Important information about the light show on the 6th and 7th October

• Very limited tickets are left for the light show on Friday and Saturday. Tickets must be purchased in advance and can not be bought at Rochester Cathedral

• If you can not find your ticket please do check your junk mail. If you still can not find it, there will be a list of booked attendees at the door who will be granted admission.

• We are unable to swap tickets for performances.

Science

A spectacular Son-et-Lumiere experience transforming the internal space of the Cathedral produced by Artistic Collaboration Luxmuralis

3 - 7 October 2023

A spectacular experience

The artwork 'Science' is designed to enable people to explore and contemplate the contributions of science and human understanding of the physical world around us.

The artwork explores Chemistry and Biology and interprets artistically the scale of molecules cells and DNA as well as exploring the history of science, the contributions of science to humanity, and offers a reflection upon famous scientists past and present.

The artwork also respects the sacred space it is viewed within and offers contemplation of religion and science together within the Cathedral, offering reflection on the ways in which Science and religion neither prove nor disprove the other; exploring how wisdom and beauty both serve to kindle our imaginations and enlarge our capacity for wonder.

Sound and light art is projected onto the architectural features of the Cathedral transforming and enveloping the space.  Visitors will walk through the Cathedral and view individual light and sound art installations digitally and artistically created by artistic collaboration 'Luxmuralis' which highlight the architectural features of the space. Viewers are immersed in the soundscapes they hear and walk through the light artworks that are all around them on an explorative journey through the sacred space.

Sounds heard are musical pieces composed and produced by David Harper, visitors hear bespoke filmic arrangements that capture the visuals and invigorate the senses. The artwork and visual imagery is created by Artist Peter Walker who uses light as if he was painting on a canvas.

Tickets

Tickets will need to be pre-booked.

Adults £8

Children (Under 18) £4.50

Infants (Under 3) Free

Family tickets (2 adults & 2 children) £22

Carers go free when accompanying a paid ticket. Please book an ‘Under 3’ ticket.

Performances

Performances will take place this Autumn on the evenings of the 3rd , 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th October. Timed entry will be in operation with the first time slot at 6.40pm.

6/10 uPDATE

Friday 6th Earliest Entry Available 21.20

Saturday 7th Earliest Entry Available 21.20

About the Artistic team and production

Artist Peter Walker and Composer David Harper are an Artistic collaboration called ‘Luxmuralis’.  Through Son-et-Lumiere installation and sound art pieces they transform and reinterpret the sense of place and space creatively helping members of the public to take a physical and emotional journey to identify with the subject and message of the artwork.

Examples of the many reactions and responses from previous art shows :

“Absolutely fantastic, so thought provoking simply beautiful!”

“Just visited the fantastic displays, Truly stunning, thank you”

“Just been to see this, it was fantastic and very moving.”

“I have been to a good number of Luxmuralis events now and they never fail to move me. Using the lofty and beautiful architecture of a Cathedral to tell human stories in light and sound in a place steeped in worship, it feels like a modern form of worship; a new way to connect with and nourish the spiritual self, whether that be in concert with one’s religious beliefs but also not requiring any in particular. It is beautiful, it is moving, it is thought-provoking, it is grounding, it is community-building, it is phenomenal Art.”

More information and FAQs

Do I need to book tickets in advance? How can I book tickets?

Yes, tickets must be booked in advance. Tickets can be booked on our website here.

A limited number of tickets are available on Eventbrite for the same cost.

How will I receive my tickets

For evening or another paid event you should have received 2 separate emails. One from Rochester Cathedral and one from WorldPay. Your ticket is the email from Rochester Cathedral. Please take a note of your booking reference.

If you do not receive the email from Rochester Cathedral please check your junk folder before contacting us.

What can I expect?

The experience involves walking through the Cathedral to view a number of different light and sound projections. Each installation last about 5 – 8 minutes on a continuous loop. The whole experience should last between 40 – 50 minutes.

This exhibition includes loud sounds, music and moving and flashing images throughout the experience, as well as bright lights and areas of darkness within the Cathedral.

Timeslots

Timeslots are in operation for this event to allow a steady flow of people. Admission to the Cathedral will be within the timeslot you have booked.

Can I arrive earlier or later than my timeslot?

Early entry will not be permitted but every effort will be made to allow access if you are running late within the confines of the opening hours of the exhibition. This will depend on capacity and will be at the discretion of Rochester Cathedral.

Where will I enter and exit?

Entry will be through the North Door to the side of the Cathedral. Exit will be at the small West Door at the front of the Cathedral.

Level or Accessible Access

We will endeavour to ensure all ticket holders enjoy their experience to the best of our abilities. However, please be aware that some of the route is not suitable for all wheelchair users. There are some stairs to get up to the Quire. We do have a lift which has a weight limit of 130kgs. Please email info@rochestercathedral.org and we will advise on any specific inquiries.

Please do let us know in advance of arriving if you require assistance during the experience and we will do our best to assist.

Entry to the Cathedral for this event is through the North Door which has level access.

What do I need to show when I arrive?

Tickets can either be bought online through our website or from the Cathedral Welcome Desk. If tickets are purchased online then the confirmation email counts as your ticket. Ideally this should be printed out but it is fine to show it on your phone as well. Taking a screenshot means you don’t have to worry about signal when arriving.

If you purchase the ticket from our Welcome Desk you will get a physically printed ticket.

Please bring these with you on the night.

Carers Tickets

If you require a carers ticket please book a ticket for under 3’s.

Can I change the date and time of my ticket?

Ticket dates and times cannot be altered once purchased. Please email info@rochestercathedral.org if you have any enquiries over this.

Refunds

Tickets are non-refundable.

Will I have to queue?

Queues are likely for this event, we will do our best to get everyone admitted as close to their time slot as possible.

Parking

There is no dedicated parking for this event and car parks in Rochester will be busy. We encourage visitors to walk or use public transport where possible. Please leave plenty of time to find parking.

Is this different to the lightshow in Canterbury Cathedral?

Yes, the light show at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent is by the team behind ‘Science’ but is a completely different show exploring the Renaissance. Tickets can be purchased here

Do you have toilets?

Yes we do have toilets. These are located in the gardens of Rochester Cathedral. We also have a disabled toilet inside the Cathedral.

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