The spectacular Light Up Lancaster festival (www.lightuplancaster.co.uk) is on its way in less than a month now – a thrilling, magical two day festival on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 November for all the family which will culminate in the city’s popular annual Fireworks Spectacular.
Friday 7 November sees Light Up The Streets happening in the heart of the Lancaster city centre. On Saturday 8 November, a day of family-friendly activities will lead up to Light up the Skies – when thousands flock into the district to enjoy the city’s annual firework spectacular launched from the roof of Lancaster Castle at 8pm.
Friday – Light Up The Streets
Light Up The Streets is a family friendly trail of discovery in a series of interlinked light and sound installations located in key areas of the city centre. From 6.30pm to 9.00pm, Lancaster city centre will be illuminated as never before. Experience historic Lancaster – a route running between the Castle and Market Square – in an exhilarating new way. The trail of magical light shows, installations, music and performance reveals the heritage, stories and hidden treasures of the city for the public to enjoy in new and surprising ways. This year’s theme is ‘Lost & Found’ and local, regional and national artists are currently developing some wonderful ideas to show Lancaster in a completely new light.
Ockham’s Razor – Light Up Lancaster Castle
The Castle have surely scored a tremendous coup by presenting the awesome aerial dance company Ockham’s Razor to perform their latest oeuvre ‘Not until we are lost’ in a free public show. Not Until We Are Lost uses aerial movement to create atmospheric, exciting physical theatre in a series of short stories which explore what it is to be lost. The performance is viewed in new, innovative ways from within a unique set, featuring originally designed aerial structures. The aerial sculptures transform around the audience creating physically and emotionally affecting environments. How solid, how fixed, is the world around us? Watch the trailer.
Original score from composer Graham Fitkin (twice winner British Composer awards), featuring a choir from the local community put together especially for the show.
http://www.lancastercastle.com/event/Light-Up-Lancaster-Castle
MC Soweto Kinch – Sun Square
On the agenda is a fascinating collaboration between MOBO award winning alto-saxophonist and MC Soweto Kinch and the innovative projection specialists, Illuminos. Working with local company More Music, this exciting and versatile young musician in both the British jazz and hip hop scenes and Illuminos will create a stunning piece in Sun Square.
Market Square
• The Nightmarket – twinkling with distinctive illumination, will have craft and food stalls
• Splodge-A-Matic – The Spin Doctor extends the spectrum to his famous Cyclo-Graphic-Splodge-A-Matic spin painting machine with Neon colours, UV lights and Disco beats. Join him and make your own dazzling Spin painting.
• The Realms of Greater Measure – In 1389, Richard 11 decreed that: “There shall be but one Weight and one Measure throughout the Realm, saving in the County of Lancaster.” Illuminos will present a unique, stunning new video mapping projection that will transform Lancaster City Museum into a living, responsive weighing scale. A playful and interactive digital delight.
• FlashBack – allows you to connect directly with Light Up The Streets and share your views in a fun, interactive way. Like a friendly and engaging pop-up photo booth, it’s immediate, live and in an instant captures personal, individual reflections about the night.
The Storey
The Dukes will also be turning two spaces in The Storey into a labyrinthine promenade adventure… illuminating the stories lost, found and conjured. Step through the ‘rabbit hole’ into the enchanting darkness and be part of an imaginative 20 minute standing and walking family friendly event told by a daring company of young performers.
Storey Gardens – How Did Your Garden Grow?
An intimate environmental lighting experience showcasing the heritage of the Storey Gardens. A magical evening meander through this lovely green space in the heart of the city. Bring your torch and be prepared for an adventure! Note: On grassed, uneven surfaces, which may at times be slippery. Please ensure you have appropriate outdoor footwear. Apologies – not suitable for pushchairs or for people with limited mobility.
Judges Lodgings – Lighten Up
More Music is masterminding an enchanting performance at The Judges Lodgings. This short piece magnifies key episodes from the historical past and links them to the world today. Most images have been gathered from the people, objects and themes suggested by the contents of the museum. Performance times: 6.45pm, 7.15pm, 7.45pm, 8.15pm, 8.45pm
Nooks
A light hearted yet physically and emotionally challenging series of small performance vignettes, “Nooks” will draw you into the nooks and crannies of Lancaster’s rich heritage, space and lost tradition. Running at various locations throughout the event including the Castle, Castle Walk, Priory Steps, New Street and Church Street
There will be street theatre and puppetry too and in shop windows, to celebrate 50 Years of the University of Cumbria’s Lancaster campus, Shane Johnstone has created 50 original pieces of 3 dimensional artwork using stained glass and light.
Saturday – Light Up The Skies Fireworks Spectacular
On Saturday November 8, Light Up The Skies will offer a host of family-friendly activities during the day around the city ahead of the finale of the Light up Lancaster Festival – the dazzling Lancaster Fireworks Spectacular starting at 8pm.
As in previous years, the main viewing areas for the display at Giant Axe and Quay Meadow (sold out) will be accessible via free wristbands which are now available to order online. Other official viewing areas which do not require wristbands will be the Millennium Bridge, Salt Ayre Sports Centre and Williamson Park.
BBC Radio Lancashire presenters will be back again this year to broadcast live from Quay Meadow from 6pm – 8pm on all frequencies. At 8pm spectators tuning into Radio Lancashire on 104.5FM will be able to listen to the specially coordinated firework music and enjoy the full light and sound experience as they watch the drama unfold from other vantage points around the city.
More information on Light Up Lancaster is available at www.lightuplancaster.co.uk. Here you can also sign up to receive more information on this and other events taking place in the Lancaster district as soon as it becomes available.
Light Up Lancaster is being funded by Lancaster City Council, Arts Council of England, Lancaster Arts Partners, Lancashire County Council, Lancaster Unlimited and Heritage Lottery Fund.
Light up the Skies will this year be delivered on behalf of Lancaster City Council by Storm Consultancy.