Spectacular open air live show is coming to Luton

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 arrives in Luton on April 14 for one week only as part of its five-stop UK tour.

Featuring poems and Scratch animations from young people in Bedfordshire, across England and the rest of the UK, the 25-minute projection shows intend to immerse audiences in an exhilarating journey through 13.8 billion years of history since the dawn of the universe.

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; an unprecedented opportunity for people to come together and take part in a series of awe-inspiring major events and creative projects for free.

At night About Us will transform the town's landmark Town Hall into a vast canvas combining awe-inspiring live projection-mapped animation with poetry, music, and beautiful live choral singing to create a unique spectacle. Positioned across the Square, a raft of freestanding plinths containing dynamic theatrical lighting and LED screens will offer the counterpoint of the human-scale narrative against the vast cosmic scale imagery of the video projection.

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.

Acclaimed composer and musician Nitin Sawhney CBE has composed the original score which will be performed as part of the live shows by B.I.G. Hat Factory Choir, with members of Luton Choral Society. Choir performances of About Us are musically directed by composer, Osnat Schmool, who will conduct alongside local choir leaders. Sawhney has scored more than 60 films and his past collaborators have included Sir Paul McCartney and the London Symphony Orchestra.

There is still an exciting opportunity to join B.I.G. Hat Factory Choir for the live performances of About Us. Singers aged 18+ of all experiences and abilities have until Monday 14 February to register interest at [email protected] with your name, voice part (if you know it) and the phrase ‘About Us Luton: Yes’ in the subject line.

By day pop-up multimedia installations will be open from 10am to 5pm to showcase the boundless creativity of local children and young people with poems and Scratch animations created in workshops in Luton and the surrounding area.

Cllr Sian Goding, portfolio holder responsible for Arts & Culture at Luton Council, said: “We are delighted that this outdoor spectacular will be coming to Luton and with the range of shows and installations taking place we know it will bring a real buzz to the town centre. It’s also a great opportunity for local singers to get involved – we’ve got so much talent in our town and it will be wonderful to see them on show. About Us is just one of many events taking place in Luton this year including Chinese New Year celebrations, the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and Carnival and is something to really look forward to”.

About Us is on a five-stop tour from March to May 2022, travelling to Paisley from 1 to 6 March (public preview: 28 February), Derry–Londonderry from 15 to 21 March, Caernarfon from 30 March to 5 April, Luton from 14 to 20 April and Hull from 30 April to 6 May.

All About Us events are outdoor, free and unticketed, and suitable for audiences of all ages. Find out more at aboutus.earth