Strike A Light
We’ll be back with more fantastic events and experiences in Gloucester soon.
To get a taste of the sorts of things we do, check out our 2021 roundup film, or have a look at all our past events.
Hope to see you soon! 🔥
Eat, listen and debate to find out how food poverty is related to us.
You might not be suffering from food poverty, but in Coventry, there are still people who struggle for food and experience being hungry in their daily life.
Listen to our 10 storytellers, who have lived experience of being hungry or accessing emergency food banks, as they share their personal stories in a relaxed performance over lunch or dinner at Foleshill Community Centre – Coventry’s first and largest Social Supermarket.
Hungry Nation is an opportunity for us all to hear some of the key issues related to food poverty faced by Coventry people today. We’ll add to the collective’s solutions in a friendly debate and generate ideas for what must be changed.
Strike A Light have been working with Coventry participants to collectively create this performance together. Hungry Nation will culminate in April 2022 as part of Coventry UK City of Culture with a larger public performance that is co-curated with the participants.
Co-produced by Coventry City of Culture Trust and Strike A Light. Supported by Spirit of 2012, Arts Council England, Strike A Light, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Feeding Coventry.
1 in 4 parents in the UK have skipped a meal as they cannot afford it
End Hunger UK
All ticket sales will go directly to Feeding Coventry, a small charity with big ambition: to create a food resilient city in Coventry where nobody goes hungry.
This event will be captioned.
Together, we will discuss how to solve the key issues that many people in Coventry are facing today in a friendly debate over food.Headline topics include:
Facilitator: Dr Jasber Singh, Associate Professor, Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University
Head out on a magical night-time stroll through an illuminated landscape.
Pulsing, glowing orbs will transform Robinswood Hill into a multi-sensory light experience for all the family.
Available after dark!
⭐️ Completely FREE
⭐️ Great for all ages
⭐️ Grab some amazing photos!
Winter lights fantasy! Amazing sounds – esp Globoscope. Go check it out!
Audience member
A beautiful hilltop country park, and home to Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Globoscope will cover the whole of the front of the hill – when you first go past the visitor centre and cafe. There is some parking available on site.
This event is completely free.
It is taking place on cold, dark winter evenings – so remember to come prepared!
Wrap up warm 🧣
You’ll probably want to wear wellies or other sturdy footwear 🥾
And it will be dark – so have your phone or your torch ready! 🔦
It is wheelchair accessible: there’s a smooth concrete path straight from the car park up the hillside (although the hill is steep and might be a bit slippy!)
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust will have a range of activities to help you explore the site, and the café will be open for hot drinks and snacks.
We are pleased to be partnering with Global Streets – a national programme that is inspiring local change through unforgettable international outdoor arts experiences coupled with targeted engagement activities. Gloucester is one of 12 places around the UK to be part of the Global Streets programme.
‘a joy to see!’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Arts Desk
We’re transforming the giant sports hall at GL1 into a unique performance venue for one night only.
You’ll come in through a normal-looking leisure centre – but then our team will lead you down a side corridor, through a set of double doors…and you’ll step into a vast, dark space that will start to fill with incredible, stirring live music.
The music – called Our Future In Your Hands – will be performed by a full orchestra and will sound EPIC: big, dramatic, swelling, cinematic strings and voices that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up…
This is NOT a stuffy classical concert. The evening will be super relaxed:
We’ve even managed to smuggle a bar into the sports hall. And you can eat and drink during the performance if you want.
A huge sports centre at the end of Eastgate Street. It’s only a few minutes’ walk from Gloucester Station or, if you’re driving, there’s a small car park at GL1, or there’s parking nearby in Eastgate or King’s Walk car parks. There are plenty of places to get food nearby if you want to grab dinner while you’re out.
GL1 Leisure Centre
Bruton Way
Gloucester, GL1 1DT
Great for anyone who likes:
unique nights out trying new things stirring music inspirational young people incredibly skilled musicians immersive experiences events in unusual places violins?!
The performance will start at 6pm, but you’re welcome to arrive any time from 5.30pm and grab a drink in the bar.
There are toilets on site and you can get up and move around, leave the hall etc any time you like during the performance.
It’s a big space so there’ll be plenty of room if you want to spread out from other people.
Please note: Strike A Light will be taking photos at this event. These images will be used by Strike A Light to share news about our work, and to publicise our future events. Images may be used in press releases, printed publicity and published on Strike A Light’s social media pages. They will be stored securely and will be deleted once they are no longer needed. If you would prefer for you or your child not to be photographed, please speak to a member of our team. If you would like to see your images, or would like us to delete them, please email us on info@strikealightfestival.org.uk at any time.
A unique event. One night only. All welcome.
Our Future In Your Hands was commissioned by the Buxton International Festival, in collaboration with the Royal Over-Seas League.
This is a Genesis Kickstart Fund project, supported by the Genesis Foundation. The Multi-Story Orchestra are grateful to the following funders who have made this event possible:
Arts Council England
Borletti-Buitoni Trust
PRS Foundation
Granada Foundation
Britten Pears Foundation
John and Susan Bowers Fund
Marchus Trust
Thistle Trust
Three Monkies Trust
We’re grateful to Gloucestershire Academy of Music for the loan of music stands and chairs for the orchestra!
for 11-15 year olds in Gloucester.
Find your voice.
Get heard.
Make
things
happen.
£70/term
Free places available
Tuesdays, 6pm-7pm.
Matson Baptist Church, Gloucester, GL4 6LA.
This is Charlene. Charlene looks after all of our Youth Theatre activity.
Like Conrad. This is Conrad Murray. He’s just finished making a BBC TV version of his beatbox show ‘Frankenstein’. He’s one of the artists who’s going to run a guest session with us in 2021.
‘I have learnt to be me’
‘I love being part of Strike A Light because i feel like im on an adventure’
Feeling dismayed about the state of the world? Need a top-up on hope in the face of rapid climate change? These 4 brilliant Gloucester teenagers will give you a fresh sense of optimism.
👀 Come watch
👏 Show your support
🎧 Hear their take
💪 Get fired up
🌍 Maybe save the world?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – ‘inspiring’ (Epigram)
I Stand For What I Stand On features a live cast of 4 young climate strikers from Gloucester and a digital cast of global young activists. The show is performed directly to each audience member through headphones with original sound and digital design.
Drawing on autobiographical experiences, a love of Harry Styles and ABBA, an extraordinary understanding of the climate crisis and using cardboard protest signs, I Stand For What I Stand On shares the young international cast’s thoughts and fears about the impending climate crisis and explores the reality of being a teenager and growing up in the shadow of the climate emergency.
This show was extraordinary! It was moving and inspiring. I’m so proud of this work and these young people
Audience member
The show is fully captioned for d/Deaf and hard of hearing audiences.
Age Guidance: 14+
Running time: 60 minutes
Such important work and some really moving moments
Viv Gordon, theatremaker
The biggest ever congratulations!! That was so incredible – we’re absolutely blown away and so grateful that it was live streamed so we could watch it!
Audience member
That was so, so powerful, thank you so much
Hetty Hodgson, theatremaker
In 2019, Strike A Light met a group of striking young climate activists from Gloucester, shouting in the streets.
They were a small group of extraordinary young people aged 14-18. Protesting with banners and their voices. Shouting for their future and shouting in the wind. Shouting to survive. Shouting words of wisdom and shouting beautifully crafted speeches that would put many politicians to shame, they were often met with abuse.
Strike A Light offered them some office space to hold their meetings and two years later, co-created a new live show with them. I Stand For What I Stand On is that show.
📍 Tobacco Factory, Bristol
🗓 13 Oct, 8pm
📍 Guildhall, Gloucester
🗓 27 Oct, 7.30pm
📍 COP26, Glasgow
🗓 5 Nov
📍 Warwick Arts Centre
🗓 Sun 7 Nov, 6.15pm
📍 The Pleasance Theatre, London
🗓 Sun 14 Nov, 4pm
‘I just had the most awesome time,
Audience member
it was amazing!’
As the sun starts going down on Friday night, Matson roundabout (the massive one on Matson Avenue) will be turned into a set for a unique event: an outdoor VR experience that anyone can play.
6 people at a time will be kitted out with VR headsets and gold jackets. You’ll be given instructions to follow – and then, as you explore the VR world, you’ll suddenly be dancing in the middle of Matson, in real life.
You can choose to take part and play, or to just watch. Each round lasts about 10 minutes. There will be multiple chances to see the show, between 6pm and 10pm.
If you want to be one of the players, please sign up for a slot. If you just want to watch the show, you can just turn up at Matson roundabout any time you like!
The whole event is completely free.
• 6pm • 6.45pm • 7.30pm • 8.15pm • 9pm • 9.45pm
A big open space in the middle of the Matson estate – perfect for gathering a crowd. And it’s right by the chippy.
Matson parade roundabout
Matson Avenue
Gloucester, GL4 6LL
Great for anyone who likes:
unique nights out dance seeing places transformed VR smoke and lights immersive experiences trying something new gold coats?!
This is an outdoor, evening experience. It’s suitable for ages 7+ – but players must be 13+
Each performance is about 10 minutes long. There will be a new set of people playing each time, so every show is different. You can stay and watch as many times as you like.
The whole event is completely free.
There won’t be seating at the roundabout, so bring a blanket or a coat if you want something to sit on!
It’s a big space so there’ll be plenty of room if you want to spread out from other people.
Amazing, physically-impressive tricks performed with effortless agility – including a whole routine inside a massive, spinning steel ring known as a Cyr wheel.
Watch as the two performers build on each others’ moves, combining freestyle hip hop and b-boying with juggling and acrobatics to wow audiences of all ages.
Have you ever seen someone spinning, upside down, in a hoop, 20ft up in the air, balanced by their partner, on the ends of a see-sawing ladder, rotating on top of a car?
Sometimes serious, but more often funny, Pirate Taxi is a family-friendly circus show for adventurers of all ages. Enjoy incredible aerial performance on an incredible set – literally built in and on an old-school London taxi!
The funnest start to a Saturday afternoon in Gloucester, with 2 fantastic circus performances back-to-back!
“will delight, surprise and inspire the whole family”
Pirates of the Carabina review – Belinda Seeney
A hidden gem, tucked away in the middle of Gloucester. It’s normally locked up but we’ve got access specially for this event!
Great for anyone who likes:
circus skills parkour impressive physical feats fun activities for kids family outings acrobatics people working together taxis?!
These are two shows that anyone can enjoy. The content is suitable for all ages. Even cynical teenagers will be impressed by the giant spinning wheel tricks or the balancing act on a 30ft scaffold.
Bring the family, or your mates, or just pop along on your own. Absolutely everyone is welcome.
An incredible mix of juggling, choreography and the metal hoop work at the end from @simplecypher. Niamh and Oliver and were enthralled, as were we. #hatfair #winchester @ Hat Fair https://t.co/kwnZVHE57D
— Tom Patchell (@Tomepat) July 4, 2021
The two shows combined last about an hour.
We want anyone to be able to come along – so we’ve made the tickets pay what you choose.
An event like this would often cost £10-£15. But we don’t want people to miss out because of price.
If you can’t afford anything at all, we’d love you to come along for free. If you can comfortably pay more than the suggested price, please consider doing so – generosity is good for everyone! Whatever your situation, we want you to be welcome. There are no favourites at our events: you’re all family to us 💖
There won’t be seating at the bowling green, so bring a chair or a blanket if you’d like something to sit on.
It’s a big space for 100 audience members so there’ll be plenty of room if you want to spread out from other people.
A thoroughly entertaining half-hour performance from brilliant trapeze artist Tilly Lee-Kronick.
Ripe is Tilly’s own one-woman show: it’s funny, impressive and it’ll get you talking with your friends.
Grab a seat in a scenic outdoor space in the middle of Gloucester and enjoy the mix of circus skills, music, comedy…and a big banana costume 🍌
“One of the funniest circus performances I have ever seen.”
Resolution Review – Siobhan Murphy
A hidden gem, tucked away in the middle of Gloucester. It’s normally locked up but we’ve got access specially for this event!
Greyfriars Bowling Green
Gloucester, GL1 1HT
Great for anyone who likes:
circus skills comedy impressive physical feats fun activities for kids family outings feminism the unexpected bananas?!
This is genuinely a show that anyone can enjoy. It’s suitable for all ages. The trapeze tricks will wow you whether you’re 7 or 70, and there are clever themes, jokes and ideas woven in as well.
Bring the family, or your mates, or just pop along on your own. Absolutely everyone is welcome.
We’re putting on a daytime performance (1.30pm) so you can still come and see the show if it’s hard for you to get out in the evenings.
“Not just funny and original…thought-provoking, too.”
Audience member
The show lasts about half an hour.
We want anyone to be able to come along – so we’ve made the tickets pay what you choose.
A show like this would often cost £7-£12. But we don’t want people to miss out because of price.
If you can’t afford anything at all, we’d love you to come along for free. If you can comfortably pay more than the suggested price, please consider doing so – generosity is good for everyone. Whatever your situation, we want you to be welcome. There are no favourites at our events: you’re all family to us 💖
There won’t be seating at the bowling green, so bring a chair or a blanket if you’d like something to sit on.
It’s a big space for 100 audience members so there’ll be plenty of room if you want to spread out from other people.
The show mostly happens high up on a trapeze – so you’ll be able to see, wherever where you sit!
This is the latest in our series of community collaborations – bringing together Gloucester residents and artistic creativity to tell people’s stories.
Fantastic free dance and creative movement sessions for 2 – 4 year olds (older kids and adults welcome too!) It gets children moving at home while taking the pressure away from parents following the closure of children’s activity groups throughout lockdown.
It was presented in partnership with Gloucestershire Libraries during April 2021 and there are 5 pre-recorded sessions, around 15-20 minutes long. The video sessions lead children and their parents through movement explorations based around a story or theme.
Join Hannah on an adventure through the jungle!
Join Hannah to learn all about different types of weather!
Join Hannah to think about all the beautiful things we see outside in nature!
Join Hannah at the seaside!
Grab a blanket and join Hannah to get ready for bed!
Hannah is a freelance contemporary dance artist based in Gloucester. She is passionate about the power movement has to bring joy and encourage freedom of expression in early years children.
