Museum of Austerity

Witness the human stories of Austerity Britain in this arresting mixed reality installation. More than an exhibition; it’s a blend of theatre, history and humanity. A place to reflect on the past and reimagine the future. 

A decade-long campaign of government budget-cutting began in the UK in 2010, following the global financial crisis of 2008. In 2016, the UN found that “grave or systemic violations” of the rights of disabled people were taking place throughout the UK. Wearing a mixed reality headset, you will enter a striking, holographic gallery that lays bare the consequences when state safety nets fail. 

Museum of Austerity was nominated for Best Digital Innovation at the UK Theatre Awards, previewed at the London Film Festival in 2021 and won International Documentary Festival Amsterdam’s (IDFA) Best Immersive Production in 2021. 

Co-produced by English Touring Theatre, the National Theatre Immersive Storytelling Studio and Trial & Error Studio, this powerful installation combines the skills of theatre/XR director Sacha Wares with the in-depth knowledge of John Pring, editor of Disability News Service.