You will need to complete a pre-booking form here before booking this experience.
Dreamachine: High Sensory
Travel through a technicolour world of light and sound in this immersive, collective experience.
I just loved it – seeing such majestic beauty and knowing it is all an illusion created by your brain
Sit back.
Get comfortable
Close your eyes…
Dreamachine is an immersive experience like no other. Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to explore the extraordinary potential of your own mind.
This powerful new kind of collective experience will come from within, conjured entirely by light and music. The colourful world of the Dreamachine will unfold behind your closed eyes – created by your own brain and completely unique to you.
What will you see? How will you feel? Only you will know because every experience of the Dreamachine will be completely personal. You might see patterns and shapes, cities and landscapes, or abstract waves of shifting colours. It might feel like a rollercoaster ride, or a journey through time and space.
Dreamachine has been created by a team of leading minds in architecture, technology, music, neuroscience, and philosophy, including Turner Prize-winning collective Assemble and Grammy and Mercury nominated composer Jon Hopkins.
It's inspired by an extraordinary 1959 invention by artist Brion Gysin, described as the ‘first artwork to be experienced with your eyes closed’. Now, over 60 years later, the 21st-century Dreamachine has been radically re-imagined into a seated, multisensory experience with an immersive lightscape and 360 degree spatial sound.
Like a modern kind of campfire, you’ll share your Dreamachine journey with a group of up to 32 people at a time. After your experience, you’ll be invited to reflect on what you saw, what you heard and how you felt, by yourself or with others.
Join us on a magical journey into the extraordinary potential of your own mind. Please complete a pre-booking form here before booking this experience.
There are two versions of the Dreamachine experience:
High Sensory
The High Sensory experience contains fast flashing bright lights, known as strobe lighting, and 360 degree spatial audio that has been used to create a deeply immersive experience. For many people, the effects of the lights and the music will generate colourful patterns and visuals behind your closed eyes.
Please complete a pre-booking form here before booking this experience.
Deep Listening
The Deep Listening experience has been designed to make the experience as accessible as possible to those who may have sensitivities to strobe lighting or high sensory environments. It is an immersive 360 degree spatial audio experience, with a gentle lightscape. It does not contain fast flashing lights. Find out more and book the Deep Listening experience.
Image gallery
A gallery carousel of 6 items
Walking into the Dreamachine
© 2022 Credit : Urszula Soltys
The reclined seating inside the Dreamachine
© 2022 Credit : David Levene
The upright seating option inside the Dreamachine, which can be booked online for Access Pass members or by calling the Box Office
© 2022 Credit : Brenna Duncan
A wheelchair space inside the Dreamachine, which can be booked online by Access Pass members or by calling the Box Office
© 2022 Credit : Brenna Duncan
A chance to draw and reflect on what you saw inside the Dreamachine
© 2022 Credit : Urszula Soltys
A chance to draw and reflect on what you saw inside the Dreamachine
© 2022 Credit : David LeveneAlternative experiences
This immersive experience has been created by Collective Act, directed by Jennifer Crook, in a unique collaboration with Turner Prize-winning artists Assemble, Grammy® nominated composer Jon Hopkins, leading neuroscientists Professor Anil Seth and Dr David Schwartzman (University of Sussex), philosopher Professor Fiona Macpherson (University of Glasgow), sound designer Christopher Shutt, and technologists Dev Joshi and Holition.
Commissioned as part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, with support from Belfast City Council, EventScotland and Creative Wales.
Booking guidance
This event is suitable for ages 18+.
You can only book one ticket per person for High Sensory sessions. If you would like to book the High Sensory experience for up to four people, please ensure each person in your group has completed the pre-booking form, then contact our box office by emailing dreamachine@eif.co.uk or +44 (0) 131 473 2000 to complete your group reservation
In line with our commitment to environmental sustainability, we would encourage you to opt for electronic tickets, however, if you choose to receive your tickets in the post you will be charged £2 for postage. If you are using e-tickets, please download them in advance of your visit so that they are available offline and ensure that your phone is sufficiently charged.
We encourage customers to book online or by phone, but if you require in-person assistance with your booking you can arrange an appointment by contacting us on dreamachine@eif.co.uk or +44 (0) 131 473 2000. The Edinburgh International Festival Box Office is based at The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE.
Latecomers policy
Please arrive at the venue ten minutes early. Doors will open at this time before every scheduled session. If you have not checked in by your session start time, you will not be admitted.
Content guidance
The High Sensory experience contains fast flashing lights and is not suitable for those who are pregnant, some people with epilepsy or other potential sensitivities to fast flashing lights and loud sounds. Please consider booking for the Deep Listening experience if you have any of these sensitivities.
Accessibility
Access Pass members can book tickets for wheelchair spaces and essential companion seats online. You can only book one ticket at a time online, so please call +44 (0) 131 473 2000 to book both together. Both attendees will need to complete the pre-booking form. If you would prefer to not sit in your wheelchair for the experience, please book a wheelchair transfer ticket by contacting our box office at dreamachine@eif.co.uk or +44 (0) 131 473 2000.
An upright seating option with armrests is available for anyone who may not be comfortable getting in or out of low, reclined seating. You can request an upright seating option by contacting our box office at dreamachine@eif.co.uk or +44 (0) 131 473 2000.
Our teams are aware of the diversity of access requirements and are here to support you. For more detail on our access provision please visit https://dreamachine.world/access/. If you would like to discuss your access requirements in more detail, please contact us at dreamachine@collectiveact.co.uk.
Audience photography
Filming and photography is not allowed during the immersive experience.
Ticket exchanges
We anticipate high demand for this event, so will be unable to organise date and time exchanges for people who have already booked. Instead, please book new tickets for an alternative available performance of your choice and contact us at dreamachine@eif.co.uk to cancel your previous booking.
If you or anyone in your household has had any recent COVID-19 symptoms, please stay at home for everyone’s safety.
Your safety
The Festival will follow Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council health and safety recommendations at all times to ensure the safety of our audiences, artists and team. Please continue to check our Visit Us page for the latest COVID-19 safety measures at the International Festival.
More details on Dreamachine
We recommend that you visit the Dreamachine FAQs page for more information on the experience.
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Photo: Dreamachine
© 2022 David Levene