Spiralling and spinning and seemingly weightless, an acrobat suspended beneath a helium balloon explores the uncharted space between street level and rooftops. Using music, lighting and the location, the Heliosphere creates the illusion of flying.
Two ground crew, harnessed to lines but largely unseen, control the balloon’s speed, direction and altitude. Working together, the three artists create an extraordinary aerobatic show over the heads of the audience. On a calm day the aerial dancer can fly down from the sky and pluck the hat off a bystander's head, swooping from just overhead to twenty metres in a moment. At night the Heliosphere becomes a giant colour changing lantern.
The French aerial act Transe Express, performing Maudits Sonnants, will be one of the key attractions of the event. Maudits Sonnants translates as Cursed Soundings, a dramatisation of good coming from evil. The magnificent act features a human carillon – an orchestra of harmonised bells, which performs suspended from a brightly lit bell structure high above the city skyline.
The story starts on a series of open trestle stages in the middle of an audience area. Perched on these stages, the ‘cursed’ bell ringers in dramatic theatrical costumes begin their individual performances. At a certain point, led by the character of the Verger, the sounds of the bells begin to come together as the musical chandelier rises gradually into the air, slowly lifting the orchestra of bell ringers and trapeze artists, as their sound begins to harmonise, until they are floating high above the audience, their celestial sound and light filling the night sky.
During the Light Fantastic event, the night skies of Milton Keynes will be brought to life with stunning choreographed son et lumière shows as well as gas jets, pyrotechnics, giant projections and lasers choreographed to music. Giant images will be beamed onto projection surfaces on the two shopping buildings, with spectacular lighting effects.
The event is FREE and takes place along Saxon Gate from 5pm - 10pm.
Visit www.lightfantasticmk.com to keep up to date with Light Fantastic.
