Horrible Histories® Blitzed Brits exhibition

Horrible Histories® Blitzed Brits exhibition

Imperial War Museums North

Working with Scholastic Children’s Books, publisher of the Horrible Histories®, we developed a highly experiential, engaging and interactive exhibition on the theme of the Second World War Blitz to mark the 75th anniversary. Using the visual style of the Horrible Histories® brand we created a series of three dimensional immersive environments to lead visitors on a journey through the Blitz. The key character of Rattus guides visitors around the exhibition together with his hapless sidekick, Pigeon, revealing some of the terrible truths behind this catastrophic conflict along the way.

Our role included copywriting, exhibition and interactive design to bring to life the story of the Blitz in a truly 3D way. Visitors can enter a 1940s house, race a messenger pigeon, defuse a bomb and evacuate to the country. The exhibition combines personal stories, over 200 objects, photographs, art works, film and sound recordings to reveal how the Blitz brought the war to the doorsteps
of Britain.

The Drum Scottish Design Awards
Winner 2016

A visitor feedback area at the end of the exhibition allows for contemplation as well as a place for younger visitors to complete their Survival Guides.

A visitor feedback area at the end of the exhibition allows for contemplation as well as a place for younger visitors to complete their Survival Guides.

“

A show from the comical Horrible Histories team has jokey games but also affecting exhibits that bring home the tragedy of the Blitz. It’s brilliantly done and children (and, frankly, adults) will love it.

The Times

“

Truly magnificent, a real hands-on exhibition for children of all ages and providing so many learning opportunities. I cannot recommend the exhibition highly enough, it is one of the most child-focused and friendly exhibitions that I have been to.

Five Adventurers – Inspirational Travel with Kids!

Visitors can explore The Street with its shops offering rationed goods, encounter the bad blackout and race a messenger pigeon.

Visitors can explore The Street with its shops offering rationed goods, encounter the bad blackout and race a messenger pigeon.

A two-storey 1940s House is set for Christmas 1940, two days after the Manchester Blitz which devastated large parts of the city.

A two-storey 1940s House is set for Christmas 1940, two days after the Manchester Blitz which devastated large parts of the city.

The exhibition was devised to bring the Blitz to life and included lots of hands-on interactives designed to engage a wide range of ages and abilities.

The exhibition was devised to bring the Blitz to life and included lots of hands-on interactives designed to engage a wide range of ages and abilities.

In the Dig for Victory Garden a giant pair of knickers drying on a washing line provides the backdrop to a propaganda film.

In the Dig for Victory Garden a giant pair of knickers drying on a washing line provides the backdrop to a propaganda film.

A young visitor explores the smells of wartime cooking in the 1940s House.

In the Dig for Victory Garden a giant pair of knickers drying on a washing line provides the backdrop to a propaganda film.

Visitors were encourged to leave feedback and to share their memories and experiences.

Visitors were encourged to leave feedback and to share their memories and experiences.

The race is on – cycling to beat the messenger pigeon!

The race is on – cycling to beat the messenger pigeon!

Visitors could milk a life-sized cow when they were evacuated to the country.

Visitors could milk a life-sized cow when they were evacuated to the country.

Visitors sniff their way through the stinky smells from the pig bins.

Visitors could milk a life-sized cow when they were evacuated to the country.

Large scale objects created exciting focal points throughout the exhibition.

Large scale objects created exciting focal points throughout the exhibition.

Each visitor is given their very own Survival Guide as they begin their journey through the Blitz.

Each visitor is given their very own Survival Guide as they begin their journey through the Blitz.

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