Christmas spectacular lifits spirits at castle museum

The show by experience designer AY-PE features 10-metre high, 3D projection-mapped animated characters, kaleidoscopic scenes and dream-like sequences at York Castle Museum.

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York Castle Museum reopened on 2 December 2020 for a festive ‘spectacular’ of light, sound and magic, provided by immersive digital experience design company AY-PE.

Giving audiences a much needed lift of life and colour this winter 2020, AY-PE designed and managed the delivery of ‘A Christmas Spectacular on Kirkgate’ – the museum’s iconic, indoor Victorian street.

The 35-minute immersive show features 10-metre high, 3D projection mapped animated characters, colourful kaleidoscopic scenes and dream-like sequences, drawing from the enchanting themes of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. AY-PE also developed several animations to replicate and tie in with curated items of the museum’s Christmas collection.

A bespoke musical composition accompanies the show, including sprinklings of the Tchaikovsky score, alongside a winter wonderland of sound.

For more immersion AY-PE also collaborated with the museum to dress their historic street in oversized baubles, bold eye-catching characters, Christmas trees and snow, creating a jaw-dropping indoor ‘Narnia’ effect for visitors.

Fiona Burton, public engagement manager at York Museums Trust, said: "This Christmas we have decided to transform our famous Victorian Street with a 35-minute experience like nothing else we have done before. Visitors will be able to stroll through the snow-covered street, peek into the shops and watch beautiful projections adorn the walls as music plays.”

With the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) assessing that nearly one in five British adults has likely experienced some form of depression during the coronavirus lockdown, (almost double the figure from a year earlier), the pressure was on AY-PE and York Museum Trust to deliver a safe yet heartwarming ‘wow’ factor show, giving a little happiness and magic back to visitors.

Planning an immersive experience, in the middle of a pandemic, was not without its difficulties, according to AY-PE managing director Simon Ackerley. “We were in conversation with York Museums Trust (YMT) in the summer, over Zoom, screensharing our concept, approach and ideas for a Christmas Spectacular," said Ackerley. "It was surreal! The sun shone down outside our home windows and we were talking about dancing mice, spinning ballerinas, Santa and snow!

“We were still in lockdown 1.0 - our studio was closed, the team working remotely throughout the crisis and there we were, preparing ideas for a world outside of it all. It was a real challenge to plan for. Mentally you fight against wanting the world to carry on and be happy, against knowing that restrictions change on a week by week basis, more rules, tiers, with the goal always being to keep people safe.

“YMT were fantastic to work with, adapting to whatever restrictions were thrown in by the government. A practical positivity bonded us all together which was vital as lockdown 2.0 hit at the very same time that we needed to install and the museum had wanted to open. Things felt on a knife-edge, but in any project we build in flexibility - you have to in the exhibition industry as things often go wrong outside of your control! We were over the moon when York was announced as Tier 2 for December reopening and we could work with YMT to design, install and run an uplifting, safe and magical experience.”

To manage Covid-19 risk, AY-PE incorporated several additional elements into their experience development, including:

  • Remote working, online sharing and weekly Zoom catch-ups with the museum
  • Designing an AV show which correlates to the pulsed visitor flow, ensuring experience is maximised and the potential to cross-over groups minimised
  • Wipeable print finishes on the touchable over-sized character cut-outs stood along the street
  • Projection visibility up the street to allow for social distance when watching the main show
  • Social distancing throughout install, sound balancing and visual testing

As well as juggling a restricted world and a tight seasonal deadline, AY-PE also had to develop an immersive experience which respected and protected Kirkgate’s heritage including hundreds of curated objects, windows and shopfronts. Having worked with UNESCO and Grade I listed heritage sites, AY-PE is used to planning for and protecting heritage. The company worked closely with the museum’s project, curatorial and operations teams, as well as AY-PE’s chosen hardware company Fusion LX and sound designer WMP to find the best placements for six speakers and three projectors - both in terms of visitor experience impact and protection of the street.

Artificial snow drifts were tested with YMT’s curatorial team and AY-PE’s chosen set-dresser Workhaus, everyone careful to conserve the integrity of the aged assets of the street. AY-PE had planned through variations of their 3D modelled, mock-upped street, the positions of hanging and standing giant baubles and characters, allowing for socially distanced group spacing up the street and protection of the nearby buildings and curated assets.

Creative director Richard Playford added: “In a location like Kirkgate where everything is heritage, it was a considerable yet ultimately enjoyable challenge to bring a modern immersive experience, into a preserved, restricted world. The solutions meant that we could safely deliver the spectacle which York Castle Museum required from us, whilst allowing the history and stories of Kirkgate to still be enjoyed and breathe.”

AY-PE designed the overall experience for York Castle Museum with the AV show and illustrated cut-outs being produced by its creative team. AY-PE also utilised their agile business model to bring in relevant experts to deliver the project to the highest standards. Yorkshire based companies: WMP (sound), Fusion LX  (hardware) and Workhaus (set-dressing) are all highly regarded in the attractions industry and due to location, were able to adapt their availability around the regularly altering Covid 19 restrictions.

MD Simon Ackerley said: “It was a joy to bring together Yorkshire determination, experience and talent through some of the scariest months for creative industries in the UK. A positive, good news story.”

Photo credit: Charlotte Graham (first two photos)





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