Three prominent buildings in Sefton will be lit up in a unique light extravaganza as part of Sefton’s Borough of Culture year.
Waterloo and Bootle Town Halls along with The Atkinson in Southport will be the backdrop over 3
nights (March 13-15) as A Nightingale’s Song is projected on to them.

A trilogy of large-scale video projections will be created on consecutive nights, each a chapter in an
interwoven story that connects the coastal towns and people together by international projection
artists, Illuminos.
A Nightingale’s Song is a tale of magic and wonder, of myths and wondrous creatures, spectacular
nature, of ships and sailing, of peoples past and present that captures the history of Sefton.
The first part of the trilogy will be projected onto Waterloo Town Hall on Friday, March 13, followed
by the second part on the side of Bootle Town Hall on Saturday, March 14. The final chapter will be
screened on The Atkinson building in Southport on Sunday, March 15. All shows are free and set to
start at 8pm each evening.
Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s main sponsor for the Borough of Culture year, said: “I really
cannot wait for A Nightingale’s Song to light up these three iconic buildings in the borough.

“We are blessed with some spectacular civic buildings and these will be used to full effect to project
a story over three days about Sefton’s amazing history.
“We want people to try and attend all three shows at the three different locations so they can witness
the story in its entirety as part of our Borough of Culture year.
“We are expecting large crowds from across the City Region at these events so please get there
early and consider using public transport.”
The Borough of Culture (BoC) title is awarded by the Liverpool City Region’s Combined Authority to
one of its six local authorities (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) on a
rotating, annual basis. Sefton has the prestigious honour for 2020.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “I’ve always said that our region is the
UK’s culture capital, and I launched Borough of Culture to allow each of our six districts to showcasetheir own unique cultural highlights.
“I think that A Nightingale’s Song will be a fantastic start to what I’m sure will be a brilliant year for
Sefton. I can’t wait to see it!”
Rob Vale from Illuminos added: “Working with local experts and knowledge, the projections are
anchored through following the journey of the Natterjack Toad – the endangered amphibian who
lives in the Sefton dunes. Known as the Birkdale Nightingale because of its extraordinary night time
song, it becomes the character we follow, symbolising the growth and transition through ever
changing stages of egg, tadpole, and toad – three chapters set across the three locations.
“The journey will take us through time and space, on boats and over dunes, through war time and
summer sandcastles. Join us for these beautiful celebratory events built around storytelling, with
children and families in mind, but inspiring for all.”
Follow Sefton’s Borough of Culture year on Twitter and Facebook @sefton2020

I may be a curmudgeonly old codger, but why is Sefton wasting money on this event when in another news item they have a £9.14 Million budget shortfall. Most people will drive past & think what's going on there and carry on? Reading this, it is the first time I have heard about it.
I am sure that there are many smaller community cultural events that could be supported in Sefton that would actually benefit local residents. Don't forget we have lost 3 Libraries in Southport.