The introduction of VR into theatrical performance represents both a significant innovation and a creative challenge. In this context, VR is not merely a visual enhancement but an active component in shaping the narrative. In the StećakLand production presented in this paper, the playwright employs VR as a storytelling tool to evoke a sense of the past, positioning the technology within a broader cultural and historical framework. This approach reflects current trends in the application of VR and digital technologies for the preservation, interpretation, and presentation of cultural heritage. The StećakLand theatre production combines traditional stage performance with immersive digital technologies to bring the medieval cultural heritage of the Western Balkans closer to contemporary audiences. The play is performed in a physical theatre space and features digital replicas of carved stone monuments (stećci) integrated into the scenography. One actor wears a VR headset and takes on the role of a “traveler” through StećakLand, a virtual world populated by ornaments, symbols, and mythological figures derived from the iconography of the stećci. This unique fusion of live performance and VR interaction enables the audience to experience heritage both physically (on stage) and virtually (through the projection of the VR environment). By integrating storytelling, theatre, and advanced digital tools, the production highlights the richness of medieval Western Balkan history and its enduring cultural significance.

Authors:
Selma Rizvic, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bojan Mijatovic, DIGI.BA Association, Bosnia-Herzegovina

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Selma Rizvic is a Steering Committee member of the EUROGRAPHICS Workgroup on Graphics and Cultural Heritage. Her group is researching applications of XR technologies in various media, including theater for digita presentation of cultural heritage.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/selma-rizvic-758b9815/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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