Start: A brief to create A new Augemnted Reality storytelling Trail experience bringing more than 900 years of history to life using physical-digital storytelling approaches and technologies for visitors at Tamworth Castle

This Great Adventure & co. were commissioned to develop the new Remote Educational Programme, and this hybrid Augmented Reality : location-based storytelling project, Tamworth AR Explorer

This project is a UK first, using large scale Augemnted Reality to tell a story through one of the UK’s oldest buildings. It is part of a wider Transformation at Tamworth Castle made possible by Cultural Recovery and National Lottery Funding

Discovery // Inception meeting and site visit at Tamworth Castle

filming actors in 3D with the new Depthkit for the Augmented Reality Trail

Journey

Starting with Tamworth Castle’s 900-year story — and the people who tell it today — we combined narrative design, interpretive planning, and immersive technology to reimagine its history for visitors of all ages, using large-scale interactive AR in fresh, playful ways.

Working with the brilliant Castle team and creative partners Four Door Productions, Kezi Gardom, and TGAC, we shaped the narrative and interpretive plan, overseeing all physical and digital production for Tamworth AR Explorer.

At the heart of the experience is The Memory Keeper — a timeless, fiery, floating guide inspired by Saxon women as peaceweavers and storytellers. The character weaves together holographic performances, volumetric video, and AR encounters, unlocking the castle’s secrets one stone at a time.

We pioneered new techniques including:

LiDAR scanning with iPhone 12 Pro for site-specific digital models
Unity MARS for environment-aware AR storytelling
Depthkit volumetric capture for 3D filmed performances
3D spatial animation for characters and graphics
Photogrammetry + CGI for interactive collections
Machine learning optimisation to make AR work on older, lower-range devices

This project brought together centuries of stories with cutting-edge tools — creating a flexible, accessible, and COVID-safe immersive experience that redefines how audiences connect with heritage spaces.

Filming in 3D with Depthkit - Tamworth AR Explorer (video courtesy of Four Door Productions)

On-site testing the Tamworth AR Explorer app with Castle Manager, Rob Holder

Destination

A UK first — large-scale interactive storytelling and augmented reality brought the rich history of one of England’s oldest castles to life.

Our hybrid physical-digital experiences add value without altering sensitive heritage spaces, layering immersive AR and interactive stories that adapt to the site’s unique character.

Accessibility was key. Using machine learning and smart optimisation, we made these experiences work smoothly on everyday smartphones, ensuring everyone — including low-tech audiences — could engage.

Combining 30 years of storytelling expertise with cutting-edge interactive tools, we developed new creative strategies and production workflows, ready to apply across cultural, community, brand, and placemaking projects.