Plans for Sheffield Cathedral’s festive light show ‘The Beginning’ have been revealed.
This year’s event tells the Nativity story and Christmas celebrations through light and digital artwork projections on the outside walls of the Cathedral. Inside the building, visitors can watch an immersive sensory experience of light and sound that displays imagery and colours taken from the Cathedral’s stained-glass windows.
‘The Beginning’ is one of several events Sheffield Cathedral is running as part of its gradual reopening after a difficult year. The event will run from 30 November to 5 December 2021.
Ben Rossi, Development Manager at the Cathedral said: “After a challenging time, we are really looking forward to welcoming people back into the cathedral again. It feels like a fresh start. The whole Cathedral team has worked so hard so visitors feel safe and we have some exciting and interesting events lined up between now and Christmas.
“We’re taking pack in ‘The Bears of Sheffield’ project, ‘The Foundry’ exhibition and we are already looking forward to this year’s Christmas Tree Festival. There are plans to engage with schools and community groups in creative ways as well. I cant wait to hear music, song, voices and laughter in the Cathedral again.”
Back in December 2019, Sheffield Cathedral hosted its first ever light show titled ‘The Angels are Coming’. Nearly 12,000 children adults and families attended the visual light show. Last year. Christmas celebrations at the Cathedral were postponed due to Covid-19.
Keith Farrow, Vice Dean and Canon Missioner of Sheffield Cathedral commented on the return of their Christmas light celebrations: “The Cathedral has stood proudly in the heart of Sheffield for hundreds of years and has witnessed difficult times before. It provided help and support then and we have been supporting people again, particularly the elderly, frail and the vulnerable. Six months ago, family Christmas celebrations had to be curtailed.
“Although next Christmas is still six months away, we wanted to give everyone something to look forward to by putting tickets on sale for a short period. ‘The Beginning’ is something the whole family will enjoy. The Cathedral is here for the people of Sheffield and South Yorkshire. With more people likely to stay local this year we want everyone to feel welcome to visit. Sheffield Cathedral is once again collaborating with award-winning Luxmuralis to bring ‘The Beginning to Sheffield’.”
Artistic Director Peter Walker says: “We are delighted to return to the Cathedral and present this new adapted work this Christmas. The Sheffield audience is fantastic and the city comes alive during advent. We look forward to working with the Cathedral team and seeing individuals and families return to the building and enjoy the uplifting light show and beautiful music.”
For more information on the latest Sheffield Cathedral events visit, www.sheffieldcathedral.org/whats-on
To book tickets for The Beginning, visit www.sheffieldcathedral.org
