Hull will host the first event of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, the UK’s “most ambitious celebration of creativity to date”.
Hull is one of five places to be staging About Us, a spectacular, never before seen, free open-air event that combines live performances and multimedia installations to celebrate the entire history of the universe from Big Bang to the present day.
Featuring poems and Scratch animations from young people from schools in Yorkshire, across England and the rest of the UK, the 25-minute projection shows will immerse audiences in an exhilarating journey through 13.8 billion years of history since the dawn of the universe in a celebration of the infinite ways in which we connect to the cosmos, natural world, and one another.
About Us is an open air event that will take place in Queen Victoria Square.
About Us is the opening event for UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of creativity taking place across the UK this year.
It will take place in Queen Victoria Square, Hull from April 30 until May 6.
Martin Green CBE, who knows the city well having been director of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, is the chief creative officer of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK.
He said: “UNBOXED is the UK’s most ambitious celebration of creativity to date and this free spectacular performance will show us what can be achieved when we harness the creative power of scientists, technicians, producers, musicians, poets and mathematicians to produce and present a truly extraordinary and inspirational experience, that audiences, and the choirs and young people who have contributed, will never forget.”
About Us will transform Queen Victoria Square into a vast canvas combining awe-inspiring live projection-mapped animation with poetry, music, and beautiful live choral singing to create a unique spectacle.
About Us has been created by the award-winning 59 Productions.
The evening shows will feature winning entries from the About Us nationwide poetry and Scratch animation competition, on the theme of ‘connectivity and the universe’, selected by a host of distinguished judges including Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, and mathematician, author and broadcaster, Rachel Riley.
Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, said: “Hull is a city that has culture and creativity running through its veins, so I’m delighted that we are hosting About US, the opening event of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK.
“Our historic Queen Victoria Square will be the backdrop for an incredible and inspiring art installation that will feature animation, poetry and live music and performance from the outstanding Hull Freedom Chorus. About US promises to be one of the highlights of the year, and an event that cannot be missed.”
Acclaimed composer and musician Nitin Sawhney CBE has composed the original score which will be performed as part of the live shows by Hull Freedom Chorus.
Sawhney has scored more than 60 films and his past collaborators have included Sir Paul McCartney and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Choir performances of About Us are musically directed by composer, Osnat Schmool, who will conduct alongside local choir leaders.
There is still an exciting opportunity to join Hull Freedom Chorus for the live performances of About Us.
Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings, and singers above the age of 18, of all experiences and abilities, have until Thursday 10 February to register interest at hullfreedom.chorus@hullcc.gov.uk
If interested, email your name, voice part (if you know it) and the phrase ‘About Us Hull: Yes’.
