23 October 2020
A door creaks. The circle of torchlight swings round the exhibition hall, picking out ribs, a spine, rows of teeth in its beam… Hang on – what’s this – an empty showcase...?
On 4 December at 7pm, BAFTA-winning wildlife presenter and explorer Steve Backshall (Deadly 60, Blue Planet Live, Expedition) will take you on a hunt for a missing exhibit in a unique live-streamed, interactive puzzle challenge.
Devised by Steve Backshall and escape room creators Agent November, Mystery at the Museum is a live online event taking participants on a virtual behind-the-scenes adventure through the spectacular building of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. To save the missing specimen, online participants will help Steve solve a series of puzzles based on the Museum exhibits, learning about the natural world along the way.
Mystery at the Museum is free for all to attend online, and is designed to raise funds for the Museum’s ambitious HOPE for the Future project, which is preserving the 200-year-old Hope entomology collection. Designated by Arts Council England as being of national and international importance, the Hope collection contains over 1 million British insects, from butterflies and beetles to flies and fleas. Under the HOPE for the Future project, insect-related teaching, outreach and events will inspire a new generation of scientists and increase public awareness of the climate and biodiversity crisis. Participants in Mystery at the Museum will be given an opportunity to donate to this exciting project during the event.
“This is going to be an interactive spook fest, as my online audience guide me around the Museum by night, solving puzzles and challenges, using their animal and dinosaur knowledge to help me.” Said Steve Backshall, “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to see behind the scenes at the most atmospheric building in the nation, and have me completely at your command, having to do everything you say!!!!”
Mystery at the Museum is for people of all ages with a passion for the natural world. It runs from 7-8pm on Friday 4 December 2020. More details and tickets at: https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/mystery.
