SHOWING us the way in the dark depths of winter and delighting, thrilling, and often spooking event-goers around the country, Liverpool’s Lantern Company is now 10 years old.
To celebrate, it is mounting a retrospective of the very best of its weird and wonderful creations at one of the city's architectural leading lights, St George's Hall.
Opening this weekend, expect characters and puppets to come to life in a secret underground world.
Well not literally, because that's the stuff of nightmares.
There will be plenty of giant skeletons, contorted characters and enchanting animals to illuminate the very depths of the hall in a "magical display of creative artistry".
Steps Leading Down To The Basement Of St George's Hall
If that wasn't enough, this landmark exhibition launches the opening of St George’s previously hidden basement, where you will be able to see the Escher-like optical illusion of the magnificent brick arches of the world’s very first air conditioning system.
Visitors to the exhibition will get behind the scenes glimpses into the workings and mechanics of the company. Artists creating new work will discuss the process with onlookers while, say organisers,
The Lantern Company is an artist led organisation, originally set up to establish a spectacular community based Lantern Carnival in Liverpool and to promote creativity, celebration and unity within and across local communities.
It undertakes commissions and training in many art forms such as lantern making, carnival costume, processional puppets and large scale processional imagery, as well as directing and producing art installations, site specific events and processions, such as Sefton Park's Halloween Lantern Parade
Jo Pocock, artistic director, said: “Over 10 years we’ve built up an incredible back-catalogue of puppets and characters and are delighted to have the opportunity to bring them all together in what will be a visually stunning display.
“It’s also wonderful to be able to invite people to draw back the curtain on the phenomenal work that goes on behind the scenes and give people a real taste of the challenges and triumphs we’ve had over the last decade.”
Aside from the free exhibition, there will also be guided tours and hands-on creative workshops for children and adults, as well as more specific master classes for amateur and professional artists wanting to expand their skills.
*A decade of Illumination, Lantern Company's 10-year Exhibition of Everything, St George's Hall, Liverpool, Saturday March 23- Saturday April 6, 2013. 10am -4pm daily, except Mondays. Easter weekend opening times differ.
Exhibition: free. Theatrical Tour: £5/£3. Children’s workshops: from £2.50. To book a workshop visit here
