This week saw the fantastic Lincoln Castle Revealed project given the Royal seal of approval and officially opened to the public by Princess Anne
Opening in time for the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta next week, the £22m project included the construction of a vault to house Lincoln’s copy of the historic document. Centre Screen created two immersive films for the Magna Carta Vault: an impressive 210-degree wraparound screen in a full height cinematic auditorium, complete with 3D sound.
Hundreds of people turned out at the spectacular opening ceremony to line the castle walkways and catch a glimpse of HRH with excited groups of local school children waving flags and actor Colin McFarlane addressing the crowds.
Centre Screen’s Producer Laura Harris was lucky enough to meet HRH and shake the royal hand: “It was such an honour to meet and greet the princess and discuss the films we are so proud of on this very special 800-year anniversary. The Magna Carta is such an important piece of history and we feel very privileged to have re-created the story of King John, the barons and the birth of the Great Charter for this incredible historic site.”
The main film, Magna Carta: Challenging the Power of a King, is a recreation of the story of King John, the barons, and the birth of the Great Charter which became one of the most celebrated documents in history and provided the foundations of liberty and freedom that we live by today. Starring actor Jeff Stewart as King John, the film uses a mix of live action filmed on a stunning studio set, beautifully animated drawings taken from the important medieval manuscript: Chronica Majora, which was kindly provided by the British Library, and seamlessly animated transitions created by The Pond.
The second film: Magna Carta: Meaning and Myth, is a beautifully animated film taking a fresh look at the significance of the Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest documents throughout the ages since 1215.
Congratulations to the Lincolnshire County Council team and designers Ralph Appelbaum Associates on the completion of this amazing Heritage Lottery-Funded project.