About Us is a free open-air spectacular event using cutting-edge projection mapping, animation, music and poetry to celebrate our extraordinary connections to everything around us: past, present and future.
About Us is a collaborative project created by 59 Productions, The Poetry Society and Stemettes, and commissioned by UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK as part of a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of creativity taking place across the UK this year. This is an unprecedented opportunity for people to come together and take part in a series of awe-inspiring major events and creative projects for free. UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK is funded and supported by the four governments of the UK and is commissioned and delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council, Creative Wales, and EventScotland.
EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED
Our journey begins 13.8 billion years ago with the Big Bang. This explosive moment led to the evolution of everything on Earth, and the process it started is still unfolding in the right-here, right-now of the 21st century.
Look around! You’ll find networks of connection everywhere:
We are stardust. Every atom of our being can be traced back to deep space and time.
We are ecosystems. There are more non-human cells than human cells both in and on our bodies, and we couldn’t survive without them.
We are animals. The human family tree connects back to every living thing on earth.
We are social creatures. We give our lives meaning through our relationships with people around us and the wider world beyond.
By lifting the lid on how each and every one of us is an intricate part of the universe, we’ll show the magic and wonder of the everyday as we celebrate everything About Us.
Location: Paisley Abbey
Date: 28th Feb – 6th March
Time: 7:00pm – 9:15pm (Show lasts 25 minutes and runs multiple times per evening)
Free to attend
THE SHOW
About Us will be in Paisley at Paisley Abbey from 28th February (preview) to 6th March 2022. It is free to attend and open to all ages.
During the daytime, from 10am onwards, the About Us show area will be open to the public to explore. Our large video screen plinths will be exhibiting content created in partnership with people from each of the five locations we are visiting and you are welcome to view those and take pictures.
After dark, at 7pm, our show site transforms to share About Us, which is a live outdoor multimedia display and performance beginning at 7.30pm and lasting 25 minutes at any one time. It includes video projections and music and explores the thematic journey from the Big Bang, to our hyper-connected now.
LOCAL CHOIRS
About Us is delighted to be working with Strathclyde University Chamber Choir, City of Glasgow Chorus and the Paisley Philharmonic Choir. These choirs will also be joined by students and alumni from the Royal Scottish Conservatoire and the Dunedin Consort’s Bridging the Gap program.
LOCAL PARTNERS
About Us is proud to be partnering with Event Scotland and working with Renfrewshire Council.
WHERE TO GO
Paisley Abbey, Paisley PA1 1JG. The audience viewing area is on Gauze Street and Cotton Street.
There is public car parking available in the vicinity; Piazza Shopping Centre car park will stay open until 10pm on event nights, and further parking is available in council car parks.
