I WAS standing in front of a camera in The Space, the concrete fallout shelter-like area at the bottom of Nottingham Contemporary. A CD of Disney film favourites piped cheerfully over the tannoy as I waited for the television screen to count down from five. At zero, the camera would snap automatically, taking the first of ten pictures.

For my little shot at fame, I'd selected several props. I sported an ill-fitting top hat and a snazzy walking stick, and I carried a bushy black wig that, for my purposes, was some sort of violent little animal.

This silliness was, needless to say, all in the name of art.

In particular it was for The World's Your Stage, an interactive project going on at the Contemporary. Participants go in and take the ten shots that then get made into stop-frame scenes in a four-second clip. The clips then get fused into one big, slightly mad film.

The concept is that the technology helps create a massive version of the game Le Cadavre Exquis – probably better known as parlour game Consequences.

Brendan Oliver and Brendan Randall created The World's Your Stage as part of the Making Future Work Project, developed with the Broadway Cinema and supported by the Arts Council. They've already taken the project to the V&A in London and it's at the Contemporary until September 4.

"We've been impressed by the lack of inhibitions of people," Brendan Randall said. "It shows a real passion for people to be creative and be involved."

It seems straightforward, but there's some interesting technology behind it all. Participants face a television screen hooked up to the camera. Once the camera picks them up, they become interactive with the screen. They can control when the recording starts by waving their arms and "hitting" buttons on the screen (the kids tend to love that – even if they sometimes have to jump or stand on tiptoes to "reach" the buttons).

Once the camera starts snapping, you're on your own. They've got a few costumes and props just offstage. In addition to the top hat, tails, cane and wig, they've got such stylish acoutrements as a policeman's hat, a small truncheon and a number of stripy robbers' outfits.

According to the project leaders, the arrest and occasional beating of parents has been a popular plot point for younger participants.

Beyond that, the project leaders reckon it works well for children because it bring them in with something they already understand. It's on-screen elements are just like the interactive games kids play, so they have an immediate comfort zone.

The two Brendans are both Nottingham-based, but in the past much of their work has been in London.

Now though, they're starting to see more interest like this in Nottingham. Organisations like the Broadway and the Contemporary have been very important, and now they're looking at rolling out more interesting projects across the region.

The coding they've used for The World's Your Stage will be open-source – any group or space that wants to put this on will be free to have a go. And you don't need a big room or a special space – just somewhere with a relatively uncluttered wall to stand in front of.

Once taken, all the images are put up on the project website, which has become popular all on its own. So far, web users from 38 different countries have checked it out.

Which makes for an interesting feeling when you've recorded one. For all I know, somewhere on the Mongolian steppe there's a man right now watching me wearing a jaunty top hat and white scarf while seemingly beating with a cane a small wig-like animal. I like to think my brand of physical comedy is translatable. And if you're reading this, international friends – I'm available for commissions.

The World's Your Stage is open every day except Monday To learn more about The World's Your Stage and to see some of the images, visit nottinghamcontemporary. org/event/world-your-stage.