Roma was successfully awarded the degree of PhD in 2020. Roma’s PhD thesis investigated how sensing technologies can create new modes of narrative, multisensory experiences and play in theatre for young audiences.
Her PhD research has led to several visual arts commissions since 2017 including The Enchanted Forest commissioned by Theatre Hullabaloo in Darlington and co-supported by an internal Horizon CDT Impact Grant. Over a period of one year, a total of 17,147 children and adults, including international delegates at TakeOff Festival, experienced the installation.
Roma has been invited to facilitate over 15 practical digital arts workshops for arts practitioners, Theatre and HCI researchers, nursery practitioners, young children and families, care workers and care home residents both national and internationally. In 2020, she received the Telling Tales of Engagement award (EPSRC) for PhD research and was the Artist in Residence at Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity between 2020- 2021.
After completing her PhD, Roma founded the spin-off company Makers of Imaginary Worlds (MOIW) supported by Arts Council England (ACE) Developing your Creative Practice fund. MOIW works explore mixed reality spaces that merge sensing and wearable technologies with traditional theatre craft to create sensory playful performance installations for young audiences. Her company has created three public interactive installations supported by ACE since 2019 and in partnership with the Lakeside Arts Centre and Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham.
MOIW is currently exploring the potential of hybrid storytelling spaces with researchers at Horizon Digital Economy and the integration of robotics in art installations with UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous Systems Hub.
