Description
Saturday, Oct 17, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Open to all
Limited to 12 participants
Hybrid workshop*
How do you write a story that surrounds your audience and places them at the center of the experience? In this one-day workshop, we’ll explore the foundations of immersive storytelling, a growing creative practice that blends narrative with space, sensory detail, and audience engagement. From audio walks and site-specific theatre to interactive installations, immersive writing invites audiences to step into the story.
We’ll break down real-world examples, play with writing prompts inspired by spatial and sensory environments, and begin shaping our own immersive narratives. Designed for writers of all backgrounds, this hands-on session offers both inspiration and tools to imagine your stories beyond the page.
By the end of the day, participants will:
- Understand the key principles of immersive storytelling
- Learn about a range of immersive formats, including audio walks, site-specific theatre, interactive installations, and XR/MR experiences
- Experiment with writing exercises that reframe story through environment and audience experience
- Develop a short concept or scene for an immersive piece
*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Westmount, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you would like to request a virtual slot, contact John at john@qwf.org stating the reason for which you would need the virtual spot, then wait for a response before registering. Please do not register until you receive confirmation of a virtual spot for you.
Workshop leader
Stephanie Merulla is a Montreal-based writer, theatre-maker, and multimedia artist working across theatre, interactive media, and immersive storytelling. She has created site-specific audio experiences and participatory theatre projects presented in Canada and internationally. Her work includes The Neighbourhood / Le Quartier, an immersive audio fiction experience that was a finalist for the 2026 NUMIX Awards. She has also collaborated with immersive theatre companies, including Live Action Theatre Project on Meet Me, an interactive production that received the 2022–2023 META Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre, and she produced the Paris edition of Overhear with It’s Not a Box Theatre. Stephanie holds an MFA from East 15 Acting School (University of Essex) and a BFA in Theatre from Concordia University.
Instagram: @la_merulla
