An immersive experience narrated by Sir David Attenborough is heading to the north of England for the first time, with Our Story with David Attenborough opening at Chester Zoo this autumn.
The 50-minute production will open on 17th October 2026, making Chester Zoo the first venue outside London to host the full original experience.
More than 245,000 people have already experienced Our Story during its run at London’s Natural History Museum, where it opened in June 2025 before being extended following a series of sold-out performances.
Created in collaboration with Attenborough and award-winning Open Planet Studios, the experience takes audiences on a journey through the four-billion-year history of Earth and the much more recent story of humankind.
It combines natural history footage, scientifically accurate animation, 360-degree projections and an original musical score to surround visitors with images and sounds from the natural world.
The production explores humanity’s impact on the planet, as well as how people can work with nature rather than against it. It concludes with a message of hope, encouraging audiences to consider their own role in shaping the future.
The full-scale experience will take over Chester Zoo’s former Ape House, bringing the production to the zoo’s 130-acre site.
The move is intended to complement Chester Zoo’s work as a conservation and education charity, with its mission focused on preventing extinction.
Open Planet Studios developed the experience to tell what its creators describe as the interconnected story of people and planet, taking audiences through time and space rather than presenting the material as a conventional film or exhibition.
The original Natural History Museum production used 17 projectors and 50 speakers, alongside cinematography, animation and storytelling. Its original score was composed by Nick Powell, a Tony Award- and Olivier Award-nominated composer.
Dom Strange, Chief Operating Officer, at Chester Zoo, said: ‘Our Story is about the biggest story there is – the story of our planet and our place within it.
‘That makes Chester Zoo a natural home for this extraordinary experience. We’re hugely excited to bring it to Chester, and particularly proud that we’re the first place outside London where people can experience the full exhibition.
‘We want people to leave feeling inspired by the incredible world we’re part of – but also empowered to play their own role in protecting it. That’s at the heart of everything we do at Chester Zoo.’
Photo: Gavin Thurston
