Tickets are selling fast for Carlisle’s latest sound and light spectacular.
Crown and Coronation begins in the city on Thursday and will bring the splendour of the Crown Jewels – 300 miles from their home at the Tower of London – to some of the most iconic buildings in the city.
Carlisle is the only city in the North of England to host the event.
Brought to Carlisle, with the support of Cumberland Council’s Destination Management team, Crown and Coronation is produced by Historic Royal Palaces and Luxmuralis.
It will explore the history of coronations in an immersive visual show and emotive soundscape which it is planning to project on some of the country’s most famous landmarks and locations – including Carlisle Cathedral and Carlisle Castle.
To coincide with the Light District event, other landmarks within Carlisle will also be lit in different colours, including the Citadels, Court Square (Station Hotel and The Griffin), Crown & Mitre Hotel, Civic Centre, the former Hoopers’ building, and the Guildhall.
Crown and Coronation has been created by Historic Royal Palaces – the charity that cares for the Tower of London – in partnership with Luxmuralis – as part of an artistic collaboration between artist Peter Walker and composer David Harper.
It will bring the spectacle, significance, and shared experience of Coronations to life, demonstrating the pivotal role of the Crown Jewels, part of the Royal Collection, within the ceremony.
Charles Farris, public historian for the History of the Monarchy at Historic Royal Palaces, said: “The Crown Jewels hold deep religious, historic, and cultural significance, and we are really excited to be bringing this magnificent collection to people around the UK following a historic coronation year. Crown and Coronation will immerse visitors in the rich history of the British monarchy, coronations, and the Crown Jewels.”
Peter Walker, sculptor and artist at Luxmuralis, said: “We are delighted to be working with Historic Royal Palaces and Cumberland Council on this spectacular light show, which will transform some of the UK’s most remarkable buildings into an articulating and evolving display of historic images, awash with light and accompanied by compositions which chart changes to music over the period.”
The show will feature stunning imagery spanning across the centuries. Visitors will journey through more than 1,000 years of history, encompassing the reigns of some of the most famous English monarchs including William the Conqueror, Elizabeth I, and Queen Victoria.
There are time slots between 6.30pm and 9pm from Thursday until Saturday.
Read everything you need to know about Crown and Coronation here.
