Vic Reeves plans illuminating big night out in gardens

The stage name of Leeds-born comedian Jim Moir, Vic Reeves will be given the run of the York Museum Gardens and has promised to turn the 10-acre site into a ‘magical wonderland’.

The Illuminating York festival has run in the city for the past seven years, but 2012 is the first time a single person has headed it up as a ‘curator’.

The comedian will work with a number of York organisations to create three large scale light projections in the garden.

In previous years Illuminating York has seen light installations on the walls of the city’s Minster, and on buildings around the city. This is the first year it will be confined to the single site of the Museum Gardens and the first time it will be ticketed.

Chris White, from Bright White, one of the organisations Vic Reeves will work with to create his Wonderland, said; “Illuminating York 2012 has given us a unique opportunity to explore the role that absurd art plays in our lives. The work of Vic Reeves is a perfect match for this absurd world. It’s been titled Wonderland in tribute to Lewis Carroll, the creator of Alice in Wonderland, a masterpiece of absurd storytelling.”

Running from October 31 to November 3, tickets for the Illuminating York 2012 festival will go on sale from Monday, September 17.

As well as three large scale projections, the botanical gardens will be brought to life using innovative lighting around trees and plants. This has been made possible with a new partnership with Blackpool Council and its enormous store of lighting technology.