StoryTrails is the world’s largest immersive storytelling archive project. Its aims were to change the way we tell stories about ourselves, putting the promise of the 3D internet into the hands of people where they live and make the virtual and the augmented a magical reality for audiences everywhere.
As part of 'UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK', StoryTrails was led by StoryFutures Academy run by Royal Holloway, University of London and the National Film and Television School (NFTS). It harnessed the magic of immersive storytelling to bring to life untold stories from the past, stories of belonging, and stories that reanimated our public spaces, inspiring a national conversation about who we are, and where we are going. Town squares, local libraries, streets, and cinemas were transformed into virtual portals through which we could explore stories of historical change in 15 locations across the UK. The StoryTrails creative team worked closely with communities in each of the towns to uncover unknown, surprising, and intriguing stories. The experience reignited people’s pride and passion for their hometown, giving the public a new sense of connection to their community and the histories of the place where they live.
StoryTrails is delivered in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI), broadcaster and film-maker, David Olusoga, Uplands Television, and leading immersive specialists ISO Design and Nexus Studios. It was brought to life in The Reading Agency’s national network of libraries and by event-making specialists ProduceUK.