LIFE An immersive sound and light show at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London 30 Jan – 3 Feb 2024

‘An adventure in light and sound that is respectful of its setting’ ★★★★★ 

Remembering some of the earliest laser light shows which became popular around the 1980s, they seemed incredibly exciting at the time, although their popularity as stand-alone shows quickly waned once the novelty had worn off. Light shows are now back, seemingly, for good. This particular show has the benefit of a remarkable location, taking audiences from the Courtyard of the church, down into the crypt and finally into the body of the church itself. 

This journey, taken on foot is partly why it is so successful and wins against the more static variety of light shows, giving a sense of adventure and discovery. The idea behind ‘Life’ differs too, as it’s designed to evoke dawn to dusk, a kind of genesis of life from its beginnings to the current day as the planet flourishes with all its burgeoning life forms. It is also designed to remind the viewers of their responsibility towards this planet.  It’s a tall order for a light show, but it does deliver on this ambition.

The show features the work of two artists and celebrates light, so all the wars , terror, and horrors, man-made or otherwise are not part of the performance. ‘Life’ is produced and presented by the artist and sculptor Peter Walker who is Artistic Director at Luxmuralis.   Walker says that the company “create the stained-glass windows of our time, bringing to life the stories and concepts of our time in a way that stained glass did generations before”.   It does feel like a new art form (a long way removed from those early laser light shows). The other artist is Composer and Sound Artist,  David Harper MSC, whose compositions have been used for BBC and Channel 4 T.V. productions as well as for national theatre productions, and film.

The show begins with images of cogs reminding us of all of our interdependency and our place within the world. This is followed by a remarkable melding of symbols from various cultures which surprises, by revealing some unexpected similarities between them. Inside the crypt the beautiful devotional music introduces a more western and Christian approach to the work. This feels respectful to the history of the church itself. The imagery which follows includes the natural world but also shows patterns of art from the heraldic to the textile designs of William Morris. There’s also the spoken word including Wordsworth’s most pleasing (if perhaps rather cheesy) ‘Daffodils’.  The show culminates upstairs in the church with a final spectacle lasting 15 minutes, accompanied by Harper’s rousing music of epic proportions.

It would be suitable to use such words as metamorphosis and kaleidoscope to describe the kind of imagery that is being used and at times, audiences are themselves covered in some of the most beautiful palettes of colours. My own personal favourite image, came towards the end of the show, when a shoal of fish appeared to be swimming in, out and around the pillars of the church. How lovely it would have been if this clever use of the building could happen more often during the show.

For those visitors who cannot get enough of the performance, there is an outdoor heated Café & Bar, where drinks can be enjoyed, situated where the light show begins, in the Courtyard. Bring warm clothing and perhaps a camera to take a selfie as a keepsake of a memorable occasion.

LIFE at St Martin-in-the-Fields runs from 30th January – 3rd February. Tickets from £10. Info here https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/calendar/life/

Reviewed by Heather Jeffery, Editor of London Pub Theatres Magazine