Stories behind Australia's most famous landmark captured in interactive digital documentary

New digital documentary allows anyone to 'choose their own journey' through the history of Sydney Opera House

www.theoperahouseproject.com

A ground-breaking collaboration between Sydney Opera House and ABC Innovation has unearthed rare archival content behind the nation’s most famous landmark. Launched today, The Opera House Project is a rich, multi-media digital documentary that allows anybody, anywhere to interact with and experience the multi-faceted and poignant story that is Sydney Opera House. Over 24 hours of content including more than 70 stirring original interviews, archival video footage, audio, written and 3D documentation can be experienced from today.

The project, for the first time, lets people journey through the exceptional, intricate and emotive stories around the inception, design and construction of one of the most celebrated buildings of the Twentieth Century. Including newly recorded interviews with many of the people who have brought the Opera House to life since its opening in 1973, the documentary captures the many stories, performances and events that make up its history.

Exploring new techniques in storytelling across multiple platforms, this non-linear documentary was created through a massive surfacing of archives from the ABC, NSW State Library and State Records. The documentary comprises archives to date not held in any single place, through to never-before-released content.

Sydney Opera House CEO, Louise Herron, today said, “The Opera House has been an intrinsic part of Australia’s cultural infrastructure for over four decades. The story of its design and construction is extraordinary.

“This partnership with ABC Innovation is as rich as they come. Thanks to a passionate and talented digital program team at the national broadcaster, a worldwide audience can now experience the complex, educational and emotive history of the Opera House.

“Documenting architecture, construction, performances and events in an innovative digital environment will be an important legacy for current and future audiences. The Opera House Project can be streamed free of charge to PC or handheld devices so that everyone can create their own, unique journey.”
Mark Scott, Managing Director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, added: “The partnership with ABC and Sydney Opera House has produced a unique digital journey of one of the world's most important buildings. From inception through design, construction and the past 40 years of performances, this multimedia documentary has uncovered the true history of the house. 

“With over 24 hours of content using both cutting edge technology and gems from the ABC archive we invite you to explore this international icon and learn more about Australia's cultural heritage.”

The content presents comprehensive details about many areas of history and performance at the Opera House, including introductions to famous artists as well as expert commentary on the architecture and the construction of the building. Key areas include: design competition and design solutions, construction, politics, performances and events, filmed interviews, artists, architects and personalities and the Indigenous story of Bennelong Point. The content is in four parts:

1) Concept, design and architecture; beginning in 1954 and detailing events through to 1962
2) Engineering and construction; covering the tumultuous events from 1963 to 1973 and the subsequent re-engagement of Utzon in the late ‘90s
3) Performances & events; international artists, Australian artists and performing arts companies
4) Bennelong Point; contemporary and historic accounts of Sydney’s famous headland

Users can choose to watch an overview, play the whole story, view by chapter or explore in more detail the archival material and contemporary interviews. The multi-platform narrative documentary can be streamed free to PC, tablet, laptop or smart phone and is presented in an innovative way through a combination of video, audio-visual, written chapters and interactive 3D mapping. There is also a ‘Timed Journeys’ feature which curates content into a playlist based on the amount of time chosen.

The Opera House Project is live from today and can be accessed from the following link:
www.theoperahouseproject.com.

The World Heritage listed Sydney Opera House welcomes over 8.2 million visitors on site every year and hosts 1,800 performances attended by 1.4 million people. It is one of the world’s busiest cultural precincts.