest developments in the science of sleep, and the circadian rhythms which govern our lives, with Professor Russell Foster, and Dr Nayantara Santhi.

Sleep and Sleeplessness through the Ages
Trace anxieties around sleep through earlier times, and the impact of work patterns and disrupted sleep on body and mind. With Professor Sally Shuttleworth, Dr Kristin Hussey and Dr Holly Fletcher.

Free lunchtime events:

Sleep, Scent and Sweet Bags
12.30pm – 1.15pm
1.45pm – 2.15pm
Join Dr Anna Fielding in a hands-on workshop on early modern sleep practices to see how herbs played a vital part of our relationship to sleep, and what we might learn from these early traditions and beliefs.
Drop in activity, no booking required.

Immersive Assembly Vol 4: Dreams & Echoes Showcase

Mediale has brought together six of the UK’s most exciting emerging digital artists with Oxford University academics to develop three brand new prototypes inspired by dreams and echoes. Be the first to try out new prototype digital immersive experiences for free, meet the artists and find out where the projects are going next. Book free ticket

Afternoon session: Sleeping and Dreaming

2.15pm – 5.00pm

An afternoon of talks looking at how sleep and dreaming have been interpreted and translated in our society, from science and psychoanalytic practice, through to culture and music.

Music, Consciousness and Trance States
Ahead of his DJ set in the evening, DJ, Music Producer and medical practitioner Michael Diamond talks to Professor Eric Clarke about his creative exploration of sleep and waking states through the medium of electronic music.

Explorations of Dream States
What happens when we dream? And what can literature and the arts tell us about our relationship to our unconscious selves? Learn about the history of dream theories and psychoanalysis; strange states of mind on waking, and the experience of night terrors, with Professor Matthew Bevis, Professor Ankhi Mukherjee and Dr Tiffany Watt Smith.

Scroll down to biographies below to find out more information on speakers and panel discussions

Keynote Speaker, Professor Fiona MacPherson – We Cannot Know The Structure of Experience

Many researchers hold that the central way—perhaps the only way—to study the conscious nature of experiences is to study their structure. Claims about the structure of experience are supposed to be true of all experiences, for example, that all perceptual experiences represent space and time, and that all experiences of red are more similar to experiences of orange than to experiences of green. Fiona Macpherson (Director, Centre for the Study of Perceptual Experience, University of Glasgow) will present a variety of counter examples to extant structural claims.

“Join Me at the Crossroads” – A Creative Conversation

Author and Director Jo Verrent (We Are Unlimited) talks to Artist, Composer and Writer Nwando Ebizie about her work, multidisciplinary practice and process.

Nwando’s work challenges her audience to question their perceived realities through art personas, experimental theatre, neuroscience, music and African diasporic ritualistic dance. Carving out her own particular strand of Afrofuturism, she combines research into the neuroscience of perception (inspired by her own Neurodiversity) and an obsession with science fiction with a ritualistic live art practice.

Jo Verrent is Director of Unlimited, the world’s largest commissioning programme for disabled artists, working not just to fund disabled artists to create new artistic work but to get it seen, discussed and embedded within the cultural fabric of the UK.

Neuroinclusive guided meditation with Dr. Mette Leonard Høeg

Consciousness researcher and writer Dr. Mette Leonard Høeg talks about the importance of making mindfulness practice accessible to neurodiverse people and guides a meditation that welcomes all forms of neuro- and perceptually diversity.

When T-Rex Dreams of Mangoes and Figs

by artists Chris Tegho and Jazmin Morris with sound by Louis Jack

A digital dreamscape that transforms digital application loading time into portals for dreams; where transitions and waiting opens new worlds of imagination. Inspired by the Google Chrome Dino game that appears only when internet connection is interrupted, this installation explores where consciousness wanders when the machine is in ‘load state’. By reimagining waiting and anticipation in digital spaces, this work reflects on how we process uncertainty, meaning and our relationship with machines. It creates an opportunity for dreams, imagination and creativity in a subtle protest against technology’s grasp on our experiences. Here, in a blend of physical, digital, and subconscious, waiting transforms into art.

Jazmin and Chris are a duo of artists and researchers based in the UK. Their work spans

ethical, emotional, and relational aspects of technology, exploring systems of power and community facilitation. Jazmin’s practice interrogates the historical trajectories of modern technology and critically addresses the nuanced process of simulating culture and identity. Chris’ work examines how emerging technologies influence our experiences and self-perception. Together, they are dedicated to reimagining traditional narratives in their disciplines, through an open-source, queer BIPOC lens.

To Lie Within Another

by artists Vicky Clarke, Michelle Collier

Have you ever felt a dream slip into your day, like a shadow you just can’t shake? Tune into this feeling and push at the fragile borders of consciousness. To Lie Within Another is a multisensory installation, harnessing physical touch, visual projection and sound: immersing you in an interactive, multi-layered ‘reality’. Inspired by the contradictory, often surreal juxtaposition of different states of mind, To Lie Within Another collapses the distance between these layers of perception, where the boundaries between past and present, waking and dreaming, become permeable. Journey through the surrealscape of consciousness, push your perception and discover the alchemy of mind.

Vicky Clarke is a sound and electronic media artist whose work explores materiality, electrical phenomena and ritual. Working with sound sculpture, DIY electronics and human-machine systems, she creates electronic artworks and live performances that venture through techno-emotional states. Michelle Collier is a writer, artist and narrative designer whose work explores the stories we tell, from ancient myth to imagined futures. Often playful and speculative in nature, her work spans multiple platforms, including experimental fiction, games and XR.

Collective Dreamscape

by artists Chipo Mapondera and Alysha Nelson

An immersive dreamscape of sound and vision, convening global indigenous stories that challenge colonial constructs of time, and create a space for imagining multiple futures. A space for collective dreaming and reimagining, in response to the After The End project, which explored post trauma and post crisis echoes in marginalised global communities. The installation of sensory layers is created through projection mapping and a soundscape blending oral histories, music, and natural sounds from global indigenous communities: Krio (Sierra Leone), Sarawakian (Borneo), Diné/ White Mountain Apache (USA), Zezuru (Zimbabwe). By erasing conventional notions of definitive starting and endings, we highlight non-linear cultural conceptions of time and memory.

Chipo creates Afrofuturistic XR (VR, sound, film), winning an Innovate UK Award and nominated for AIXR and STARTS Africa awards. Exhibited internationally at National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Fakugesi, and Hypha Studios, Chipo has presented at the Leverhulme Centre (CFI) and Sussex Digital Humanities Lab, and is selected for CPH:LAB 2024/25. Alysha is a multidisciplinary creative exploring perception, consciousness, and marginalised histories. Exhibited internationally, her work has earned an Emmy nomination, Cannes Lion, and SXSW innovation award & more for use of digital, storytelling, and unique engagement with history.

Watch the trailer

Frequently asked questions

What to Expect:
You will be guided through the experience by your hosts, the first part of the event is a meditative session on bean bags. The second part is seated on chairs.

Before You Arrive

Check-In:
Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time for a smooth check-in.

Bring Your Ticket:
Don’t forget to bring a digital or printed copy of your ticket.

Comfortable Clothing:
As you’ll be moving around and exploring different spaces, we recommend wearing comfortable shoes. There is also a slope in the flooring to be aware of but your hosts will guide you through this.

Accessibility:
If you require a wheelchair space for this event, please call 01865 305 305 or email boxoffice@oxfordplayhouse.com for further assistance.

COVID-19 Guidelines:
For your safety, we follow all health protocols including cleaning equipment between uses. If you have COVID symptoms or are feeling unwell we kindly ask that you do not attend.

Age guidance:
VR experiences are recommended for ages 11+ but this is at parental discretion. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. ID checks may be in place to check ages for anyone who appears U18 and is not accompanied by another 18+ person.

Nausea:
A small number of people may experience nausea when using VR, your hosts can support you if that is the case.

Toilets:
The toilets are not intended for public use but please ask staff if you require toilet access, they can also direct you to the nearest accessible toilet.

How to Get There:
If you take a bus into the centre of town it is a short ten minute walk to the venue. There is very limited charged for parking available on Little Clarendon Street, we would recommend parking at one of the larger carparks in the centre of town such as the Westgate Centre and walking for 10-15 minutes from there.

Want to Share Your Experience?
We encourage you to take photos and share your experience on social media! Tag us at @oxfordculturalprogramme and use the hashtag #EvolverOxford so we can feature you.

Need Assistance?
If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to us at culturalprogramme@humanities.ox.ac.uk, call 01865 305 305 or email boxoffice@oxfordplayhouse.com.