CoSTAR Live Lab

Redefining the future of live performance.

Imagine a future where live performances transport you to entirely new worlds, blurring the lines between what's real and what's digital. The CoSTAR Live Lab, a groundbreaking research and development facility powered by University of York research, is helping to drive this transformation.

Live Lab is working hand-in-hand with creative industries to develop new technologies that will shape storytelling and audience experiences. This includes innovative approaches for enjoying film, theatre, and live events, all while giving a significant boost to the UK's creative economy.

At the heart of this shift are real-time technologies that let creators blend physical and digital worlds seamlessly. By bringing together advanced sound and visual systems with cutting-edge tools like those used in video games and motion capture, CoSTAR Live Lab empowers artists, directors, and tech innovators to experiment with exciting new ways to create, completely reimagining what's possible in live performance.

Learn more about CoSTAR Live Lab and open collaboration calls at the CoSTAR website

Contact us

costarlivelab-admin@york.ac.uk
Production Park, Unit 53 Lidgate Crescent, Pontefract WF9 3NR

Location

CoSTAR Live lab is located at Production Park near Wakefield, Yorkshire - a world-renowned centre for the creative industries, where global stars like Beyoncé and The Rolling Stones come to prepare their tours. This location at the heart of industry ensures Live Lab is responsive to industry needs, providing businesses with access to state-of-the-art facilities and University of York expertise.

How can CoSTAR Live Lab support you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbvLJSYmZus

We offer unparalleled opportunities for development, collaboration, and innovation:

Cutting-Edge Research and Technology: We enable the development of novel technologies and research, directly shaped by industry needs
Startup and Business Growth: We support startups and high-growth enterprises, guiding them from technology ideation through to product acceleration. Discover more about our industry access programmes including our Prototypes and Pilots Programme
Workshops and Events: Participate in our workshops, networking events, technology showcases, lectures, and symposia designed to foster public and industry engagement in research and development. Sign up for upcoming events here
Future Leaders: We will help to shape the next generation of creative leaders and innovators through our aligned Centre for Doctoral Training, which will place students at the heart of industry

The CoSTAR building near Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Use Our Facilities

The Lab's facilities feature dedicated spaces for advancing live performance systems and user experience across screen, stage, and the metaverse.

Facilities include:

User Experience Laboratory
Acoustically isolated Network Performance Studios
‘Future Venues’ main stage experimental performance space
High resolution motion capture systems (marker and markerless)
Immersive audio and visual provision throughout all spaces
VR and XR displays and technologies
Biometric data capture systems
LED Virtual Production Volume
High Performance Computing infrastructure
Private 5G Network

The CoSTAR Network

CoSTAR Live Lab is a key component of a broader, £75.6 million national network of labs, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Arts and Humanities Research Council. This nationwide initiative is crucial for ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of the creative industries, developing the essential skills and infrastructure to harness powerful technologies as they evolve.

Funding and support

Find out about the resources available for your business.

Find out more about funding and support

Upcoming events

Find out more about what's happening at CoSTAR Live Lab.

See the events