Volunteers need to carry a light as part of major City of Culture event

Coventry City of Culture Trust and the Royal Shakespeare Company are looking for more than one hundred volunteers to play a crucial part in the symbolic final moments of a major UK City of Culture event.

The Trust and RSC co-production Faith, is calling on people to be part of the Ceremony of Light which will draw the event taking place on September 11 to a close.

The volunteers will carry a light for from Millennium Place out into different areas of the city, witnessed by virtual and live audiences.

People are being asked to nominate themselves by Friday September 3, and be available for a rehearsal on Thursday September 9 to be part of the event on Saturday September 11.

The Ceremony of Light will close the 24-hour event that will feature street theatre, music, and art installations that will celebrate and explore everything associated with both religious and non-religious faith.

Faith is being directed by Erica Whyman, the RSC’s Deputy Artistic Director, and will see four new plays, written by Chris O’Connell and Chinonyerem Odimba, performed on the streets of the city between 10.30am and 5.30pm.

Other highlights include theatre designer Tom Piper, famed for his poppy memorial at the Tower of London, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, who will create an evocative visual representation of the existing ties and connections between the different faith groups using blue ribbons.

On Friday (September 10) evening, an invited audience of faith and community leaders will come together in Swanswell Park to share food and engage in discussion about how faith shapes their lives.

Saturday morning will also see faith centres and spaces across Coventry opening their doors and welcoming in audiences, offering them a chance to experience their faith through ‘Open House’.

People are being asked to put themselves forward from today (August 27) to coincide with the free tickets for Faith going on general sale today.

For more information or to apply to be part of the Ceremony of Light and to book your free tickets for Faith go to coventry2021.co.uk/faith

Picture credit: Tom Piper