Shows > Winter Lights

Winter Lights (2025)

As part of our 40th year celebrations, we collaborated with children, young people and our community to create Winter Lights - an event that celebrated joy, light, creativity and the warmth of community.

We invited children, young people and their families to enjoy an afternoon full of fun. The event featured storytelling workshops, craft activities and creative workshops, captivating performances by Travelling Light’s Youth Theatre, lantern workshops inspired by urban animals, and a magical lantern parade through Barton Hill to the Urban Park, featuring live music from Burning Brass.

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At A Glance

Sunday 26 January 2025, 1-5.30pm
Lantern parade, 5.30-6pm

Travelling Light Studio, Wellspring Settlement, 43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill, Bristol, BS5 0AX [ MAP ]

Free entry, no tickets required.

Watch the Trailer

What They Say

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    “It's the best. You see your kids enjoying themselves and there is nothing better than that, feeling part of the community is important and being with friends is good.”

    Audience member

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    “It’s made me feel really happy. Seeing the kids smiling. No one is seeing race or judgement - all are one big community.”

    Audience member

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    “It makes you feel great. Today is such a good presentation of UK diversity – everyone joining in as one community.”

    Audience member

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    “Today has been good at bringing the community together.”

    Audience member

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    “I loved the playroom – that was fun”, “I enjoyed playing with new people as well as my friends”, “today has been fantastic!”, “today has been incredible”, “today has been amazing”, “today has been wonderful”.

    A group of local children

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    “It’s a real community event – you can see that by looking around. It’s amazing. So many cultures working together. It appeals to everyone.”

    Local school teacher

Meet the Creative Team

  • Xahnaa Adlam

    6-9’s Youth Theatre Facilitator

  • Mike Akers

    Writing Mentor

  • Louise Betts

    Winter Lights Producer

  • Nicola Bohlen

    Youth Theatre Volunteer

  • Rebecca Braccialarghe

    Louder Than Words and 10-12's Facilitator

  • Naama Brittenden

    Youth Theatre Volunteer

  • Suvi Burrows

    Youth Theatre Volunteer

  • Brenda Callis

    Louder Than Words Assistant

  • Fifi Delaney

    Louder Than Words Assistant
    Facilitator and 13-16's Assistant

  • Imogen Downes

    Where the Acorns Grow Writer

  • Rachael Duthie

    Production Manager

  • Nick Fogarty

    6-9's and 10-12's Assistant, Where the Acorns Grow Sound Designer

  • Jem Hicks

    Winter Lights Young Producer

  • Ava Hilton

    Youth Theatre Volunteer

  • Eliza Kilburn

    Louder Than Words Assistant and Youth Theatre Coordinator

  • Richard Longworth

    Youth Theatre Volunteer

  • Lucy Marjoram

    Youth Theatre Volunteer

  • Kerry Russell

    Designer and Creative Facilitator

  • Lizzy Stephens

    Artistic Director

  • Ali Sully

    Volunteer Coordinator

  • Kev Stratton

    Stage Manager

  • Willow Vidal-Hall

    Where the Acorns Grow Director and 13-16's Facilitator

  • Anna Whealing

    Youth Theatre Volunteer

  • Richard Worsnop

    Louder Than Words Assistant

Additional Information

  • Wellspring Settlement and the spaces being used for Winter Lights are fully accessible for wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility. The First Floor spaces are accessible via a lift. The entrance to the lift is via a door to the right hand side of the steps in the courtyard.

    Please speak to a member of staff (in a Travelling Light blue t-shirt) at the entrance, if you have any specific access needs that you would like to discuss with us.

  • You can view the programme, map and urban animal trail - download the Winter Lights freesheet (PDF 1.8MB).

  • Thanks so much to everyone who has supported and funded this event

    Travelling Light Friends

    Arts Council England

    Backstage Trust

    Bristol City Council

    Charcoalblue

    The Coutts Foundation

    Family Arts Campaign

    National Lottery Community Fund

    The Nisbet Trust

    Patricia Routledge Foundation

    Postcode Local Trust - thanks to players of the People's Postcode Lottery

    Thresholds Ltd.

    Vanguard Storage

    Yellow Wood Foundation

    Wellspring Settlement

Woman wearing a beige hijab and a floral dress playing drums while sitting next to two young people in the Travelling Light studio.
Three children working on a craft project at a table. They are decorating paper cutouts with markers.
People gather outdoors at night to see illuminated urban animal-shaped lanterns during Winter Lights.
A woman is surrounded by children with a glowing, foggy source of light in the centre, in a festive outdoor setting at night during our Winter Lights event in Urban Park, Barton Hill, Bristol.
A woman wearing a hijab and glasses smiling while extending her hand forward in a room with several people sitting and standing in the background.
A man kneeling and holding his arm outstreched in front of him with fist clenched holding something within it, in front of a group of children and adults sitting on the floor in a room, decorated with colourful streamers.
Children and adults gathered in a room for storytelling during our Winter Lights event, with colourful banners hanging overhead.

Learn more

Read our story about the event:

Winter Lights Story