Lancaster Cathedral

A visit to Dalton Square

2009-07-15T07:23:00.005+01:00

Yesterday evening about 25 parishioners made a trip to Dalton Square for a tour of the former Catholic Chapel there. The visit was part of the Cathedral's 150th anniversary celebrations: it is hoped that during the year many people will come to take a greater interest in the history of Catholicism in Lancaster. The Dalton Square church was opened in 1799, under the charge of Lancaster's priest at that time, Dr John Rigby. Our group of parishioners met outside in the rain before heading indoors.

The tour was conducted by Mr Stephen Gardner, conservation officer for the council, who works in the building, which is now known as Palatine Hall. Here the group take a look at the back of the former presbytery. After the clergy moved out it became a doctor's surgery and was home to the imfamous Dr Ruxton; here he murdered his wife and maid. The crime became so famous that it even has its own Wikipedia page, which can be found here.

After the look at the presbytery it was on to the former church itself, where people commented how it seemed very much larger inside than it appeared from without. Clearly the building would have accommodated a fairly large number of people; later it was used as a cinema.

The ceiling was of particular interest because - although redecorated - the structure remains the same as it was when the building was a church. In March Billington's Blog featured a number of posts about the Dalton Square chapel; if you'd like to read more, click here and scroll down through the entries to see the relevant posts.

The chapel at Dalton Square replaced an earlier makeshift building at St Leonardsgate; it is perhaps fitting therefore that today the old chapel, now used for office space, has windows which look out onto St Leonardsgate and towards the Cathedral (see an image here). Lancaster's Catholic history has left a trail across the city. Our thanks are due to Mr Gardner and to the council authorities for arranging this tour for us.

Curious about the Cathedral?

2009-07-14T06:36:00.001+01:00

Revealed today, here is a first glimpse of the publicity for our 150th anniversary exhibition, which takes place at Lancaster City Museum from 12th September (not 21st as previously stated!) to 21st November. Featuring a range of objects and information panels, the exhibition will cover a period of local Catholic history from recusant times to the present day. It promises to be a great event; more details will follow on the blog over the coming weeks. Group visits are welcome; if you'd like to discuss the possibilities, please get in touch.

Monteverdi Vespers

2009-07-12T07:59:00.006+01:00

Last night the Cathedral hosted a performance of the celebrated Monteverdi setting of Vespers. The work dates from 1610 and was first published in Venice; since that time it has become well-known and frequently performed around the world.

The performance was given by the Levens Choir, who are based in Kendal; they were accompanied by the Early Baroque Band using instruments typical of the period. Before the performance conductor Ian Jones gave a brief introduction to the large audience.

This setting of Vespers uses the texts of the common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is used on feasts of Our Lady throughout the year.

One final concert remains before the summer break: this coming Friday at 7:30pm the Skipton Camerata will play Bach's second and fourth Brandenburg Concerti, as well as works by Bridge, Grieg and Howells (more details here). And, of course, if you would like to come to Vespers being prayed (rather than performed!) it is sung each Sunday afternoon in the Cathedral at 4:40pm.

St Thérèse: beat the crowds

2009-07-10T19:12:00.003+01:00

With 80 days to go until the relics of St Thérèse arrive in Lancaster, each day it becomes more obvious that a large number of people will make a visit during this event. Already a large number of parish, deanery and school coaches have been arranged and more enquiries are coming in. To help ensure a smooth event, we are trying to spread the arrival times of different groups. Earlier today we launched a new page on the Cathedral's St Thérèse website, designed to help people see when it is best to come.

The duration of the visit is split into times which are colour-coded: green for the quietest times, red for the busiest and yellow for those inbetween. The information is intended (at least at this stage) mainly for those planning group visits, and we are asking groups which have not yet arranged a time to avoid the Tuesday lunchtime Mass, which is looking very busy. We will update the information further as time goes on and as more groups book in. If you are organising a group, please remember to contact us with your planned arrival time. You can find the new information page here.

Caritas in Veritate

2009-07-08T07:55:00.001+01:00

Published yesterday, Pope Benedict's third encyclical letter deals with "integral human development in charity in truth." Under the title Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth) the Holy Father tackles some of the social issues facing the world today, including the environment, economic crisis, human rights, migration and the role of technology. In the UK the encyclical was launched by the Archbishop of Westminster, Most Rev. Vincent Nichols, who described it as "a powerful and thorough application of the vision of Christian faith to the complex problems of human development." The letter can be read online at the Vatican webiste, here; a printed version will be published by the Catholic Truth Society next Monday - click here for more.

Anne Frank: a history for today

2009-07-07T07:44:00.001+01:00

The Cathedral is currently playing host to an exhibition entitled "Anne Frank: a history for today." A lot of school groups have signed up to come along; the exhibition is also open to the general public Monday-Friday 4-6pm; Saturday and Sunday 1-4pm. Entry is free.

Yesterday three classes from the Cathedral Primary School came to take a look. In the first part of the exhibition there is a 25-minute video about Anne Frank's life; the children then get a chance to talk about some of the things they have learnt. There are also a number of photographs taken by Anne Frank's father which reveal something of their family's life.
In the second part there are some visual displays which bring to life the diary which Anne Frank wrote. There is plenty to see and the children made the most of it.

In total there are over 30 panels for people to see; many photographs are accompanied by extracts from the diary, so that Anne Frank's story is told in her own words.

Along the corridor which leads to the exhibition the Cathedral has prepared some thought-provoking material. On the walls visitors can see how the freedom of Jews was gradually taken away by the Nazi regime. Meanwhile, on the floor there are words associated with oppression and persecution, placed for people to walk over; above there are words associated with justice and peace, a reminder of qualities for which we must aim. The exhibition remains open until Wednesday 22nd July.

Bishop Campbell: first Pastoral Letter

2009-07-06T09:07:00.002+01:00

At his Mass of inauguration on 1st May the Bishop had an opportunity to address nearly all of the priests of the Diocese and representatives from each parish. Such opportunities are not frequent, and bishops more often communicate with the Diocese by means of letters. Over the weekend Bishop Campbell's first Pastoral Letter was read in parishes across the Diocese. He wrote the letter to mark the Year for Priests, which began on the feast of the Sacred Heart. Expressing his own appreciation for the work of priests, he encouraged all the people of the Diocese to pray for priests and to pray for vocations. He also asked families of those considering the priesthood to be generous in their response, saying, "Remember, parents: the Lord is never outdone in generosity." You can find the full letter on the Diocesan Website: click here.

Carlo Curley

2009-07-05T08:08:00.008+01:00

Last night saw another major landmark in the organ restoration work as the legendary American organist Carlo Curley gave a recital in the Cathedral. Carlo is well known around the world as a brilliant organist with great ability to engage the audience, and he did not disappoint.

The programme was filled with works by American composers, chosen to mark July 4th, Indepedence Day. Carlo's skill was in greatly in evidence as he gave a dazzling performance. He certainly put the organ through its paces, and at one stage joked that he was trying to "invalidate the warranty".

Between pieces he often took the microphone to speak to the audience from the gallery, introducing some of the works and their composers. He congratulated the organ builders, Henry Willis and Sons, on their work, telling the crowd: "I do not recognise this organ." Carlo had previously played at the Cathedral in July 2005, when the organ was in a terrible state; he was clearly very pleased with the restoration work carried out by Willis.

The programme included a range of styles; pieces included an organ transcript of Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, Charles Ives’ Variations on 'America' and Lindblad’s Toccata on an American Theme.

The event could only take place thanks to the heroic efforts of the Willis staff. Jonathan and Fred had worked (almost quite literally) around the clock to ensure that everything was ready, and stayed on hand during the recital just to make sure that the organ performed well. It did. You can find the Willis and Sons website here.

Hopefully Carlo will return before too long to play at the Cathedral again. He is an extraordinary performer; his own website describes him as "The Pavarotti of the Organ". You can visit his site, which also includes details of his forthcoming concerts, here.

Farewell, Fr Lourdu

2009-07-02T07:23:00.001+01:00

One year and one day since his arrival in Lancaster, today we bid farewell to Fr Lourdu. His Bishop has asked him to move to the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin, to take up pastoral duties there. Last weekend Fr Lourdu had the chance to address some words to parishioners at the end of Mass. He spoke movingly about his time here and sincerely thanked everyone for their support and prayers during his time in Lancaster.

Our best wishes go with Fr Lourdu as he heads across the Atlantic, and we hope to update you on his progress at a later date.

July Diary

2009-07-01T07:35:00.003+01:00

With the summer holidays now fast approaching, the pace of events at the Cathedral slows considerably for July. The biggest event this month is an exhibition about Anne Frank, which begins today and runs until 21st (public opening: Monday-Friday 4-6pm, Saturday-Sunday 1-4pm; free admission); more details and reports will be posted in the coming days. Three concerts will take place: an organ recital by Carlo Curley (this coming Saturday), Monteverdi's Vespers sung by the Levens Choir (11th) and the Skipton Camerata with more of Bach's Brandenburg Concerti (17th). In the liturgical calendar the two major feasts are concerned with the apostles: St Thomas (3rd) and St James (25th).

Over the next month Billington's Blog will feature the installation of Bishop O'Donoghue, the consecration of Bishop Flynn and auxiliary Bishop Pearson, posts on the diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage over the years, the opening of the convent chapel and Mass on a mountainside. You can find Canon Billington's historical blog here.

The visit of St Thérèse draws ever closer - just 89 days to go! - and the Thérèse blog will keep you up-to-date with preparations. Over the next month we hope to bring you some more concrete news about what will be happening on site; you can also find out about events around the Diocese and coaches coming from your area. It looks set to be a huge event, with a large number of coach groups already booked in. The Thérèse blog has recently published the prayer which will be used for the visit to Lancaster; the site can be found here.

Recycling the flowers

2009-06-30T13:49:00.004+01:00

The story of the Flower Festival draws to a close today as the displays are dismantled and the flowers removed. We're recycling the flowers - so to speak - in a few ways: some have been retained to decorate the Cathedral; some have been donated to other places; some are available on the lawn outside the Cathedral - these may be taken by anyone willing to make a donation for them.

All in all it has been a wonderful, memorable and successful event, with many positive comments from the large number of visitors. A word of thanks is due to all who helped design and arrange the displays, and to the army of parishioners who acted as stewards and welcomers or helped provide refreshments for the people who came. Although we haven't been able to show every display on the blog, we have retained a large number of photographs which we plan to publish in the future.

Flower Festival Part 4

2009-06-29T13:06:00.000+01:00

Peering over some flowers in the organ loft, we see the man in whose honour this festival is taking place: St Peter, Prince of the Apostles and patron of our Cathedral. The organ loft displays have been sponsored in memory of Dr J. H. Reginald Dixon, the former Cathedral organist whom we featured back in May. The displays were designed and arranged by members of the Becconsall Flower Club: Anne White, Georgie Dagnall, Joan Twigger, Joan Foreshaw and Cath Poole.

The same team of ladies have also produced the arrangements beneath the organ gallery, and have made the area very attractive.

In some places the flowers appear to be climbing the walls... four floral banners hang from the nave piers; these are the work of Tracey Clode, Vicky Nevitt, Lorraine Stewart and Tanya Strange.

Flowers can be found in the most unlikely places, such as here, high up in the church.

Perhaps even less likely are these baskets of fruit, part of the display in the Whiteside Chantry. Did you spot them?

Even on the way out of the Cathedral there are displays to be seen: nowhere is left untouched! The festival remains open until 7:30pm.

Flower Festival Part 3

2009-06-29T08:50:00.008+01:00

Today's your last chance to come and see the Flower Festival for yourself. Although we've put plenty of pictures on the blog there is so much more to see, so do call in if you get chance. This is the first sight that will greet you; it's part of a wonderful display in the narthex, the work of Fleetwood Flower Club.

Also in the narthex (and by the same team) is this splendid boat - a fine piece of work indeed!

The sanctuary looks quite magnificent, with some displays standing eight feet above the floor. It is the work of the Barrow Flower Club. Yesterday Bishop Campbell celebrated the 10:30am Mass, and spoke of how magnificent the displays were. In his homily he spoke of St Peter's character and also about the closure of the year of St Paul; the full text can be found here.

In the small chapel of St Charles Borromeo we see some of the hats of ecclesiastical office: the papal tiara (top of picture), a bishop's mitre (centre) and cardinal's red hat. The flower arrangements were produced by South Westmorland Flower Club and have been sponsored in honour of St Angela Merici, foundress of the Ursuline sisters. Our thanks are also due to Wendy Moore, Fr Peter Groody and Fr Stewart Keeley for their help with this display.

The Blessed Sacrament chapel has been inspired by Peter's threefold profession of love for Christ, made after the Lord had risen from the dead. This display was designed and arranged by the Bispham Flower Club, the North of Preston Flower Club and Lyn Constable and her students.

The same display is here seen from another angle; on the right of the picture we see some wool, reminding us of Jesus' words to Peter: "feed my lambs, feed my sheep".

Elsewhere in the Cathedral there are pedestals and other stand-alone arrangements; there is much to see! The festival is open today from 10am until 7:30pm (viewing possible at all times except during Mass at 12:15pm - until approx. 1pm) and refreshments are available in the Social Centre throughout. Tomorrow from 10:30am flowers will be available in exchange for a small donation - weather permitting, on the lawn outside Cathedral House. Call back to the blog later today for another set of pictures.

St Peter, Prince of the Apostles

2009-06-28T08:12:00.003+01:00

Happy Feast Day! Today, for the 150th time, the Cathedral Church of St Peter in Lancaster keeps its patronal feast. To celebrate, the blog gives a few pictures of St Peter's statue by the Cathedral entrance. For the Flower Festival it has been decorated by Diane and Cathie Faunch.

Our patron is also wearing a gold cope today; the custom of dressing St Peter's statue on his feast is observed in many places, including at the Vatican and at Westminster Cathedral (a picture can be seen here; we haven't yet got the papal tiara, but next year...) This display, like many, has been sponsored; the inscription given is an appropriate one: "We pray for an increase in the number of vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life."

St Peter shares his feast with another great Apostle, St Paul; it is worth noting that the year of St Paul ends today. Bishop Campbell will celebrate the Cathedral's main Sunday Mass at 10:30am as we mark our patronal feast in this anniversary year. If you're not a parishioner but are local enough, you might like to join us for sung Vespers this afternoon at 4:40pm.

St Peter in Prison

2009-06-28T08:03:00.002+01:00

During the Flower Festival the Baptistery has been turned into the prison which held St Peter when he was arrested for preaching the Gospel. Appropriately enough the events surrounding this imprisonment are the subject of today's first reading at Mass (Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11).

The display, which has been produced by the Lunesdale Flower Club, gives a wonderful impression of the prison. The impression of barbed wire, prison bars and chains is given.

Even the soldiers are present by the baptistery gates, and a ball and chain can be seen.

Just outside the baptistery, this scene represents Peter's escape, which concludes the story of his imprisonment. This display was arranged by Catherine Curran of Flowerstop (Lancaster), who also provided a great deal of help with our preparations for the festival. It is wonderful that the arrangers have used their artistic talents to represent the words of Scripture.

Flower Festival Part 2

2009-06-27T15:52:00.009+01:00

Here come a few more pictures of the Flower Festival, which began yesterday and continues until Monday evening.

There has been a steady stream of people looking around throughout the day, and it seems that everyone is impressed with the wonderful displays.

From up in the organ loft (not open to the public!) we managed to get a different perspective.

The Sacred Heart altar near the sacristy door has been decorated by Stanwix Floral Art Society, and represents St Peter in the empty tomb of the risen Lord. The screen around the altar, which was removed in the 1970s, is represented in the display, giving some impression of how the space would have looked as a separate chapel.

Even high up there are displays for people to enjoy. We peeped through this arrangement down into the Cathedral below.

Lots of votive candles have also been lit!

In the Social Centre, a dedicated team are providing refreshments (including some light meals) to visitors. The Cathedral Primary School and members of our Cafe Club youth group have made provided the decoration here, with a few statues of our patron included as part of the display. It's difficult to capture on camera just how beautiful the Cathedral looks, but we'll keep trying - for the benefit of those who can't visit - and bring you some more pictures over the next couple of days.

Flower Festival Part 1

2009-06-27T08:44:00.008+01:00

Yesterday morning the Flower Festival opened, with a steady stream of people coming through the doors all day. Many of the visitors have commented how amazed they are at what they see: it really is spectacular.

At first sight you'd struggle to believe this is indoors; in fact, it is part of the Whiteside Chantry in the Cathedral. This side chapel is completely filled with flowers and it looks wonderful. The display was designed and arranged by Melissa Bowring and Evelyn Shaw.

The Ambo is very colourfully decorated, and is the work of the Cathedral's own flower arrangers.

The festival is inspired by the life of St Peter, the patron of the Cathedral, whose feast is celebrated tomorrow. Many of the displays represent specific moments in his life. This arrangement, for example, represents the call of St Peter by the Sea of Galilee. It is the work of Garstang St Thomas Flower Club.

Just around the corner in the north transept is a scene depicting Peter's denial of Christ. The fire can be seen nearest the camera; behind, St Peter is seated (his sandals can be seen on the floor) with a cockerel by his feet. This display has been produced by Alison Cridland and Evelyn Shaw.

It was good to see so many people enjoying the flowers yesterday; the weather seems fairly good again today, which will hopefully encourage a few more visitors! We will show as much as we can on the blog, but the only way to properly experience the festival is to come and see - and smell - for yourself. Today you can come anytime between 10am and 7:30pm (apart from during Mass at 12:15pm and 6:30pm). There is no charge for entry; programmes cost £5. It's well worth it.

Staging Days

2009-06-25T14:09:00.008+01:00

Yesterday and today the Cathedral has been awash with flower arrangers, who have come from near and far to prepare for the Flower Festival which begins tomorrow. It's a hive of activity, and the church is really beginning to look quite magnificent.

Boxes full of flowers have been appearing since Tuesday afternoon, and yesterday floral artists were on site from 7am until nearly 11pm. A long day!

All of the side chapels, windowsills, corners - in short, every space - is being decorated. A number of different styles and a great deal of imagination are on display.

The Cathedral's own flower ladies are working in the Lady Chapel, preparing a scene representing the Transfiguration.

Everywhere you look there are flowers, people and a fair number of ladders!

Some are having to climb high to hang displays which have been prepared at ground level...

... while others are working on ladders to prepare their displays. This display is eight feet above the ground! Over the coming days there will be plenty of pictures on the blog, so do call back for a look. If you can get to Lancaster, however, there's only one way to see this great event: come to the Cathedral!

The Flower Festival opens tomorrow and can be visited anytime between 10am and 7:30pm, except during Mass and other services - click here to check the times. There is no charge for entry; the festival programme costs £5. There will also be a concert featuring a string quartet from the Lancashire Sinfonietta (tickets £10, concessions £8, including festival programme) at 8pm tomorrow (Friday) evening - doors open for this at 7:30pm.

You're Welcome

2009-06-24T04:49:00.002+01:00

For the Cathedral a change of Bishop brings many other changes in its wake. Yesterday the new 'welcome' sign appeared in the church for the first time. For the last few years visitors have been greeted by a picture of and message from Bishop O'Donoghue. Now it is Bishop Campbell who 'greets' visitors as they enter the Cathedral. With the Flower Festival just two days away (more about that very soon) and many visitors expected, the timing couldn't be much better.

A bishop's life in retirement

2009-06-23T12:20:00.003+01:00

For Bishop O'Donoghue, there won't be too much time to sit outside reading the newspaper, even in retirement. Yesterday the diocesan website reported that he has been appointed as assistant priest in the parish of Bantry, West Cork. Bishop Patrick left Lancaster on 29th May, and since then has been staying with family. He will take up his new post on 3rd July. The appointment was made by Most Rev. John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross, after Bishop O'Donoghue asked that he would find a parish where he could continue his pastoral ministry following his retirement from Lancaster. The report on the diocesan website can be found here.

Saints John Fisher and Thomas More

2009-06-22T08:04:00.002+01:00

Today the Church keeps the feast of two English martyrs: Saint John Fisher (who was the Cardinal Bishop of Rochester) and Saint Thomas More (Chancellor of England). The two were beheaded on the orders of King Henry VIII in 1535 because they had disputed his claim to authority over the English Church and his marriage to Anne Boleyn. They were canonised in 1935 and are pictured here in the Cathedral's English Martyrs Window.

The window is one of three installed in March and April 1888 (the others being the 'Te Deum' West Window and the Rose Window). A pamphlet describing the windows and giving some background was published soon after the installation. A new version containing the original text but with some up-to-date footnotes and colour images has been prepared, and will be available from the start of the Flower Festival on Friday. It's an interesting record of one aspect of the Cathedral's history, and - given that the windows remain unaltered 121 years later - is just as relevant today.

First Communions 2009

2009-06-21T14:10:00.004+01:00

This morning thirteen children from our parish received Holy Communion for the first time. The day is the end of a long period of preparation; more importantly it is also the beginning of a new phase of their life of faith, a time in which they can be united with the Lord in this sacrament.

Just before the final blessing the children were invited to come forward; the moment also offered the opportunity to thank their families and the parish catechists for all their work and support. During the Mass they had remained with their families throughout, with the intention that the congregation's focus might remain on the liturgy.

We congratulate the children on this special day, with the hope that it will be the beginning of a much deeper relationship with God. Please continue to remember them in your prayers.

Walking with St Peter - Part 2

2009-06-20T06:52:00.007+01:00

As promised, today we feature some more pictures from St Peter's Walk, which is taking place each evening this week. The images in this post were all taken at last night's performance. The basic idea is this: the audience is taken back to the time of St Peter and encounters people who know him or have heard of the life of the early Church.

One such character is a merchant by the name of Melchior. He is on the lookout to make a sale (providing you have a few shekels to hand) but is also keen to tell of recent events in his area. His account is of the stoning of St Stephen and the persecution of the Christians.

This engaging scene is one of many around the Cathedral site. Elsewhere people can witness a dispute between the authorities and some early disciples about what really happened on Pentecost Day; they can join a tea party at which three gossips are discussing reports of miracles, and they can listen to an imagined radio interview with St Peter himself.

The purpose of this drama is to bring the scriptural stories to life and to explore St Peter's contribution to the life of the early Church. Alongside this there are two opportunities to find out more about how St Peter is reflected in architecture. Here a group takes a mini-tour of the Cathedral looking at images of St Peter within the church. Meanwhile, in St Walburga's chapel the audience can hear a short talk about St Peter's Basilica in Rome and the tomb of the Apostle.

Each scene, tour and talk lasts for fifteen minutes, after which time a bell rings and people are invited to choose another scene. It works very well and the audience feedback has been very positive.

A particular highlight has been the refreshments, which are given in the form of food as it might have been in the New Testament period. Each person gets a small plate of food with different items to try, thereby being given the chance to try a few different items. The refreshments are included in the ticket price. There are two final chances to come along: tonight and tomorrow (Sunday) at 8pm. Tickets are £10 (concessions £8; under 16s £6) and are available on the door from 7:30pm.

A year of prayer for priests

2009-06-19T06:57:00.001+01:00

Last night in Rome Pope Benedict launched a year of prayer for priests. The start of the year coincides with the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is celebrated today. Over the next twelve months we are asked to pray for priests and to ask God to grant us more vocations to the priesthood. The year for priests has been chosen to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of St John Vianney, who is the patron saint of Parish Priests.

Today especially we might also remember in our prayers John Moriarty, who will be ordained deacon at Ushaw College, Durham, this afternoon. John is now in the final stages of preparation for his priestly ordination, which is due to take place next summer.

Walking with St Peter - Part 1

2009-06-16T10:54:00.008+01:00

To give you an idea of what it is and how it works, here's an early look at St Peter's Walk, the 'promenade drama' which is taking place all this week. It's been specially designed for smaller groups of people so that we can use some of the smaller (but often very beautiful) spaces on the Cathedral site. Weather permitting - as it did last night - the evening starts in the garden.

Here a brief introduction is given before people are invited to make their way into the Cathedral.

Once inside, a number of different performances take place in different areas at the same time. People take their seats in the benches and then people from each performance step forward. Then the members of the audience are invited to choose which scene to view.

With that, people make their choice and are led to the appropriate place.

Last night we had a look at what was going on in the Baptistery. Here the Ursuline sisters from St Thomas More's and some parishioners were playing the part of some of the women of the New Testament and spent their time discussing the things that Peter had said and done.

Here Peter's mother-in-law describes how she was healed by Jesus when Peter brought the Lord to her house. It was very imaginatively presented and helped to bring the scriptural accounts to life.

Each performance lasts about 15 minutes, after which a bell rings and people return to the benches. Then the cycle begins again: another choice is made and people can go to other spaces to witness other things. There is a lot on offer - including period refreshments which are included in the ticket price - and it seems that the first audience enjoyed their visit. If you'd like to come along, it takes place every evening from now until Sunday 21st, starting at 8pm. We'll bring you more pictures and reports towards the end of the week.