The University Christmas carol service was held in York Minster last Sunday 8th December. Attended by around 1500 people this was a huge audience for the 13 Level One Theatre students involved in the ‘theatrical reflection’ as part of the service.
Based on the theme ‘I have a dream‘, students worked with staff to devise a piece that would have visual impact in such an impressive space. They used text from Martin Luther King’s speech, familiar songs about dreaming and projected dreamlike video images onto 4ft helium balloons suspended above heads.
Students become dream-givers and dreamers.
At the beginning of the service they also we allowed to access a little used window ledge above the nave where they looked like angels! Joined by the University Chamber Choir stood below, they sang their dream sequence of songs before the service, creating an atmosphere and introducing the theme of the event. The chamber choir also accompanied the piece whilst the students were processing down the aisle and collaborated with the final call of ‘Let freedom ring’.
There has been some great feedback from the University and congregation who were ‘moved and inspired’ by the work.