In a first for Rotherham, a mesmerising trail of illuminated art and sound projections will transform the town centre for one weekend only, bringing to life a spectacular vision of the borough as it celebrates becoming the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture in 2025.
From Friday 24th to Sunday 26th January, the inaugural Otherham Winter Light Festival will take over five of Rotherham town centre’s buildings for a dazzling cultural spectacle, brought to life by Flux Rotherham, Children’s Capital of Culture, theatre company imitating the dog, RMBC Events and writing charity, Grimm & Co.
Flux Rotherham Programme Director Helen Jones explains: “We are excited to bring this free, world-class cultural experience to the heart of Rotherham as we begin our landmark year as the first ever Children’s Capital of Culture.
“Featuring a mix of large-scale projections to wow crowds, as well as live street theatre and interactive workshops, Rotherham town centre will be transformed into Otherham, a magical town where nothing is quite as it seems. It’s been imagined by Rotherham’s children and young people and invites you to see our wonderful town through their wildly creative lens. We can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
imitating the dog co-Artistic Director, Simon Wainwright, adds: “We’ve invited Rotherham’s young people to dream up a magical, unpredictable and out-of-step world, with their stories serving as inspiration for our projection designs. These creations will now light up buildings during the Winter Festival, turning the town centre into a breathtaking canvas of youthful imagination.”
To create the ideas for Otherham, Grimm & Co, in partnership with imitating the dog, ran a six-week writing programme for young people aged 12-16. Participants reimagined Rotherham as an otherworldly place, with their stories inspiring the projection designs. To celebrate Rotherham’s young filmmaking talent, Flux partnered with Children’s Capital of Culture, imitating the dog, and Studio Bokehgo to work with schools and young creators to produce original, imaginative short films, which will be showcased in the ‘Cinema of Future Films’ (High Street) across all three nights. A new song written by young people at Grimm & Co and recorded by Rotherham Youth Choir will also be featured as part of the event.
There are five main sites on the Otherham trail, each telling their own story and running constantly throughout each evening between 4.30pm and 8.30pm. They are:
- The Ministry for Weather and Goodwill at Rotherham Minster (All Saint’s Square façade), Church St, Rotherham S60 1PD. Watch as The Ministry for Weather and Goodwill comes to life with a stunning artwork featuring thunder, lightning, and all weathers in between that will cover the entire façade of Rotherham Minster, including the tower facing All Saints Square.
- The Bright Ideas Mining Company Inc. at Rise House, Vicarage Ln, Rotherham S65 1AA. Otherham sits above rich seams of imagination buried deep below ground. Who digs down beneath the crust to mine the stuff that dreams are made on? What raw ideas are being unearthed here today that will fuel this town’s tomorrows? A story emerges of the limitless potential of children and young people’s imaginations and what can be achieved from mining the best and brightest ideas.
- The Otherham Chronicle at Holy Ghost Tattoo, 36 High St, Rotherham S60 1PP. On the historical home of the Rotherham Advertiser – now Holy Ghost Tattoo – you’ll see the imaginary Otherham Chronicle. This was the original site of the printers where Ann Hinchliffe published the first issue in 1858 – 167 years ago! In this edition, you’ll see and hear about Otherham superstar, Twinkle the Fairy, Blanche White the super spy, and Rotherham’s first werewolf worker, who be starting his first shift today at The Ministry of Weather and Goodwill.
- The Cinema of Future Films at 32 High Street, Rotherham S60 1PP. A showcase of Rotherham’s young filmmaking talent who have produced a series of short films for the festival.
- The Centre for Coming and Going at Rotherham Town Hall, The Crofts, Moorgate St, Rotherham S60 2TH. A multi-dimensional port for all types of beings arriving and departing from Otherham – aliens, monsters, magical creatures, mythical beasts and ordinary souls shuffling on and off the transportation. Where are they coming from? Where are they going to? How do they travel? And do the services run on time or are they subject to delays?
Alongside the projections, there will also be walk-about performances (including Ghost Caribou by Thingumajig Theatre), art installations in Minster Gardens and family-friendly drop-in workshops, such as a light painting booth with artist Tim Simpson, LED circus workshops with Yorkshire Circus at Forge Island, and creative workshops at Grimm and Co. and Rotherham Minster. Local businesses will be staying open late to offer food and drink to crowds.
Pete Massey, Director of Yorkshire and Northern Economy, Arts Council England, said: “It’s extremely exciting to see activity starting to take place in Rotherham as it embarks on its year as the first Children’s Capital of Culture. Arts Council England has been behind this initiative since its inception, and I can’t wait to see the district transformed into a place that sparks the imaginations of children and inspires a future generation of artists. This projection trail is a prime example of this. It’s great that children and young people from across Rotherham have had a hand in the design and planning of this event and I’m sure they will love what they have helped create.”
To plan your visit, head to the Flux Rotherham website: Otherham Winter Light Festival 2025 – Flux Rotherham. The festival is family-friendly, accessible and inclusive.