Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival of Light 2025:

Pre-Festival Workshops and Rehearsals

Come and get involved!

Moonraking Family Poetry Workshop

Families with children age 5 and upwards, join poet and performer Louise Fazackerley making lunar-lyrics and flashmob moves to be performed at the Pedal Powered Pop Up Poetry tent and for the finale event.

Organised by the Write Out Loud Performance Poetry Network, with funding from One Community and Kirklees Council.

Sat 8th Feb: 10:30am – 12:30pm

Slaithwaite Library, Cross Street, HD7 5AF

Moonraker Carnival Movers Workshops

Join the Moonraker troupe of illuminated dancers. Moves choreographed in easy-to-follow steps by Keisha Hamilton movement director (Lawrence Batley Theatre, formerly Northern Ballet). Suitable for adults and young people aged 14 upwards. Beginners and experienced dancers welcome. All genders and body shapes are most welcome!

Sun 16th Feb: 12.30 – 2.30pm

Slaithwaite Community Centre Bank Gate, HD7 5DL

Moonraking Performance Workshops

Free workshops led by friendly physical theatre specialists from Kerfuffle Street Theatre. For playful adults interested in visual comedy and physical performance. Previous experience is welcome but not essential. Participants must be over 16 years old.

Wed 5th Feb: 6.30 – 9.30pm

Sun 9th Feb: 1 – 4pm

Wed 12th Feb: 6.30 – 9.30pm

The Watershed, 22 Bridge Street, HD7 5JN

Rehearsals for dancers, performers and for poets

The majority of participants will need to be fit enough to be involved throughout the Moonraking parade, but some can just join in with the first section if needed. 

If you have a disability, do let us know, we’ll do what we can to adjust activities to suit your needs. 

Fri 21st Feb: 6.30 – 9.30pm 

Sat 22nd Feb: 2 – 3.30pm rehearsal 5.30 – 8.30pm performance 

Venues to be confirmed – please check with workshop leaders. Email slawitmoonraking@gmail.com for further details

Tickets for all workshops are free but must be booked in advance buytickets.at/slaithwaitemoonrakingfestival

Sat 15th – Thur 20th Feb
at The Watershed, 22 Bridge Street, HD7 5JN

£5.00 per person per session. Under 13s must be accompanied by an adult

Lanterns are sculpted from willow, covered with tissue paper, soaked in glue, lit by candles and carried on bamboo poles to be carried on the Saturday procession. This year’s lantern theme is SHOP! All materials are provided and ideas, templates and inspiration to get you started. There will be special help for beginners at all workshops (except 1pm on Thursday).

Maximum 50 people in each workshop. Homemade cakes on sale in each session.

  • Simple prototype lanterns could be made in 1 session, but a more complex lantern may take 2 or 3 sessions to complete

 

  • Lanterns will need to be transported home when you have completed them and brought along to the procession on Saturday the 22nd February

 

  • Please bring secateurs if you have them.

Lantern Workshop Timetable:

Sponsored by:

Thanks to University of Manchester, Kirklees Third Sector Leaders, Arts Council Digital Culture Network, TG Events, A New Leaf Bookshop, Making Waves, Globe Arts, Anello Pizza, Ruddi’s Cafe, Arty Explorers, Acorn & Pip, Green Valley Grocers, The Civic Slaithwaite, The Clay Mill, Otso, Slubbing Billy’s, Far Cry Acapella, George Shaw and Sons, Kirklees Local TV, Fishing 4 Compliments, The Happy Fish, We Are Stems, Fineline Audio, Nadia Amini, Olivia Hyde Music, Canal and River Trust, Otso, Impossible Arts, Green Valley Grocers, Annie Dearman, Slaithwaite Scouts, Slaithwaite Fire Station, Resource Print Solutions, Globe Mill, YES Education, Experience Community, Slaithwaite Library, Kerfuffle Theatre, Keisha Hamilton, Lee Corner, 6 Million +, Jonah Simpson, Adam and Kim Strickson and all of our volunteers for their support in kind. Thanks to Artwood Interiors and to Frances Cole for their donations and to all who have given to The Lunar Levy to bring back the festival this year! Illustration by Jane Horton @artyjaneh