Commissions
Historical characters your visitors can speak with
A life-sized character that answers spoken questions, so people can follow their own curiosity through a historical story.
Discuss a historical character
A conversation shaped by the collection
A commission begins with the person, the story, and the evidence. Together we can explore which historical figure could offer a useful perspective, what visitors might ask, and how the character should sit in the exhibition.
The work can bring together historical source material, character design, voice and performance, conversational software, and the physical installation. The scope is agreed for each project.
Captain Godfrey
Captain Godfrey was developed around the history of the SS Georgette and presented to the public in September 2026. Visitors asked about the wreck, the rescue, responsibility, and life aboard the ship. The character was developed with Dr Marcia van Zeller and actor Errol Beere. Responses are generated, not recordings of the historical figure, and can contain errors.
Read the Captain Godfrey case study
Developing an installation
- Explore the story — audience, collection, historical subject, and the research already in hand.
- Agree the scope — character, interpretation, responsibilities, installation, and commercial terms.
- Develop and review — creative and technical work, with review of the interpretation and the visitor experience.
- Prepare for operation — installation, testing, staff guidance, and ongoing services before launch.
The room, the sound, the display, the microphone, the computer, and the network all affect the experience. Staffing and interpretive review belong in the same conversation, before a proposal is finalised.
Licensing and ongoing operation
John retains ownership of the character assets, software, and underlying technology he creates, subject to third-party rights, and grants the institution an agreed licence to exhibit and operate the installation. Rights in material supplied by the institution or other contributors are agreed separately. Licence duration, permitted use, service costs, monitoring, and support are defined in the project agreement.