Shakespearean experience launched on 400th anniversary of his death

For example, users of the smartphone app will be able to scan (or ‘blipp’) a bus and discover that the origins of the Oyster Card stem from a line in Shakespeare’s ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ in which one of the characters famously says: “the world’s thine oyster.”

Blippar has employed the expertise of Arts & Humanities students from King’s College London to curate the interesting content surrounding Shakespeare’s significance and relevance with present day objects. The app will go live with its Shakespearean content from Thursday 21st April ahead of the anniversary of his death – and birth – on Saturday 23rd April.

Omaid Hiwaizi, Blippar’s Head of Global Marketing, said: “Due to the way Shakespeare can sometimes be taught in schools, many people feel challenged early on and can find his work difficult to engage with. Our ambition is to reverse this by highlighting Shakespeare in the world around us, making him the accessible character he always was. The involvement of King’s College London in curating the content has been paramount to the success of the activation. The dedication and level of commitment and knowledge displayed by the students, has been exemplary.”

Professor Gordon McMullan, Director, London Shakespeare Centre, King’s College London added: “I am constantly amazed by the enduring nature of Shakespeare's work and how, even 400 years after his death, his influence is felt by people of all ages and in every corner of the globe. The students who’ve helped with the development of content for the app have really valued being involved with Blippar and their team. It’s been inspiring to see a university and a leading-edge tech company working together to bring Shakespeare to life, in a way which is accessible, engaging and, importantly, fun.”

The Blippar initiative is part of Shakespeare400, a consortium of 25 leading cultural, creative and educational organisations that will mark the 400the anniversary of Shakespeare’s death through a connected series of public performances, programmes, exhibitions and creative activities in the capital and beyond.