Escape Studios and the British Library bring the adventures of Alexander the Great to life

Escape Studios has collaborated with the British Library as part of their new exhibition on Alexander the Great, which charts the rich history of storytelling about one of the most famous figures of the ancient world.

Supported by the Kusuma Trust and Ubisoft, Alexander the Great: The Making of a Myth features around 140 exhibits from 25 countries in over 20 languages and explores how Alexander’s legacy turned into legend – a transformation that started while he was alive and continues today.

The British Library collaborated with Escape Studios’ School of Interactive and Real Time to create an interactive version of the largest world map to survive from the Middle Ages until it was destroyed during the Second World War. Based on the original map, which was produced by the sisters of the convent of Ebstorf around 1300, the new digital map enables users to explore the adventures Alexander was purported to have taken in his lifetime.  

Escape Studios established a team of its students and graduates from its new ‘Escape Pods’ incubator to create the 3D map. This new incubator is used for internal and external special projects, providing the studio space for project-based learning and real time development.

Simon Fenton, Dean for the School of Interactive and Real Time said: “We were delighted that the British Library commissioned Escape Studios to support on their historic new exhibition on Alexander the Great. I would like to thank our staff, students and graduates who took part in this special project, which showcased our new ‘Escape Pods’ incubator.”

Yrja Thorsdottir, Digital Content Exhibition Curator at the British Library, said: “It has been a real pleasure to work with Escape Studios and utilise their creative skills and technical knowledge for our new exhibition on Alexander the Great. Alexander has been the subject of myths, legends and all types of storytelling for centuries, and it is the evolution of these tales that we explore in the exhibition. This is a modern continuation of storytelling about Alexander while bringing a lost map to life in new and exciting ways.”

The British Library is indebted to the Patricia G. and Jonathan S. England – British Library Innovation Fund, as well as the American Trust for the British Library, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, The Hellenic Foundation, London, and Professor James H. Marrow and Dr Emily Rose for their support towards the development of this exhibition.

Alexander the Great: The Making of a Myth runs at the British Library from 21 October 2022 – 19 February 2023.