We were lucky to catch up with Deirdre V. Lyons recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Deirdre V. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

We create live theatre in virtual reality. It is often challenging to communicate what we do to people who are not familiar XR (which includes Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality) or the new term, Spatial Computing. But often, once people put on a headset, they see the potential immediately.

At Ferryman Collective, we use immersive technology to transport our audiences and actors to different worlds and stories. Our work is not like traditional theatre, where you sit in a seat and watch a stage. Nor is it like typical virtual reality, where you interact with a pre-recorded or computer-generated environment. Our work is a hybrid of both, where you are part of a live, interactive, and collaborative performance with other people from around the world. We believe that this is a powerful and unique way to create and experience art, as it allows us to explore new possibilities of storytelling, expression, and connection.

We also believe that XR is not a niche or a fad, but a future of education, travel, interaction, art and so much more. We think that as more people get access to VR headsets and spatial computing devices, they will discover the potential and the magic of live theatre in VR, as well as all the tools this new platform brings. We are at a very special time in the history of art and technology, where we can shape and define this new medium of expression. We are happy to be part of this community and to share our vision and passion with the world.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Performing has been something I’ve done all my life, and I was fortunate to have support and encouragement for this passion. During the pandemic, I was lucky enough to be working on Tender Claws Studios award winning experiences ‘The Under Presents’ and ‘The Under Presents: Tempest’ and when it closed, I co-founded Ferryman Collective, and we became one of the leading creators in VR Theatre. I realized that all my previous experiences had prepared me for this opportunity, my work in immersive theatre and all the projects we had previously produced.

Our work invites audiences to join us as active participants in immersive and emotional stories, where they can interact with live actors and stunning visuals. We have a range of projects, from fresh ideas to award-winning shows that have amazed people around the world. This technology opens endless possibilities for storytelling and connection, and we are eager to explore and learn from them. Live theatre and storytelling are essential to our humanity, as they help us express and understand ourselves and others. Our mission is to move people’s hearts, to inspire them to feel something beyond their everyday lives.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

One of the biggest challenges that I have faced in my life was overcoming my fear of failure and judgement, often manifesting itself as perfectionism. I thought that by being perfect, I could earn the love, respect, and admiration of others and if I could do that, then I would be happy and successful.

One of the fundamental tools of changing my perspective and behavior was reading and listening to the work of Brené Brown, a researcher and author who studies shame, vulnerability, and leadership. I particularly liked ‘Daring Greatly’, where she explores how we can embrace vulnerability and overcome shame in different areas of our lives. She draws on the famous speech by Theodore Roosevelt, where he said: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly” (Roosevelt, 1910).

She challenges us to be the man in the arena, to show up and be seen, to be honest, vulnerable, and true, even when we face the possibility of failure, rejection, and criticism. She reminds us that we are not defined by our outcomes, but by our efforts. She encourages us to dare greatly, to live fully, and to love wholeheartedly.

While working with tech, I was able to put this into practice, and realize that it is not about being perfect, but how we deal with imperfections and things that are beyond our control that defines us, as so often happens while doing show in VR. I can’t control if my wifi gives out during a performance, or if my fellow actors blinks out of the scene. I can’t control if or when an audience member accidentally turns into another avatar. Or if I forget my line at a particular moment. But I can come to trust in the belief that I will find a way to deal with whatever issue comes my way, and that trust builds confidence.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Many of us grow up believing in the myths and tropes of success, such as the Horatio Alger story of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, or the idea that the cream rises to the top. We think that success is a result of hard work, talent, and merit, and that anyone can achieve it if they try hard enough. We think that success is a fair and predictable outcome, and that failure is a sign of weakness or laziness, that it is matter of choice, not chance.

However, I have come to realize that these beliefs are not only false, but also harmful. They ignore the role of luck in success, and the role of privilege, bias, and opportunity in failure. They create unrealistic expectations and pressures, and they discourage us from taking risks and exploring new possibilities.

I learned this lesson the hard way, as I pursued my passion for performing. I had a narrow view of what performance and success meant, and I faced many obstacles and disappointments along the way. For the majority of my life I had to constantly adjust my definition of success, and settle for smaller and smaller versions of my dreams. I felt frustrated as I grew older without the opportunities I had hoped for.

But then, something unexpected happened. I stumbled upon a new path, one that still involved performing, but also involved creating live theatre in virtual reality, a new and exciting genre of storytelling. I co-founded Ferryman Collective with other amazing individuals, and we became one of the top creators in this field.

In a study that tried to quantify the role of luck and talent in success by Italian physicists Alessandro Pluchino and Andrea Raspisarda, joined with an Italian economist Alessio Biondo, they found that it was those who were able to use their talent to exploit their luck, that were the most successful. And it is possible to increase luck, as Richard Wiseman found in his work, discovering that those who feel they are lucky are more likely to create, notice and act upon chance opportunities.

These studies challenge the conventional wisdom of success, and they offer a new and liberating perspective. They show us that success is not a static and final state, but a dynamic and ongoing journey.

I have embraced this perspective, and it has changed my life for the better. I have stopped focusing on such a narrow version of what and where my performing would take place, and I have found a world where live performance was rarely experienced. Our Collective has pioneered in this space, and I am a part of it because I walked through doors that were open to me instead of passing them by.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.DeirdreVLyons.com
• Instagram: Instagram – deirdrevlyons
• Facebook: Facebook – @DeirdreVLyons
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdrevlyons/
• Twitter: Twitter – @DeirdreVLyons
• Other: https://www.ferrymancollective.com/

Image Credits
Christian Frania Nicole Landau Braden Roy Christopher Lane Davis Céline Delatte Dark Euphoria