“History is a race between education and catastrophe,” H.G. Wells once professed. It’s a compelling way to convey the importance of history and why we must avoid repeating mistakes of years gone by.
Yet, do we really study history all that much? How much did we know about Empire Windrush before it hit British headlines in 2017? How interested are we in the finer details of medieval life and have we really learnt from their grave errors?
Even if historians have pored through countless manuscripts, and archaeologists have scrutinised artefacts to microscopic detail, the findings only fail to gather dust because they’re safely stored in some museum’s back catalogue. Shockingly, the British Museum only has 1% of their collection on display.
Let’s be honest, not everyone enjoys going to a museum or a library for fun. Who can blame them? It’d be churlish to mock those wanting to learn in more engaging way.
878 AD ushers in a way of historical storytelling
878 AD shows a new, more interactive way forward; it’s an immersive experience about Anglo-Saxon history, bringing together a range of perspectives with such vitality you forget where you are.
Blending digital and analogue elements, and enhanced by an entertaining cast of live performers, the exhibition thrusts us into Anglo-Saxon Winchester while King Alfred the Great’s battle with invading Vikings loomed in the background. It’s a small but by pivotal part of the Early Middle Ages.
Rather than focus on the victors, as history so often does, 878 AD isn’t afraid to tell ugly truths and show that not every Anglo-Saxon wished for King Alfred’s triumph.
One such ugly truth is the prevalence of slavery at the time. Some were enslaved by raiding armies, while others were being punished for their crimes. But together, they maintained Anglo-Saxon society by doing the hardest jobs that nobody else wanted to do.
Viking victory would likely have led to their freedom – a detail that could easily have been lost while wondering around a museum. Here though, the lives of everyday Anglo-Saxons are brought to life in a way that engages you unlike any other form of storytelling.
Interactive maps, historical artefacts, and authentic props are punctuated by live performances that make the experience feel part theatre, part museum exhibit. It’s a testament to the organisations and experts who partnered together to produce 878 AD.
Unique partnerships bring unique opportunities
Whenever I spoke to anyone from the Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT) team – the primary organisers of this exhibition – their enthusiasm was clear to see. 878 AD represents a new and exhilarating way of using the vast collection of artefacts they look after.
To supplement these relics, in-game assets from Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla were used in variety of applications. Every partner involved were keen to explain how fundamental their graphics and designs were to the whole experience.
But it wasn’t like they could just send off the assets from their game as Ed Cookson, Projects Director at Sarner, explained: “They had to be rescaled to suit large prints in the set or to be rendered in 8K projections.”
In one instance, the Winchester reliquary from Valhalla had to be refined as a 3D model to complete a weathered, real-life version which made it feel like you’re walking through an episode of Time Team.
Paul Sapwell, Chief Executive of the Hampshire Cultural Trust, told me: “The goal of 878 AD is to widen the audience interested in Anglo-Saxon history.” There’s certainly something for everyone here. Even small children will find a treasure-hunting trail positioned for their eyeline only.
Despite museums having a large back catalogue in archive, they often have an endless array of artefacts on offer still. Paul recognises that this can become overwhelming for visitors. “Museums are filled with thousands of relics. At 878 AD, a smaller selection has been chosen so that each one becomes a more significant part of the story that’s being told.”
It’s a departure from how HCT normally do things in their more traditional museums where they have a lot of experience. But Paul explains that the Trust also has ambitions to find exciting ways of using their knowledge and collection of relics to foster public enthusiasm for medieval history.
To bring all of these assets (including historical images from Alamy) and knowledge to life, Sarner was brought in to produce a narrative that is as educational as it is entertaining. By blending a wide range of storytelling formats, including written excerpts, live performances, and period-accurate games, 878 AD is given every chance to engage even the most casual history pupil.
Sarner has a long history of providing multi-sensory, immersive experiences across a range of topics. They are storytellers at heart hence why they’re willing to use such a diverse range of tools to ensure the story comes to life and engages audiences.
Once you’ve filled your goblet, the experience spills onto the streets in the form of a geolocation AR app created by Sugar Creative. Visitors are prompted to find specific checkpoints dotted around Winchester to further ingratiate themselves into Anglo-Saxon life by designing their own pots or shields to then place into the real world.
Fans of Assassin’s Creed will notice franchise motifs in the app making it feel like DLC for the game. Will Humphrey, Creative Director at Sugar Creative, also assures me that more content will be added to the app which users can come back to next time they find themself in the city.
It heralds an extra dimension to exhibitions whether they be more traditional museums or the fully interactive experience you get at 878 AD. Sarner and Sugar Creative say we should expect more from their partnership in future.
Fostering enthusiasm for history
Regaling in history can sometimes be a labour of love. It’s hard enough to keep up with what’s happening around the world day-to-day. Where does one start when there’s centuries of history to trawl through?
At 878 AD, you can be a visual learner, a tactile learner, a listener, or a reader, and all will feel catered for. You’re given a glimpse into a specific period of Anglo-Saxon history, and it engages you across multiple senses, never allowing you to get bored or feel bombarded with information. If none of that works for you, then you can always just have a chat with the local reeve or weaver to find out what life was like.
But history is vast. 878 is just one dot on the timeline. The hope, as all involved were keen to emphasise, is that this leads to sustained interest in history and heritage. After all, the alternative is catastrophe.
878 AD
The Brooks, Winchester
Opened Saturday 12 November 2022