The Ministry of Time Travel

Calling all secret agents!

The Ministry of Time Travel is a series of adventures created at The National Archives for young people & families. We welcome audiences to the world of The Ministry of Time Travel (MOTT), a secret organisation based at the heart of The National Archives, to use the evidence from the past available there, to safeguard time itself!

Over the past two years we have been developing the world of the The Ministry of Time Travel with The National Archives to engage new young family audiences through a series of adventures.

We kicked off with The Pickles Mission in September 2021. In this phone based adventure, your job is to help Beatrix save Pickles the dog, who discovered the missing World Cup trophy in 1966. You have to face the challenges from Beatrix and help her to overcome TADAH, an evil group who want to change the past for their own gain.

In 2022, we invited audiences to solve a very royal mystery – The 1671 Crown Jewels Heist. Audiences arrived at the MOTT’s mysterious Misfires Room at The National Archives and virtually met ministry operatives Ola and Jay, to help them decode strange time signals from 1671. However, as the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place, we need to head out into the building to solve the mystery of The Locked Door.

In 2023, we will be releasing the next MOTT Mission with The National Archives.

“Through a magical combination of theatre, interactive game-play and digital story-telling, Coney helped The National Archives create a unique and immersive new world full of adventure for family audiences to explore.”

Amy Marr – Events Producer, The National Archives

“The whole thing was literally AWESOME. I tweeted about it immediately. It is probably the best children’s activity we have ever done. We’ll never forget it. Phenomenal.”

Audience feedback

“It really exceeded our expectations and my seven-year old son had a really great time. Half way through he said “This place is really amazing isn’t it Dad”, and I was so glad we made the effort to visit.”

Audience feedback

Credits

The Ministry of Time Travel, a project by Coney.

The Pickles Mission
Performer – Afia Abusham
Filmmakers – DMLK Video
Producer – Carole Keating
Writer – Fran Moulds
Sound Designer – Dinah Mullen
Digital Programming – Ed Naujokas
Graphic Design – Ed Naujokas
Director and Narrative Design – Toby Peach
Set and Prop Design – James Rowlands
Ministry of Time Travel Narrative Development Team – Brigitte Adela, Rhianna Ilube, Carole Keating, Chloe Mashiter, Fran Moulds, Toby Peach, Tassos Stevens & Ruth Sutcliffe
Additional Footage – Magneto Films

The 1671 Crown Jewels Heist
Performers – Jacoba Williams & Gerel Falconer
Filmmakers – DMLK Video
Producers – Marie Klimis, Emily Davis & Nathan Charles
Writer – Melanie Frances
Sound Designer – Dinah Mullen
Digital Programming – Maz Hemming
Graphic Design – Gareth Edwards & Jess Sanders
Director and Narrative Design – Toby Peach
Set and Prop Design – James Rowlands