Residents are in for a treat thanks to an unusual festival to celebrate the new year which starts four days before this one finishes!

Europe's only First Night festival returns to south east London from December 28 to 31 with a community celebration of the new year through the arts.

Surprise yourself over the holiday and visit some striking and imaginative artworks. The events to mark the passage of another year will take place across south east London from Lewisham town centre to Canary Wharf/ West India Quay and Stratford with the centre-piece in the home of time Maritime Greenwich.

First Night emphasises the idea of looking forward and is named for the new year rather than, more accurately, the year in which it takes place.

Bradley Hemmings is artistic director of the arts organisation Greenwich and Docklands Festivals, which introduced the event in this country. He said the idea has been around in North America for about 30 years and some 200 cities there now celebrate in this way: "It's the idea of celebrating all the promise of a new year through the arts in such a way people can come together in a spirit of community."

He said there is a lot of emphasis on people taking part, not only as an audience but also in creating the works of art.

The programme will focus particularly on sculptural installation and participation, with audiences encouraged to visit a series of artworks over the four-day period.

First Night opens with an array of street arts on Friday, December 28, at 3.30pm in Lewisham town centre. The highlight will be The Candle, the London premiere of a new show produced by The Dream Engine featuring an aerialist suspended within an 8m transparent candle with flame.

Moving across the Thames you can enjoy Ark at Fisherman's Walk, Canary Wharf, and over the dock at West India Quay. Inspired by these beautiful waterfront settings, a monumental sculpture will feature giant arcs and boat-like structures. And look out for the illuminated lantern procession with live drumming by the sculpture at Canary Wharf at 5.30pm on December 28. On New Year's Eve community singing will accompany a symbolic burning of the installation.

All Our Heavens is a series of mobile silk batiks inspired by cross-cultural astronomical traditions. Held at Stratford Station, the dispay is inspired by the colours and imagery of the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.

Back in Greenwich, Arts Desire will create a fantastical, illuminated, sculptural Firebird. In traditional folklore, birds have often been featured as powerful metaphors of aspiration, hope, freedom and peace. These themes will be explored through workshops in Greenwich primary schools and at an open workshop tent in Cutty Sark Gardens where visitors will be able to make their own feathers for the sculpture. Every day at 6pm there will be street theatre next to the Firebird to celebrate that day's creations. With a different act each day, look out for The Fire Brigade, Flaming Gorgeous, Fire Dance and Incandescence.

For further details, call 020 8305 1818, e-mail info@festival.org or visit GDF's website at www.festival.org

December 17, 2001 18:03

Joan Gardner