As part of its ambitious plans for 2009, The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust will be opening a new exhibition and visitor centre at Shakespeare's Birthplace. Following a competitive pitch, the Trust has appointed UK creative design and AV specialist Sarner to redevelop the visitor centre and give the Bard a modern makeover.
The attraction, entitled Life, Love & Legacy: A New Introduction to William Shakespeare, is due to open in April 2009, and will see visitors journey through five zones in an immersive experience bringing the history of Shakespeare to life. Set within the grounds of the house where Shakespeare was born, the visitor centre is the centrepiece of the five houses that The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust opens to the public in and around Stratford.
Utilising its in house creative and AV departments, Sarner has designed a fully automated dark 'walk through' experience using the latest in AV technology, including seamless widescreen projection, and "will present fascinating Shakespeare-related artefacts in a dynamic way that encapsulates the excitement and passion of the man himself". Software will monitor visitor numbers and control the flow through each of the zones within the attraction and offer the option of additional foreign languages being added at a later date.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is an independent charity that cares for Shakespeare's heritage and the new centre will be partly funded by Advantage West Midlands, which has awarded £250,000 towards the project.