Satsymph and Liz Crow proudly announce the re-make of 1831 RIOT!, the world’s first immersive audio-play. Back in 2004 – when the original 1831 RIOT! was created for Mobile Bristol – you needed a special ‘pocket pc’ and a clunky GPS receiver in a backpack to access the experience. With the remake everyone can access this groundbreaking work – on your personal smartphone!
The app retells the story of the 1831 Reform Riots, which resulted in numerous casualties and nearly burnt the whole city down. The riots were a response to the rejection of the Great Reform Bill by the House of Lords, a measure designed to extend the vote to middle class male house holders. However, the announcement of the Tory MP and city Recorder, Sir Charles Wetherall, that Bristolians were not interested in parliamentary reform further inflamed local opinion. When Wetherall arrived in Bristol to open the Assize Courts, huge crowds gathered to oppose him and he was forced to take refuge in the Mayor’s Mansion House in Queen Square. This is the starting point for the 1831 RIOT! experience.
It’s best to download the app from a fast wifi connection (eg from your home) BEFORE you come to Queen Square. However, you can also download over a 4G connection at Queen Square in less than a minute. Don’t forget to bring a pair of headphones or earbuds with you – 1831 RIOT! (apart from the introductory screens) is entirely AUDIO! And no, you don’t need a network signal, the app contains everything it needs and just uses your phone’s GPS to trigger the content.
The app has been made to reflect the experience of a riot: be experimental, wander the whole of Queen Square, not just on the paths. If you want some ‘out time’ head for the statue of William in the middle of Queen Square. There are around 106 different soundfiles layered over the square – you can spend as long or as little time as you wish discovering new interactions!
Download 1831 RIOT! for FREE: you can find it here on google play
Background to the 1831 Bristol Reform Riots: 1831R – background on riot & its causes and consequences
The experience is wheelchair and mobility-impaired friendly. It is all audio.
PLEASE WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING WHEN USING THE APP! BE CAREFUL OF TRAFFIC WHEN CROSSING THE ROAD AROUND QUEEN SQUARE, AND WHEN IN THE SQUARE LOOK OUT FOR OTHER PEOPLE, DOGS AND ESPECIALLY CYCLISTS, WHO ZOOM THROUGH THE SQUARE AT QUITE A SPEED!