Light Night shines again

Fast becoming a staple on the Leeds arts scene, Light Night illuminated the best creative efforts from all around the city.

Friday night saw over fifty individual events take place in central Leeds, all connected by one theme: ‘Dead of Night’. Some took this literally, with a popular ghost tour around the eerily quiet Brotherton Library. Late night scholars were nowhere to be seen as the doors to the legendary occult collection were flung open. Also included was the University’s rarely seen assortment of graphic World War I memorabilia, which provided a chilling experience.

Upon entering the ominously decorated Millennium Square, visitors were greeted by a vast screen, projecting back-to-back silent horror films. Light Night’s inclusion of the infamous ‘Nosferatu’ very nearly made the northern downpour worth enduring. Instead, the shelter of the ‘Get Stuffed’ exhibition helped to stress the ‘Dead of Night’ motif with a curious taxidermy collection.

The University’s own ‘Classical Stories’ exhibit was a great success, with live characters from literature truly coming to life. This was enhanced against the backdrop of the city museum’s inspiring ancient history display, which boasts a well preserved Egyptian mummy. Our Leeds Met neighbours can also be proud of their immensely popular ‘Darkness Appreciation’ display, which provided useful instruction for living in a world without sunlight.

The most entertaining moment of the night came in the form of the spontaneous flash mob of zombie aerobic dancers outside the Town Hall. Organised by the Burley-based ‘Aerockbics’ movement, the interactive routine was a great demonstration of local talent.

For one chilly October night, the usually unsightly city of Leeds truly became a shared piece of art.