Buses in Shanghai, Chongqing and Wuhan with SHAKEspeare advertisements, running from 5 September to 16 October.(Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
After the successful online campaign 'UK Music on the Go' during the 2015 UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange, the British Council has once again joined JCDecaux Bus to launch an online activity "SHAKEspeare", September 5 to October 16. Users can create their own Shakespearian characters by scanning the QR code, taking a selfie and shaking their phone.
Wuhan, Shanghai and Chongqing will feature 106 exclusive "SHAKEspeare" buses. There will also be exclusive posters in metros across Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Everyone can scan the QR code on the internet, bus or in the metro to win flight tickets provided by British Airways.The event commemorates the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. The program is also part of the global commemoration 'Shakespeare Lives' held by the British Council. If users are lucky enough, they can win a free journey to the UK.
In Wuhan, Shanghai and Chongqing, you can enter the game by getting close to a bus with the "SHAKEspeare" ad on it, turning on Bluetooth, and then touching the Shake function in WeChat until the "surrounding" icon appears. After taking and uploading your own picture, you can 'shake out' the most appropriate Shakespearian character through the Shake function.
Some of the characters included are the proud and lonely Hamlet, the passionate Romeo and the ruthless Shylock, to name just a few. While enjoying the game, you can participate in the prize draw after filling in your personal information. Winners will also get to experience Shakespeare's plays in London.
In addition, you can also play the game directly by scanning the QR code on the bus ads, or through WeChat and other online promotion channels.
Ms. Wen, JCDecaux China Bus Media CEO-Bus Advertising said: "The combination of bus and the 'shake' function can extend the contents of the bus. In this activity, bus becomes a stage of spreading Shakespearian culture and a scene where people can experience Shakespearian characters. We hope more and more people will like such an interaction and win the big prize by taking a selfie".
Nick Marchand, Director of Arts and Creative Industry, British Council China, said: SHAKEspeare is a game to help introduce the Bard's work to a new generation - and tailor his characters for a fun and personalised introduction to his work via social media. This seems fitting, given that some 400 years after Shakespeare's death, he is still such a contemporary and relevant reference point. Whether it's his many film credits or the constant reimagining of his work in stage - dance and music - Shakespeare clearly still lives in the 21st century!"
