Virtual Reality Prank – Meeting Edinburgh’s Plague Doctor in Real Life

Watch the public react to our Edinburgh Plague Doctor prank.

Did you know that the last outbreak of the plague in Edinburgh happened in 1645? Roughly 12,000 of Edinburgh’s residents died the slow and painful death thanks to being infected by bubonic, pneumonic or septicemic plague. However, there was a slight chance of survival if the Edinburgh Plague Doctor happened to treat you.

We have records of two real plague doctors operating in the area of Mary King’s Close – Joannes Paulitius and George Ray. We decided to use virtual reality to share their stories…

Virtual Reality Prank

How would you fare should you come face to face with the physician himself? We let unsuspecting members of the public take part in our one-day-only virtual reality experience, but there was a catch…