The Digital Ghost Hunt

Augmented Reality and live performance in an immersive storytelling experience

The Digital Ghost begins when a normal day is interrupted by Deputy Undersecretary Quill from the Ministry of Real Paranormal Hygiene (MORPH), recruiting any young children nearby to help her investigate a mysterious haunting in their building. Under her tutelage, Professor Bray, the Ministry’s chief scientist, the young ghost hunters must unravel the mystery of the ghost's haunting, and help to set it free.

Participants investigate the haunting with their own paranormal detectors: The SEEK Ghost Detector, a BBC Micro:bit connected to a DecaWave DWM1001-DEV Ultra wideband radio, housed in a custom designed laser cut shell. The SEEKs allow the children to identify objects and locations touched by the ghost, working together to discover ghostly traces, translate Morse code using flickering lights and find messages left in ectoplasm. Meanwhile, the ghost communicates through a mixture of traditional theatrical effects and the poltergeist potential of smart home technology.

More at digitalghosthunt.com

Children in the Digital Ghost Hunt at BAC point out the ghost behind him

student in the Digital Ghost Hunt uses a SEEK detector

Junior agent holds back audience in the Digital Ghost Hunt

Dr. Bray investigating evidence with a student in the Digital Ghost Hunt

Productions (so far)

Battersea Arts Centre (2018)

An image from the start of the first Digital Ghost Hunt, with the audience gathered at the steps of the main staircase at the Battersea Arts Centre, meeting the skeptical building manager for the first time

A scratch of The Digital Ghost Hunt was performed at the Battersea Arts Centre in November, 2018, funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council's Next Generation of Immersive Experiences program.

York Theatre Royal (2019)

An external shot of the York Theatre Royal, taken at night

The project was given further funding from the AHRC for impact & engagement in 2019 to adapt the show into a family experience, in collaboration with Pilot Theatre. A limited, sold-out run of the show premiered at the York Theatre Royal's 275th anniversary in August 2019.

The Garden Museum (2019)

Near the end of the Garden Museum show, Tom Bowtell holds up a clue he's just dug up from the museum garden

On All Souls Day 2019 the project performed a museum-late experience in partnership with the Garden Museum in London. This new format sent young ghost hunters up a medieveal clocktower and digging for clues in the gardens of the 14th century St. Mary at Lambeth church.

Leigh Spinners Mill (2021)

An external shot of the Spinners' Mill in Leigh, near Manchester

A new production in collaboration with the Manchester Royal Exchange's Leigh Ambassadors group at Spinners Mill for family audiences, inspired by real historical events. In addition to support from King's College London and Sussex University, this production was made possible by a generous commission from the Manchester Royal Exchange, as part of their Den pop-up festival.

Media and Press

Ghost Hunt was featured in Immersive Arcade's Best of British since 2001.
Tom Bowtell and Elliott Hall wrote about their work on the Digital Ghost Hunt for Raspberry Pi's Hello World magazine (Issue #9).
Listen to an episode of the Exchange's podcast Connecting Tales discussing the Spinner's Mill production, with Tom, Elliott, and Leigh Ambassador (and part time ghost) Mike Burwin.
Emma Bradburn, intern for the ‘Civic Theatres: A Place for Towns’ research project wrote an account of the Spinner's Mill show on her blog.

Project team

 
Elliott Hall
Concept, Co-Creator, and Co-Investigator

 
Tom Bowtell
Co-creator and Director

 
Professor Mary Krell
Primary Investigator (BAC & York productions)

 
Dr. Carina Westling
Co-Investigator (BAC & York productions)

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