Vital Stories
Live,Interactive, Audience-Led
Vital Stories blends theatre, gaming and digital storytelling. Each show unfolds on stage and online as the audience guides the interrogation, unlocks evidence and votes to decide what happens next.
Credits & Partners
Produced by Vital Culture UK · Created by Tanya Vital · In partnership with…
About the Project
Vital Stories reimagines what live performance can be. Developed by Vital Culture UK, it fuses theatre, gaming, and digital storytelling into a single, playable format.
Audiences don’t just watch the story — they become part of the investigation, choosing how the detective interrogates suspects, unlocking clues, and steering each outcome.
From the first Twitch-based pilot in collaboration with XR Stories × Filmmakers25 to the 2025 edition at the National Science and Media Museum (with creative support from Ayza Akhtar and Theatre in the Mill), the project has evolved into a touring-ready format for hybrid and live venues.
Editions
XR Stories × Filmmakers 25 (Pilot 2021)
Prototype performed live on Twitch — over 150 participants shaped multiple endings in real time, proving the potential of live-action gaming.
National Science and Media Museum (2025)
Hybrid cinema event where 67 in-person visitors and 87 online detectives collaborated through live polls, chat, and QR mini-games projected on Pictureville’s big screen.
What We Learned
The NSMM iteration of Vital Stories confirmed strong audience appetite for interactive, decision-led digital performance, particularly when supported by clear onboarding and live facilitation.
Audiences responded positively to the hybrid format, with both in-person and online participants actively shaping the narrative in real time.
Feedback highlighted the value of accessibility, confidence-building participation, and post-show discussion.
Key learnings included the importance of extended onboarding for non-digital-native audiences, clear communication around interaction tools, and visible consent notices for documentation.
Overall, the project validated the viability of Vital Stories as a scalable, access-first model for museums, theatres, and hybrid cultural spaces.
How It Works
🎥 Watch — the case unfolds live on stage and stream.
💬 Interact — vote in Twitch polls, chat with the detective, and scan evidence via QR games.
🔍 Decide — your choices steer the interrogation and shape the ending.
Explore the Game Files → Vital Stories Archive
Watch Highlights
Couldn’t join the live investigation? Watch key moments from Vital Stories as audiences cracked the case in real time.
Get Involved
We’re developing new versions for festivals, schools, and digital platforms.
If you’d like to host or fund a future edition, we’d love to hear from you.
Want to see more?
Explore the full image gallery and behind-the-scenes moments from Vital Stories.