Glow-bal themed festival

AN elephant . . . at the Mossley Festival of Light

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MOSSLEY will spark into light later this month as gigantic lanterns cast a glow over the town's hilly landscape.

The first annual Mossley Light Festival ­- organised by Mossley-based arts charity, Global Grooves ­- will feature newly-commissioned illuminated artists' installations, a carnival inspired lantern parade and a visual art exhibition in two local train stations.

Two handmade, four-metre-high animatronic peacocks will lead the after dark procession on November 24, followed by a moving menagerie including an elephant, a monkey, a lion and a giraffe.

There will also be whirling Trinidadian devils and billowing ships' masts. The spectacle will culminate in the Christmas lights switch on in the market square.

Reflecting the multicultural history of the town, the night time parade's global influences come from China, India, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, Brazil and the UK.

The nocturnal parade will tell two tales. One is Global Grooves' new interpretation of Shakespeare's The Tempest which was originally presented at Liverpool's Brazilica and Manchester Jazz Festival earlier this year. The Latin American-inspired retelling has been re-imagined for a night time setting and fully illuminated for the first time.

The second, the story of the life stages of a woman, is an entirely new work from Mossley-based international arts social enterprise Bangdrum CIC.

Three four-metre-high fully lit puppets depict the character throughout her life and she is seen to interact with the hills and nature, the birth of the industrial revolution and the ascent of modern technology.

The puppets and surrounding elements have been created during workshops with visiting international artists and the local community, including schools and older people's groups.

To build on the excitement of the parade, five local artists have been commissioned to produce site specific after dark works for the town.

Melanie Robert's illuminated white mountain hare has its origins in deconstructed elements of traditional Indian clothing design. The character will react with the environment and the audience using modern light technologies.

Gordon Banks' "Perpetual Variation" sees one large revolving sphere inside another, reflecting and affecting the light from within.

Sculptor Mike Green has had work exhibited at Hampton Court Palace and likes to work with wood, metal, mosaics, stone, willow, fire and water. He is making a series of light sculptures along the parade route in unexpected places with silhouette screens lit by LED lights. The subject matter for the screens will enhance the narrative of the procession and celebrate the local area.

Anne Gilligan's "The Green Monster Gilly Wagon" is part lantern, part fortune-teller's caravan, part post box. It promises to listen to and offer wise advice to parade-goers of all ages.

Carnival artist and animator Chris Anderson, of No Eyed Theatre, will be producing a selection of large scale cleverly-illuminated animal puppets. Chris' work has featured at London's Olympic park and for the past six years at the Manchester Day Parade.

Parade producer Leon Patel of Global Grooves said: "Mossley is an incredible and creative place with a long and continuing history of arts and artists."

Witness

"This is the first year of a new annual festival for Mossley which we hope will not only bring light to the heart of the community but encourage new people to the town to witness the spectacle and appreciate all we have to offer."

For two weeks prior to the festival, Mossley artist Chris Cyprus' "Northern Lights" series will be on display at Mossley and Stalybridge stations.

Funding from the event has come through the Arts Council England, Big Lottery Celebrate Fund, The People's Health Trust, Tameside 4 Good, Bangdrum CIC, British Airways and The Vale.

Event partners are Global Grooves, Bangdrum CIC, Mossley Town Council, Mossley Sports and Leisure Forum, The Vale, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, Cabasa Carnival Arts, The Mayor's Charity Committee, Mossley Town Team and Handmade Parade.

The procession leaves Seel Park at 6.30pm for the light switch on at the market ground at 7.30pm.

For more information go to www.mossleylightfestival.co.uk.