The escape room is a recent collaboration between YMCA Norfolk, Norfolk Museum Service and Kick the Dust, a programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund which aims to transform how heritage organisations engage young people in the UK.
The initiative saw YMCA clients from Great Yarmouth develop and run two escape rooms in Great Yarmouth’s oldest building, the Tolhouse Gaol. This provided a fantastic setting for the themes of ‘Smugglers’ and ‘Witchfinders’ that the two rooms were based on. They were delivered by 5 YMCA clients, four of whom were acting in costume as part of the escape rooms, with one overseeing photography and social media coverage.
After their huge success, the partnership are taking their escape room to Norwich, to be a part of the YMCA 175 exhibition on Tuesday 11th February on the ground floor of Castle Quarter, 100 Castle Meadow, Norwich, NR1 3DD . The 175 exhibition is a part of the YMCA Heritage and History Roadshow, celebrating the 175th anniversary of the YMCA by showcasing unique materials and untold stories from YMCA’s history and heritage. In addition to the escape room, there will be a range of historic information and artwork on display depicting the evolution and global reach of YMCA over the past 175 years, along with interactive exhibits. The exhibition will be open from Monday 10th February till 13th February from 10am-4pm.
YMCA Norfolk CEO Tim Sweeting commented,
“The YMCA has a rich and a varied history, and this exhibition will be a great opportunity to learn of some of its great achievements such as its work in two World Wars, creating the game of basketball and the remembrance poppy, and its work internationally as the largest youth movement and NGO in the world.”
The escape room will be totally FREE to experience, with four slots available for booking at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm on Tuesday 11th February. It is a timed escape room, where you will work as a team or independently to solve clues and puzzles in order to prove your innocence to the judge – and you have 45 mins to break free! It will be held in Castle Quarter, in the crazy football unit next to the YMCA shop across from the exhibition.
To book an escape room experience please contact Leanne.lacey@ymcanorfolk.org For more information regarding the exhibition please contact amanda.bayfield@ymcanorfolk.org