The Ministry of Time Travel

Calling all secret agents!

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

2021 – 2024

About the project

Between 2021 and 2024, we developed the world of the The Ministry of Time Travel with The National Archives to engage new young family audiences through a series of adventures. Through an exciting combination of digital storytelling and interactive gameplay, The MoTT was a unique and immersive world for family audiences to explore history together.

We kicked off with The Pickles Mission in September 2021. In this phone based adventure, the task was is to help Beatrix save Pickles the dog, who discovered the missing World Cup trophy in 1966. Players faced the challenges from Beatrix and help her to overcome TADAH, an evil group who want to change the past for their own gain. This mission returned in 2024.

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 developed MoTT Training Mission, which presented players with five exciting challenges highlighting records, stories and photos from The National Archives’ exciting collections, under the tutelage of the Chief Timer herself.

Check out the teaser

Project legacy

The Ministry of Time Travel continues at The National Archives. Check out their website to see if there’s an MoTT mission that you can be part of onsite or at home!

“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

  • Performer Afia Abusham
    Filmmakers DMLK Video
    Producer Eliza Cass, Harriet Bolwell & Emily Davis
    Director & Writer Toby Peach
    Sound Designer Dinah Mullen
    Digital Programming Maz Hemming & Su Hurst
    Graphic Design Ed Naujokas & Gareth Edwards
    Set and Prop Design James Rowlands
    Creative Development Mel Frances, Amy Marr & Shikha Sharma

  • 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

     

  • 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

Coney
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