This project explores the importance of interpersonal synchrony - how we coordinate and move together in time - in our daily social interactions and early stages of development. Using wearable sensors to characterise social behaviour, the team studies a series of theatre and science performances for autistic and early-years primary school children and their families and record engagement data from participants.

There is evidence that children can benefit from theatre-based activities in early years, with knock-on effects in developing their communication skills and learning. The project demonstrates the importance of theatre as a social good, how wearable technology can facilitate this demonstration, and how, together, theatre and technology can help us understand the underlying mechanisms of social development.

The performances are used as a platform for open discussion on the science behind the work and how the data recorded is interpreted and used, gathering new insights into the mechanisms and applications of social interaction in theatre.


This work is funded by an APEX award from The British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Society supported by the Leverhulme Trust (APX\R1\201093).