LIT! – the finale of London Borough of Culture 2022 in BPP
We Are Lewisham announces LIT!, the finale of its tenure as the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s London Borough of Culture 2022. Presented around the shortest day of the year, 21 December 2022, LIT! will bring Lewisham’s year in the cultural spotlight to a spectacular close with a light trail, contemporary circus show by The Revel Puck Circus and a winter fair, all taking place in Beckenham Place Park.
Inspired by the borough’s history of activism, Lewisham’s London Borough of Culture programme has highlighted the power of culture to inspire collective action and create change. LIT! will be a moment to come together and celebrate, bringing light to the park in the darkest part of the year.
From Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 December there will be an outdoor illumination trail connecting with themes of renewal, nature and community. Lewisham will be home to a magical trail highlighting the unique and hidden beauty of the park at night. It will be a free and un-ticketed event open to everyone with accessible facilities. There will be a varied programme of events alongside a wide range of food and drink to buy, with resident traders such as the Homestead Café offering handmade pizzas and a cosy bar in the Mansion operating alongside local guest traders.
Also one for the entire family, The Revel Puck Circus’ The Wing Scuffle Spectacular will run from Thursday 15 December to Saturday 7 January. Presenting the brightest young talent of the London circus scene, performances will offer a fresh perspective on the popular artform with acrobatics, parkour, break dance, incredible feats and contemporary performance. Formed during the first London Borough of Culture in Waltham Forest in 2019, The Revel Puck Circus was founded out of the desire to see circus connect with a new audience, whilst remaining embedded in the tradition of tented touring. Tickets to The Wing Scuffle Spectacular go on sale on 28 October.
On 21 December, a free performance choreographed by Natasha Khamjani will see over 300 people who have taken part in this year’s events come together as a flash mob of light bearers to spotlight the borough’s people power, as they light up the park on the shortest day of the year. They will be joined by a community choir (formed during Sun and Sea) and PTP Coaching’s evening ‘glow’ swimmers. Audiences are invited to watch this free, unticketed performance before enjoying the illumination trail, winter fair and other activities.
Businesses at the park and Lewisham’s local community groups will be at the heart of the season of activities. There will be a music programme of live acts, local talent and DJs as well as a winter arts and crafts market and a family fun fair.
We Are Lewisham is committed to welcoming all communities and offering a great festive experience at a time that can be challenging for many families. The illumination trail (20-22 Dec) and the mass performance (21 Dec) are free to experience and over 500 £1 tickets to The Revel Puck Circus’ The Wing Scuffle Spectacular are being made available to low income families in Lewisham.
LIT! will provide a moment to gather and celebrate the successes of Lewisham’s achievements as London Borough of Culture 2022 and shine a light on its greatest asset: its people and diverse creative community as it looks towards a continuing rich cultural future.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“I created the London Borough of Culture to put creativity at the heart of our communities and use the power of culture to help build a better London for everyone.
“Lewisham has had an incredibly successful year, packed full of events showcasing the borough’s rich history of activism, celebrating its diversity and tackling the climate emergency.
“I’m delighted that the year will conclude in spectacular style with LIT! bringing communities together at Beckenham Place Park and I hope the legacy of the London Borough of Culture will inspire the local community for years to come.”