Guests experienced a 360 degree soundscape to launch Audible & Pottermore’s Quidditch through the Ages audiobook.
Last night a 360-degree audio experience in London brought a Quidditch match to life thanks to state-of-the-art sound effects, a spectacular light show, and a little help from Andrew Lincoln.
The new audiobook of Quidditch Through the Ages from Pottermore Publishing is here, narrated by Andrew Lincoln as Quidditch expert Kennilworthy Whisp. Last night, fans gathered at LSO St Luke’s in London to celebrate its launch, although it felt more like being in a Quidditch stadium, actually.
The venue, adorned in floating Snitches, Quidditch hoops and broomsticks, was flooded with the sounds of some special bonus content from the new Quidditch Through the Ages audiobook: the 2014 Quidditch World Cup final, as written by J.K. Rowling for Pottermore. And using state-of-the-art sound and light effects, thanks to the pioneering work of Pinewood Studios’ award-winning team and 3D audio firm Kinicho, guests were treated to listening to the match commentary.
Boisterous cheers, bangs and whizzing sounds boomed from the surrounding 38 speakers while unlikely duo Ginny Potter and Daily Prophet hack Rita Skeeter, played by Imogen Church and Annette Badland, commentated on the match. For a minute, it was as if we were really there. Alas, we’ll have to settle with Muggle football in the future.
Laurence Howell, Director of Content at Audible UK, said of the event: ‘The soundscape that Pinewood and Kinicho created for our event had guests ducking and diving to avoid Bludgers and broomsticks as they hurtled past. The room was buzzing with energy and excitement – you really felt transported to the sidelines of the 2014 Quidditch World Cup. I hope listeners enjoy this new audiobook as much as we’ve enjoyed making it with Pottermore. Both Andrew’s narration and the highly detailed sound design really lets you immerse yourself in this richly imagined universe.’
The new audiobook offers you the chance to not just listen to Kennilworthy Whisp’s textbook, but also to enjoy this Quidditch World Cup bonus content for yourself at home in audio for the first time. This even includes a glimpse into Harry Potter’s future, with Rita Skeeter spending more time commentating on the audience (including a grown-up Harry and his old Dumbledore’s Army mates) rather than the match itself… Classic Rita.
As you may remember, Quidditch Through the Ages was originally published in 2001, raising money for Comic Relief. The audiobook will continue that tradition, with proceeds going to Comic Relief and J.K. Rowling’s children’s charity Lumos. We hope you get stuck-in yourselves – listening to Andrew Lincoln talk about Golden Snidgets really is quite mesmerising, you know.
