When, seven years ago, the Barbican auditorium was leased to the private sector, one of the conditions was that the building should be made available, free of charge, twice a year, to local groups who wished to stage an event.
Next year, the York Archaeological Trust will stage a new event which will form part of the 2019 Viking Festival.
This will be a concert featuring several headline acts from around Europe, each of whom has a significant international and domestic following. This will bring a new audience to York and enhance the JORVIK Viking Festival which attracts over 60k visitors generating a spend of £4.5 m in the local economy.
York residents will also benefit from this event “as York proudly celebrates its Norse heritage and a Norse inspired music event will enable the local audience to get involve”.
This event will be unique to York; there is no other large scale celebration of Viking inspired music in the UK.
The York Council is reporting that they have been approached to provide a Viking themed theatrical experience which would include a Viking Great Hall and courtyard theatre “creating an immersive performance space with a capacity of approximately 100 people per show – with 360-degree sets, live actors, and special effects”.
for the sons of men
Two of the most significant and internationally recognised collections of Viking Age treasure in Britain will be brought together for the first time in a major new exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum in 2017.
