Bow Street Runner
Bow Street Runner uses a combination of real actors, original maps and digitally created locations in and around London’s Covent Garden to create an atmospheric detective story.The drama places the user at the heart of the game as a ‘rookie’ Bow Street Runner gathering evidence from a variety of crime scenes, and reporting back to John Fielding, founder of the Bow Street Runners, at the end of each case. Each episode builds up a rich picture of grimy London neighbourhoods and seedy characters from the under classes of Georgian London.
- Level:
- 11 – 16yrs: KS3; KS4; S 1-6
- Curriculum Relevance:
- History; Citizenship; English
- Benefits:
- allows players to experience the realities of life in Georgian London
Project Overview
Bow Street Runner is an educational project which can be used to support a variety of curriculum areas.
The use of real life actors, original London locations, and 18th century artefacts make it a compelling drama. The combination of detailed narrative, memorable characters and a games format make this interactive drama a unique educational experience. Follow the link and discover more about the game.
Schedule of Events
Bow Street Runner will shortly be available to play on the free social gaming site Kongregate.
If you want a quick experience of Bow Street Runner you can also visit JayIsGames for a walkthrough of the game before introducing it into the classroom
Bow Street Runner in the Classroom
In the classroom, there are a number of ways that Bow Street Runner may be used:
- Find clues in each scene and store the gathered evidence from each episode in a casebook which can be revisited at any time
- Pick both pockets and locks to find evidence and clues
- Interview witnesses, victims and suspects using a variety of policing techniques – sometimes unorthodox!
- Answer correctly questions posed by Magistrate John Fielding in a de-brief at the end of each case to gain promotion and progress to the next ‘case’
- Confront and battle with gang members using weapons of the age
- Piece together evidence gathered in each episode of the drama to build a case against a notorious Georgian gang leader
- Get bonus points in each episode for extra tasks like performing an autopsy or stitching up wounds!
- Follow the link and use the suggested activities as part of the English, History or Citizenship curriculum, using the downloadable peer assessment and self assessment sheets to support them
Curriculum Relevance
Bow Street Runner currently links to the following curriculum subjects: History; Citizenship and English, covering areas such as developing chronological
understanding; understanding causes and consequences; making interpretations and historical enquiry and more..
On TV
The Bow Street Runner game is an online experience only.
