What is Illuminate? A three-day interactive festival of light organised by Birmingham Hippodrome for multi-ethnic urban community. John and I were meaning to attend earlier but could only make it last night, to the event finale at Gallan car park. I am glad we went!
As we entered Gallan car park we were greeted by a stunning display of the famous Chinese Terracotta Army made into multi-coloured lanterns and lit from within. The replica lanterns were commissioned for the Beijing Olympics and unlike the prototypes the ‘warriors’ included women and children. I liked how the terracotta soldiers were arranged in tiers and the impression of being immersed in the forest of figures.
There were also plenty of activities for kids.
We also saw Echolalia, Sonia Sabri’s new dance piece performed by Patsy Browne-Hope against the background of a series of projected images designed by Andy McKeown. It’s a hybrid piece made of interplay and juxtaposition of light, colour, movement, gesture and sound evoking defining and re-defining of the self.
There was a panel discussing after the show where Andy and Patsy answered the questions about how the piece was conceived and choreographed.
