Grimsby’s Viking past part of pop-up exhibition

A Viking legend synonymous with Grimsby will be retold through an immersive experience on a giant screen.

The Grim’s Great Viking Village pop-up will take people on a journey through the town as it might have looked at the time of its Danish founder, Grim.

The project has been six months in the making and used gaming technology to re-create the village.

Producer Julia Thompson said the goal was to create something special for everyone to enjoy.

The exhibit was inspired by the ancient tale of Grim, a fisherman who rescued Havelock, a Danish prince, off the Lincolnshire coast.

The experience, created by those behind the festival Grim Falfest, will see visitors sit in front of a large curved screen and “travel” through the town, reimagined as a Viking village.

Ms Thompson, who was festival director, said: “Our Viking heritage and the legend of Havelock and Grim is a unique story that belongs to our town.

“We wanted to create something special that both children and adults of all ages could enjoy and bring the story to life in a different way.”

The experience was created using gaming technology, vocal recordings, greenscreens and re-enactors in motion-capture suits.

Performing arts students from the Grimsby Institute played some of the villagers and the soundtrack was created by Humber Taiko Drummers.

James Nuttall, from the re-enactment group Lindesige Saeweard, said providing the “actions and voice to such an iconic character as Grim was an incredible experience”.

The exhibit will run from 29 -31 May at Grimsby Minster. A Viking longship, built by local craftspeople, will also be on display.