The game is set in a dystopian London and will be playable to anyone with a smartphone on Blackhorse Lane and surrounding streets from 23rd September – 8th October
A free interactive alternate reality game about climate change, science fiction and time travelling will take over Blackhorse Lane and its surrounding streets for three weekends in autumn.
From 23rd September to 8th October, people will be able to use their smartphones to play Stowaway, a game set in an imaginary future where climate change has turned London into an archipelago of small islands.
The plot revolves around a small community of stowaway teeangers who have settled on an island that was once Higham Hill Park. Dry land is scarce, plants are rare and hard to grow because of the effects of climate change.
The game will feature facts about local plants and habitats that were supplied by community medical herbalist Rasheeqa Ahmad from locally based Hedge Herbs.
Stowaway is down to the work of Walthamstow based arts company The Social Cinema, which organises innovative and inclusive cinema screenings and events including an open-air cinema in Higham Hill Park.
This story is published by Waltham Forest Echo, Waltham Forest's free monthly newspaper and free news website. We are a not-for-profit publication, published by a small social enterprise. We have no rich backers and rely on the support of our readers. Donate or become a supporter.
The game starts from Yonder, a climbing centre on Hookers Road, and players will follow clues, in real locations and online to progress to the next clue and explore the game’s narrative.
Stowaway will deploy a range of audio and visual equipment that will be embedded in businesses and public spaces along Blackhorse Lane and neighbouring streets. Some of the clues will be online, while others will be in physical objects. The aim of the game will be to complete the trail of clues, unlock the entire narrative and complete the final task.
The alternate reality game is supported by a Make It Happen Grant from Waltham Forest Council.
On Saturdays, Social Cinema will run cooperative play sessions where people needing support with audio and visual clues, or are unfamiliar with alternate reality games, or without a smartphone can play with others. The cooperative sessions will also be attended by the game’s creators.
The cooperative sessions can be booked here
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or annually
More Information about donations
