Neural Echoes: Enter the Sleep Lab, a 50-minute immersive literary experience by Tusitala and Artwave Studio, will run from Jan 9 to Feb 7, 2026 at The Arts House as part of VERSE 2026.

Designed for small groups of four to six participants, Neural Echoes blends storytelling, spatial design and precision sound to create a sound-led narrative environment. The experience is eligible for SG Culture Pass credits, with early bird tickets priced at S$32 until Jan 4, and standard tickets at S$40.

Immersive literary experience reimagined for physical space

Set within a fictional research facility, Neural Echoes: Enter the Sleep Lab places participants undercover as test subjects in an ongoing sleep study conducted by a fictional corporation, SomniTech. The narrative unfolds as participants navigate the space, follow audio instructions and solve puzzles shaped by sound, light and environmental cues.

The work is adapted from a science fiction play-by-email literary piece that debuted at the Singapore Writers Festival in 2020. The new iteration moves the story off the page and into a physical environment, allowing participants to actively influence how the narrative progresses.

The project continues its exploration of how literature can move beyond text, experimenting with interaction and the blurred boundaries between digital and physical storytelling.

Sound design as narrative driver

Artwave Studio’s audio-first approach underpins the experience, using layered soundscapes and original musical elements to guide participants through the fictional lab. Sound functions not only as atmosphere, but as a core mechanic through which the story is revealed.

“We’re excited to be presenting this work alongside our long-time partner Tusitala, after a year-long development and multiple rounds of play tests,” said Ng Sze Min and Pan Zai’En of Artwave Studio. “This time, we’ve pushed the dimensions of text; taking on characters you’ll meet, animating the set design to show signs of life, and puzzles you’ll have to solve by listening.”

Exploring control, technology and collective decision-making

Rather than offering definitive answers, Neural Echoes invites participants to reflect on its themes after leaving the space. These include the boundaries between wakefulness and dreams, the relationship between humanity and technology, and the promise and unease of collective consciousness.

Christine Chong of Tusitala said the narrative draws on speculative fiction, immersive theatre and game mechanics to examine how sound and ideology can shape behaviour. “The immersive experience was designed to encourage participants to navigate individuality and consensus to examine how collective decisions might shape our future with AI,” she said.

Neural Echoes: Enter the Sleep Lab runs from Jan 9 to Feb 7, 2026 at The Arts House. Tickets are available via BookMyShow Singapore, with sessions lasting approximately 50 minutes.