Tens of thousands of people will be festival “stars” this week.
The audience will play a leading role when the Huddersfield Festival of Light 2013 opens on Friday – with opportunities to become part of the action around every corner.
Crowds will be able to get up-close with a variety of performances, including headline show, Marling, and Pixel Pyros in the Brook Street open market.
Celebrating its 10th year this winter, the festival has built a national following after sensational performances from the very best international street entertainment and inspiring light installations.
The highlight this year is set to be the Usman Haque’s ‘Marling’ show – an unbelievable light display in St George’s Square which will allow crowds to create a ceiling of animated colour overhead, simply by using their voices.
Other headline performances will include the Phospene laser show at the Lawrence Batley Theatre; the Chorus light and sound installation at St Peter’s Garden; and the Digital Funfair at the Byram Arcade. Pixel Pyros at the market site is a digital fireworks display that crowds control with their hands – and it’s bigger and better than ever.
The truly interactive digital light show works by touch, with sensors on bright orbs of light at the bottom of a huge digital wall.
Touching the spheres sets off an array of multi-coloured computer-generated rockets.
The virtual pyrotechnics are projected on to a massive screen using state-of-the-art projectors and lasers.
Each show is uniquely choreographed by the crowd – no two nights are exactly alike.
Funded by the Arts Council England, the Pixel Pyros project is designed and programmed by digital artist Seb Lee-Delisle and a team of highly skilled tech whizzes.
Seb said: “It’s a great chance to get up close and personal with fireworks – usually you have to stand well back and let the pyro-technicians have all the fun, but with Pixel Pyros the audience sets off every single virtual firework.”
Huddersfield Festival of Light 2013: What's taking place and where on Friday?
Huddersfield Festival of Light 2013: What's taking place and where on Saturday?
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