The Battle of the Somme: Before Action
‘Before Action’ is a special, commemoration event taking place at Lichfield Cathedral this August, to mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
The commemoration event will take place over three days from 4th – 6th August and will transform the inside of the Cathedral into a thought-provoking, emotive and poignant landscape. This will symbolise the journey taken by soldiers leaving home to the front, using the words of war poets, visual arts, light and sound.
The event incorporates a series of stunning light projections and sound artworks created by artist Peter Walker and composer David Harper, who collaborate as ‘Luxmuralis’; an exhibition of 28 WW1-related prints by artist Denis May; an Edwardian sitting room; and exclusive recordings of war poetry by Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne.
Eddie Redmayne OBE is a critically acclaimed actor best known for his roles in films such as ‘Les Miserables’, ‘The Danish Girl’, and ‘The Theory of Everything’, for which he won the Academy, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG Award for Best Actor.
This installation has been developed by the team at the Cathedral, as part of Peter Walker’s Artist in Residency programme.
There is no charge to attend this event, however donations to the Cathedral are hugely appreciated. The projections will run every 30 minutes from 19.00 to midnight on Thursday 4th, Friday 5th, and Saturday 6th August.
Join us, and take a journey through the Edwardian sitting room, through a landscape of poppies, and into a poignant space of contemplation.