Where Light Falls - Coventry Cathedral
Telling a story of a cathedral, a city and its people.
Watch Where Light Falls LIVE in Coventry on YouTube
More than 16,000 people from across the region attended Where Light Falls at Coventry Cathedral on 14-16 November 2019.
Historic England worked with the Poetry Society and leading creatives Double Take Projections to project powerful poetry, visuals and photography to tell the story of the people who risked their lives to try and save the city’s medieval cathedral during the Blitz.
We were delighted the people of Coventry turned out in force to enjoy Where Light Falls over three nights, despite the rainy weather. We had 16,000 visit the light installation, gathering in the magnificent ruins of the old cathedral to pay tribute to the past, present and future of the city.
Where Light Falls is a stunning installation which invites the people of Coventry to look at their own cathedral in a beautiful new light. The projections on the massive walls and tower are awe-inspiring – I’m sure all our visitors were overwhelmed by the way that the Historic England and Double Take Projections teams have captured the history and emotion of our incredible city, capturing and conveying not just the tragedy of loss but overwhelmingly the hope of a new future – Coventry’s story of hope rebuilt again and again from the rubble of destruction, a gift for a world which is looking for peace.
Gallery
Click on the gallery images below to see some of the spectacular light show projections at Coventry Cathedral.
- See more pictures on Instagram
- To find out more, download the information booklet
- You can watch the show on YouTube and on Facebook
New poetry
Historic England commissioned two new works for Where Light Falls, facilitated by The Poetry Society and in collaboration with community groups.
Poets Keith Jarrett and Jane Commane worked with local school children, older writers, refugees and migrants with lived experience of conflict, inviting them to respond to contemporary photographs and accounts of the Blitz, and the heroic efforts of many individuals who fought to keep buildings from destruction, in workshops led by the poets. Their thoughts and creative responses steered the poets’ approach to the commission and fed into their finished work.
Keith Jarrett’s From the Log Book was projected at St Paul’s, and Jane Commane’s In A New Light was seen at Coventry Cathedral. Their words were brought to life through cutting-edge projections, incorporating innovative graphics and archive photography in Double Take Projections’ unique style.
As well as my own original stanzas, the poem is built around a refrain. This is the ‘communal’ part of the poem….made of phrases ‘donated’ by the people I am working with, and are generated in response to the question “what does Coventry Cathedral mean to you?”
Where Light Falls accessible formats
We have created audio and text alternative formats to help you experience the Where Light Falls projection and soundscape.
Part of Historic England's Loss and Destruction Season.
If you enjoyed Where Light Falls, you can visit What Remains, our free exhibition curated in partnership with Imperial War Museum exploring why cultural heritage is attacked during war and how we save, protect and restore what is targeted.
