Shining in
SALTWELL PARK ONCE AGAIN PLAYS HOST TO DAZZLING SHOW
Reporter SALTWELL Park in Gateshead came alive last night with magical illuminations, sound, colour and even fireworks.
The launch of Enchanted Parks introduced visitors to a whole new fairytale journey which again managed to surprise even regulars to the annual festive treat.
The after-dark trail, which weaves its way around the Victorian park in Low Fell, explores new areas every year and this time the route includes the very bottom of the grounds where illuminated artworks await discovery in the undergrowth of the dene.
Shining sculptures, projections and the sound of music and whispered voices all form part of a new story –specially written by Susan Mulholland – about Ursula Wailes, a young Victorian heiress to the Saltwell estate.
Ursula, so the tale goes, was snubbed when she made a gift of the park – which she’d filled with extraordinary creations – to the people of Gateshead so instead decided to close it up; and so it remained. Until now that is.
Secret preparations have been under way for the park to host The Inventors’ Ball – and we are all guests, we’re told from arrival by various characters who emerge from the blackness at various points to help us on our way.
The light sculptures en route are the product of various artists’ imaginations and I’d like to have learned the full story behind each one.
It’s not always possible as you can find yourself arriving midway through a conversation or might catch only snatches of Ursula’s story.
But what I heard, I loved. We met the cloaked inventor at Saltwell Towers, for instance, who said she was catching electricity; just as the building behind her crackled with charge and colourful currents appeared to spread across its walls.
Then there were the experimental apothecarists who had taken over the park’s rose garden to grow gigantic flowers in neon greens and pinks.
And I loved the sight of the moon – lassoed and pulled down to Earth by Ursula herself apparently – which now floated tethered to a boat in the park lake.
Elsewhere we saw the lifelike head of a statue talk about the heiress’s wandering mind and giant inflatable bunnies which also appear alive as they bob and move in the breeze.
We avoided a busy path just by stopping off for refreshments in Saltwell Towers before resuming the trail to encounter ‘night creatures’ – hares and foxes lit up amongst the foliage; a cartoon-like menagerie playing music and a (real-life) music-maker encouraging first night visitors to join in a madcap song about a pineapple.
The event, which runs until Sunday, has ticketed arrival slots – bookable at 15-minute intervals – which work well as groups are well spaced out.
Once in, you can choose your own pace and wander around for as long as you want. It all has a lovely atmosphere.
But it takes a rather eerie turn as we progress through the varied inventions towards a meeting with the elusive Ursula – the prelude to the firework finale.