Event type: Performance

The Light Before Christmas: The Angels...

Liverpool Cathedral is set to bring some extra sparkle to the city’s Christmas celebrations with an immersive experience, which will take visitors on an incredible journey through the Nativity story.

‘The Light Before Christmas: The Angels Are Coming!’ invites families to enjoy the most wonderful time of year through son et lumière as the magnificent Gothic interior of the iconic building becomes a canvas for a sequence of dazzling light and sound artworks.

A contemporary twist on the opening scenes of the Nativity, the captivating yuletide experience will see angels guide the way through a special display of twinkling lights, mesmerising projections and beautiful music, inspired by the first Christmas.

As extraordinary sights and sounds fill the vast space inside Liverpool Cathedral, visitors will have the chance to immerse themselves in one of the greatest stories ever told in preparation for their own Christmas celebrations.

The awe-inspiring festive experience is the work of the award-wining artistic collaboration, Luxmuralis, the same team who brought the sell-out installation, ‘Space, The Universe and Everything’, to Liverpool Cathedral earlier this year.

Speaking on plans for ‘The Light Before Christmas: The Angels Are Coming!’, Peter Walker, Artistic Director of Luxmuralis, said: “Following the phenomenal success of ‘Space, The Universe and Everything’, we’re delighted to be returning to Liverpool Cathedral with ‘The Light Before Christmas: The Angels Are Coming!’, which will give visitors of all ages a chance to enjoy the festive season in a modern and artistic way.”

“It really is going to be an unforgettable experience as stunning light and sound artworks depict the remarkable story of how Christmas began, all in the majestic surroundings of Liverpool Cathedral.”

The Dean of Liverpool, The Very Revd Dr Sue Jones, is looking forward to welcoming Luxmuralis back to the city as part of Liverpool Cathedral’s Christmas celebrations. She said: “The artists behind Luxmuralis are renowned for creating the most spectacular immersive experiences, you may remember ‘Space, The Universe and Everything’, which was incredibly well received by visitors to Liverpool Cathedral.

“‘The Light Before Christmas: The Angels Are Coming!’ looks set to be just as popular as we invite people to lose themselves in the wonderful story of Christmas and the Nativity. The stunning festive light and sound installation forms a key part of the Christmas celebrations at Liverpool Cathedral, providing a perfect opportunity for different generations to join together for reflection. I’m sure visitors will find the experience very moving as we are reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.”

‘The Light Before Christmas: The Angels Are Coming!’ is part of a two-year programme of events, exhibitions and artworks leading up to Liverpool Cathedral’s 100th anniversary, which falls in 2024.

Tickets for the Christmas light and sound experience at Liverpool Cathedral, which lasts around 40 minutes, must be booked in advance, either online at Ticket Quarter https://bit.ly/3fEvmfZ.

The Ticket Quarter phone line is open from Monday to Friday (9am – 5pm) and the customer service email address is customerservice@ticketquarter.co.uk.

For more information about ‘The Light Before Christmas: The Angels Are Coming!’ and the wider events programme at Liverpool Cathedral, visit liverpoolcathedral.org.uk and for further details on Luxmuralis, visit projectionartgallery.com.

Ten Commandments by David Hoyle

Rioting the wrongs of contemporary Britain, Ten Commandments is a brand new theatre production from the acclaimed performer.

In this light-hearted antidote to the rat-infested dystopia in which we currently find ourselves, David returns the Garden of Eden to its natural state free from nuclear weapons, landfills and perpetual burning forests.

They welcome the congregation to liberate themselves and others in a thermonuclear explosion of love and also hope for what remains of the 21st century.

Ten Commandments combines David Hoyle’s captivating stage performance with lacerating social commentary.

Running time: 1hr 15mins.

Free, booking required.

Supported by Homotopia. This event is part of Take Over 2022.

Event

Tickets and access information: https://www.heartofglass.org.uk/project-and-events/events/take-over-david-hoyle

Orlam: A Spoken Word Event

Orlam is a remarkable coming-of-age tale, and the first full-length book written in the Dorset dialect for many decades. 

Orlam reveals PJ Harvey as not only one of the most talented songwriters of the age, but a gifted poet – whose formal skill, transforming eye and ear for the lyric line have produced a strange and moving poem like no other.

Deryn Rees-Jones won an Eric Gregory award in 1993, and was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection in 1995. In 2004 she was named as one of Mslexia’s ‘top ten’ women poets of the decade, and chosen as one of the Poetry Book Society’s Next Generation.

Ticket link: www.pjharvey.lnk.to/OrlamUKtourPR

QueerCore Try Something New

Funny, moving and uplifting, a series of short performances from an array of emerging and established LGBTQIA performers and writers, all bringing something new to the stage.

This event is part of Homotopia Festival, the UK’s longest running LGBTQIA arts and cultural festival taking place this year from 3rd – 20th November at venues across the city.

QueerCore is Homotopia’s formal artist development programme for LGBTQIA artists from the Liverpool City Region.

Held in the Playhouse Studio.

A Lovely Word featuring The Repeat Bea...

A Lovely Word is Liverpool’s most eclectic poetry night, featuring two halves of open mic poets, and a headliner beginning the first half.

Hosted by Alex Ferguson, this free event is a fun, relaxed and friendly evening of performance poetry.

Headliner

Peter deGraft-Johnson is a British-born Ghanaian poet, broadcaster, and Hip Hop artist known by The Repeat Beat Poet. His debut pamphlet, ‘A Testament To Life And Death’ was published in February 2022 by Verve Poetry Press.

Peter co-founded the Rap & Poetry open mic Pen-Ting and hosts the multi-award nominated Lunar Poetry Podcast, which is archived in the British Library. He appears regularly on radio with Hip Hop collective Imaginary Millions on Soho Radio, and his solo show #TheRepeatBeatBroadcast. His broadcast work has also been featured on BBC Radio 4xtra, BBC Essex, and BBC Radio London.

Peter is a graduate of the Roundhouse Poetry Collective, BBC 1xtra Words First, and the Obsidian Foundation programmes, and in 2021 he was a writer-in-residence at the Library of Africa & The African Diaspora in Accra, Ghana.

He has toured across the UK and internationally, performing everywhere from Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club to multiple festivals and jam nights, and alongside writers like Joelle Taylor (TS Eliot), Roger Robinson (TS Eliot Prize) and Salena Godden (FRSL).

His debut single This That was released in 2020. His work has been anthologised by Penguin Random House, Bad Betty Press, Magma Poetry, and #PoetryOnThePicketLine, and he regularly works with leading UK Poetry organisation Apples & Snakes.

Take Part 

Whether you are a new poet performing for the first time or a seasoned poet who wants to try out some new stuff – sign up to perform by EITHER;

I) turning up at 7.30pm

II) emailing alovelywordpodcast@gmail.com with a confirmation of your full name, mobile number

David O’Doherty: whoa is me

Here he comes again, trotting on to the stage with all of the misplaced confidence of a waiter with no pad.

There’ll be lots of talking, some apologising and some songs on a glued together plastic keyboard from 1986.

As seen on Channel 4’s Along for the Ride with David O’Doherty, ‘8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown‘ and BBC’s ‘Live At the Apollo.’

This Charming Man

Join award winning comedian Sian Davies (“A cross between Peter Kay and Zoe Lyons” ~ Beyond the Joke) as she develops her next hour of comedy.

Sian loves men. But she has a toxic relationship with all her male role models.

The men she has admired throughout her life have done nothing but let her down. But why did she idolise them in the first place? And what do you do when your role models let you down?

An exploration of masculinity, gender and identity from a self-identifying butch woman who has an unhealthy obsession with The Smiths.

An Evening with Ms Sharon Le Grand and...

Maghull’s infamous daughter returns to Liverpool for a mind-blowing one-night stand!

Freed from That London (at least for the weekend) iconic performer Ms Sharon Le Grand returns to her roots, and she’s invited friends.

Get ready for an evening of cabaret, live music, queer comedy and full-blown mayhem. Handbags at the ready!

UTOPIAN (t&c’s apply)

Can the perfect utopia exist?

UTOPIAN (t&c’s apply) is a surrealistic circus pop-culture experience. Joined by their accomplice, Symoné takes you on an expedition asking you, “why do people abuse power roles?”.

Filled with high heel rollerskating, hula hooping, strip-teasing, and queer party madness. Join the world of psychedelic pilgrimage. You’ll be safe with us.

WARNING: This show may or may not contain autobiographical references about cults.

Tabby Lamb’s Trans Excellence

Homotopia Festival Artist in Residence Tabby Lamb gets up close and personal with some of the UK’s most sublime transgender artists, actors and creatives.

Featuring intimate interviews and live performances. In short, it’s the best damn chat show you’ll ever see!

Full cast of gorgeous trans artists announced soon