RSC Gives Camden Street an Interactive Makeover???

Adelaide Road, or the B509, the mile-long road which runs between Camden’s Roundhouse and the Hampstead Theatre at Swiss Cottage is to receive an interactive makeover thanks to the Royal Shakespeare Company. Inspired by Shakespeare’s As You Like It the RSC’s ‘Adelaide Road’ project incorporates a web-based map and iPhone application which the company say will give audiences around the world access, as well providing location-specific interactions on the road itself for intrepid theatregoers. Linking venues where the RSC is performing, with their London season currently in residence at the Roundhouse and their recently announced season of premieres at the Hampstead, the project will culminate on 14 May 2011 with a promenade performance along the length of the road, ending in a finale at the Adelaide Road Nature Reserve. Produced for the RSC by Sarah Ellis, the project will use technology designed by Bristol’s Calvium and Pervasive Media Studio and will include writing by poet in residence Aoife Mannix. Taking inspiration from modern tales of love, betrayal and exile, Mannix will work with local libraries and Camden archives, hosting workshops and provide artefacts and historical background about the street.

More information about the project can be found on the RSC’s website. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of As You Like It opens on 17 January (previews from 13 January) where it runs until 5 February 2011.