Spectacular sci-fi light show sparkles into life in King's Lynn

The Intergalactic Hanseatic League, in association with Collusion, an arts organisation based in Lynn, is presenting a science-fiction and time-travel experience taking place in October.

This groundbreaking family-friendly event will be happening in the town centre and online from today until October 17, and the preview was attended by West Norfolk mayor Harry Humphrey.

Free for all to enjoy on Lynn’s high street during the day and its light projection sites after dark will plunge the entire town into a futuristic narrative that casts 21st-century Lynn as the heroes of the future.

It tells the story about a crew of three time travellers who are the captain, played by Game of Thrones and Tinsel Town actress Kate Dickie, the navigator, and the computer.

They make themselves known in Lynn and reveal that they’re contacting us from 2225.

In the 23rd century, Earthport Lynn as it’s known is a thriving, bustling spaceport as well as a culturally important holiday destination for intergalactic tourists.

The good news is that the people of Lynn are the heroes of the future.

A pivotal historical event in late 2021 called the Mindshift changed the course of history by averting the climate crisis and leading to a thriving, happy planet and remarkable advances in time and space travel.

The bad news is there has been a glitch in space time. The Inergalactic Hanseatic League must fix it for if they don’t, the Mindshift will not happen, plunging Earth into an alternative future of climate chaos.

That’s why they’re here, to find out what went right in Lynn 2021, so that they can save their future and ours.

To experience the project viewer are able to watch the live-action film Transmissions at the Majestic and Corn Exchange cinemas as movie previews.

Or vis here and in selected high-street shops.

People can also watch on mobile devices by pointing a camera at QR codes on posters around Lynn.

Visit the after-dark, large-scale projected portals in Lynn's main projection sites which include Greyfriars tower and gardens, Lynn minster, St Nicholas’ Chapel, The Custom House, and the Corn Exchange, as well as the Agents of Change exhibition created by more than 500 Lynn schoolchildren in the Old Argos windows.

Join the agents of change campaign and share your ideas for the Mindshift on Tiktok or create designs for the future using the data log activity book and the parent/teacher resource pack available here

The project, led by art technology organisation Collusion was created by a team of 23 creatives, including Lynn–based artists Gavin Toomey (director), Karen Frances Eng (creative communications) and Savannah Andrews (assistant producer).

During the first half of this year, Collusion engaged 570 schoolchildren including Eastgate Academy, as agents of change.

They contributed ideas and designs for the future of the town, incorporated into the artworks in the Old Argos windows and projections at the Corn Exchange. Their ideas are also shot to space in the messag in a shuttle game at Greyfriars Tower.

Linda Hothersall, head teacher at Eastgate Primary said: “The project has been amazing. The children have learnt so much and changed the school introducing a meat-free Monday for school lunches, talking about recycling and other issues.”

The intergalactic hanseatic league is the second in a trilogy of projects being delivered by Collusion with the borough council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk that seek to explore positive approaches to combating climate change and to develop the town as a centre of excellence for interactive town-scale artworks.

Cllr Graham Middleton, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for business, culture and heritage said: “Our aim is to establish King’s Lynn as a centre of excellence for collaborative, creative, digital installations that add to the cultural offer in the town.

"We’re also making use of technology that we have to highlight the climate change issue.

"The borough council has declared a climate emergency and we need all residents and businesses to play their part. I’m pleased to see that hundreds of young people have supported this project and learnt about how they can be agents of change.”

Rachel Drury, director of collusion said: “Collusion loves working in King’s Lynn. We’ve been developing work here for six years and are enormously proud of this project, which empowers children and young people with creativity and imagination to be ‘agents of change.’"

"Even at a young age, they have amazing ideas and can play an important role in tackling the most difficult of issues.”