Bristol Old Vic launches virtual 3D tour of its new front of house spaces – visit from the comfort of your home!
25 Jan 2019
Bristol Old Vic has released a 3D walkthrough of its newly refurbished front of house space following the recent completion of its multi-million-pound redevelopment, which opened to the public in September 2018. The 3D tour includes the new 1766 Bar & Kitchen and provides glimpses of the theatre’s Heritage Lottery-funded art installations and exhibitions. Viewers are also able to step inside the historic Georgian auditorium and explore the space from all angles.
The 3D virtual tour is an extension of Bristol Old Vic’s welcome to everyone, giving those with access requirements, or from further afield, an opportunity to step inside the historic building without physically being there. Using state-of-the-art technology, Bristol Old Vic is committed to using every possible opportunity to make the trip to the theatre as easy as possible.
Liam Wiseman, Heritage Engagement Manager said, “The 3D photography capture work we did at Bristol Old Vic has allowed us to enhance our visitor offer, giving everyone the chance to view and explore the entire building and familiarise themselves with it before visiting. Audiences can view our accessibility features and can even find their seat before a show. It has also allowed us to open our historic site to a wider audience that anyone can access wherever they are. With the software viewable in Virtual Reality as well, you can literally go on a virtual tour of the theatre, so give it a go!”
The walkthrough was created in conjunction with 3D Visual, a Bristol-based 3D marketing service provider, specialising in 360° photography and property mapping.
Business owner Rob Thomas said, “3D Virtual Tours are not only socially inclusive, they provide audiences with a taster of what they can expect. Mapping Bristol Old Vic means documenting history and providing everyone with the opportunity to view a cultural masterpiece from anywhere in the world.”
The virtual tour allows audiences to scope out the building ahead of their visit, familiarise themselves with the theatre’s access facilities and examine various fields of view in the auditorium. The walkthrough encompasses all four floors of the theatre, from the Theatre Pit to the Gallery and can be viewed in 3D, in ‘Dollhouse’ mode or as a Floor Plan. It can be accessed on any device, including desktop computer, tablet, iPad or mobile phone. For a more immersive experience, visitors can also access the walkthrough with a Virtual Reality headset.
The walkthrough can be accessed on Bristol Old Vic’s ‘Your Visit’ page and will remain there as a permanent part of the theatre’s mission to become as inclusive as possible.
Bristol Old Vic is the longest continuously running theatre in the UK, and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2016. The historic playhouse aims to inspire audiences with its own original productions, both at home and on tour, whilst nurturing the next generation of artists, whether that be through their 350-strong Young Company, their many outreach and education projects or their trailblazing artist development programme, Bristol Ferment.
They use their funding to support experiment and innovation, to allow access to their programme for people who would not otherwise encounter it, or be able to afford it, and to keep their extraordinary heritage alive and animated.
On 24 Sep 2018, Bristol Old Vic completed its 2-year multi-million pound redevelopment project, which transformed its front of house space into a warm and welcoming public building for all of Bristol to enjoy, created a new studio theatre and opened up its unique theatrical heritage to the public for the first time.