Heritage sites often have impressive physical environments, but mainly reach an audience that is already familiar with history or culture. The challenge lies in attracting new target groups. Young people who do not naturally go to a fortress, museum, or historical site. The interactive experience Tracing Thomas, developed by Studio Immersief, demonstrated how heritage can function as an adventurous audience experience.
"In addition to an exciting afternoon, Tracing Thomas also gives heritage a second life."
Architecture NL
"Anyone who wants to find a sensational experience in the mystery of Tracing Thomas will encounter cracking brains, amazed looks, and enthusiastic search volunteers."
Theater newspaper
The Approach
Visitors do not step into a hall, but into a police file. A boy named Thomas has disappeared and the whole fort has been searched. No trace. The police cannot figure it out. As soon as the gate closes, the fort turns into a labyrinth. Dark corridors, hidden rooms, whispering witnesses.
Visitors move freely around and choose which clues to follow. Every conversation and every object could be the decisive piece of the puzzle. The fort is their playground.
The Setup in Numbers
A three-hour interactive theatrical experience with 18 actors
25 performance rounds, an average of 300 visitors per weekend
A hybrid form between real-life gaming and location theater
Performed at two heritage locations: Forteiland IJmuiden and Fort 1881 (Hoek van Holland)
What It Yielded
The majority of visitors (gamers, thrill-seekers, groups of friends) had no direct affinity with heritage or history, but participated due to the format.
Nevertheless, the experience later led to historical interest. Visitors sought out information on their own about the location and context.
The case shows that heritage sites are not only visited to learn, but to experience (and that learning follows afterwards).
The Conclusion
Tracing Thomas demonstrates that you do not only reach new audiences with new stories, but with new forms. Only when heritage functions as a space that you may enter instead of something you may look at, does engagement arise.
✨ Curious how to bring your story to life? Get in touch!