A reality of Peak Oil is that we will have to find ways of living and entertaining ourselves which do not rely on electricity - Powering Down - a concept that seems to be glaringly missing from the mainstream political agenda.

Tonight we will lead an informal participatory exploration into ye olde formes of AV using no electricity - making sounds with voices (songs?) and reimagining pre-cinematic technologies like shadow puppetry, phenakistascopes and magic lanterns. 

Wrap up warm, and don't expect cold beer, for we will be tripping the switch at Star and Shadow and using only communal energy, candle light and body warmth to get through the night.

With only communal energy and candles as fuel, expect to see mesmerising pre-cinematic technologies and early animation devices including shadow puppetry, magic lanterns and the predecessor of the zoetrope.

£4/£3 conc

This event is part of the AV FESTIVAL (5-14 March 2010)

The AV Festival is the biennial international Festival of electronic arts, taking place from 5-14 March 2010.

This year the curatorial theme is energy: a universal force that connects, transforms and renews life. Exploring energy from scientific, technological, environmental and spiritual perspectives we present work that resonates across the Festival centres in NewcastleGateshead, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and beyond.

For a whole programme of the AV festival, you can have a look at their website here

The Star and Shadow Cinema will be the late night hub of the AV Festival, in the middle of a botanical garden...

Whole programme for the AV Fesival at the Star and Shadow Cinema here