Work has been taking place behind the scenes on a brand-new visitor experience, which will open later this year at our iconic Liverpool landmark.
The History Whisperer will be the focal point of a new attraction at St George’s Hall located in the heart of the UNESCO Word Heritage Site – set to open late in the summer.
Behind the new addition is a team of the country’s leading tech organisations:
- Gazooky Studios – a BAFTA and Prix Europa award-winning storytelling and world class XR technology company.
- Immersive Interactive – specialists in mesmerising touch-wall interactivity
- Music in Mind – an industry-leader when it comes to creating rousing, witty and deeply moving music and sound effects.
The consortium was officially appointed back in February after successfully responding to the Hall’s tender process, following a £250,000 award from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, which formed part of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
This funding will pave the way for the new visitor experience, which will be a welcome addition to the Hall’s mission to recover following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Details of the attraction are being kept under wraps, but audiences can expect to be plunged into a world where the past meets the present, and the fascinating social history of Victorian Liverpool and St George’s Hall comes to life.
As part of the process, the consortium is appealing to members of the public to share their memories of St George’s Hall through photographs and videos. These will potentially form part of the attraction.
For your chance to be featured, please use the following Google Form and read the consent paragraph before submitting your photographs and/or videos: http://bit.ly/SGHCallForContent.
An official opening date for The History Whisperer will be announced in the coming weeks.
Reaction
Liverpool’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:
“We are all aware of how the pandemic has decimated our cultural offer, and so there’s both relief and excitement that venues can finally be in a position to prepare to welcome back visitors safely.
“St George’s Hall is already a must-visit destination for tourists and residents alike, but by bringing on board some of the country’s leading tech companies, the Hall’s team are introducing a whole new, cutting-edge dynamic to the visitor offer.
“I can’t wait to find out more about the new attraction and experiencing it for myself and I’m sure it will prove to be a popular addition to this much-loved gem.”
Head of Liverpool City Assets, Angie Redhead, said:
“After a busy few months of hard work and development, we’re thrilled to be officially announcing Gazooky Studios, Immersive Interactive and Music in Mind, as the consortium behind our visitor experience, The History Whisperer.
“While St George’s Hall is known for its rich architecture and captivating history, we’re now going to be digitally of our time too. To marry our unique heritage with the ground-breaking storytelling of Gazooky and their partners, fills us with huge excitement.
“We simply cannot wait to re-open and share our new immersive experience with visitors later this year.”
Speaking on behalf of The History Whisperer consortium, Chief Executive and Creative Director of Gazooky Studios, Dr Rose Kay, said:
“Gazooky Studios, Music in Mind and Immersive Interactive are delighted to be given this amazing opportunity.
“We’ll be bringing the spaces of St George’s Hall to life with our immersive, interactive and storytelling expertise, in a ground-breaking project – a first-of-a-kind attraction for Liverpool.
“It will combine the latest immersive technology, theatre, film, art and music to create a truly inspiring experience that will move people – moving them emotionally with a powerful story, whilst moving them physically throughout the Hall.
“It’s a great privilege to be working with other Liverpool-based companies and with the community, to create a world-class experience, sharing stories of Liverpool’s rich past.”