Colourscape comes to Bath this May half term

This May half term, Bath will be transformed by a vivid world of colour, light and sound as Colourscape arrives at Bath Recreation Ground for the first time.

Running from 23 – 31 May, 11am – 4.10pm (last entry 3.30pm), Colourscape invites visitors of all ages to step inside a vast walk-in labyrinth of glowing colour, where live music and performance unfold around them. Spanning approximately an acre, this large-scale installation is around three times bigger than the version previously seen in Bath, creating a more expansive and immersive experience for audiences.

Created by artists Peter Jones and Lynne Dickens, Colourscape has toured internationally for over 40 years. This immersive installation is experienced from within. Visitors wear coloured cloaks and move through interconnected chambers illuminated by natural daylight, where colours shift, merge and intensify as you explore.

Throughout the structure, musicians and performers appear and disappear within the maze, responding to its unique acoustic and visual environment. Each visit becomes a personal journey through colour, sound and space, with no fixed route and no two experiences the same.

Across the nine days, a programme of artists will activate the space with a mix of experimental sound, global traditions and participatory performance.The opening weekend includes improvisation and movement led by multi-instrumentalist Sylvia Hallett and Korean flautist Hyelim Kim, alongside dancers guiding audiences through the space. Concert guitarist Richard Durrant follows with a distinctive blend of classical, folk and improvisation.

Image - Colourscape

During the week, the Voice Trio perform a specially commissioned Colourscape work alongside baroque and contemporary vocal music, while Michael Ormiston leads a series of open, family-friendly workshops using instruments from across Asia.

The final weekend brings large-scale, immersive sound worlds, from the percussive collaboration of Ansuman Biswas and Beibei Wang to a processional performance from Gamelan Kembang Kirang, filling the entire structure with the sounds of Balinese gongs and chimes.

Each timed ticket allows around 40 minutes inside the installation, with visitors free to explore at their own pace. You can spend time quietly absorbing the atmosphere or follow performers through the labyrinth as the experience unfolds.

Colourscape is designed to be welcoming and accessible, with a strong focus on families and shared experiences. Alongside the sensory and immersive environment, visitors can take part in interactive workshops and encounter live music throughout the space. A quieter final session each day offers a more relaxed environment, with on-site support available to ensure the experience is open to as many people as possible.

Tickets are priced at £15 for adults and £12 for children (12 and under), with under 2s going free. Full information and ticketing at www.batharts.co.uk/events/colourscape

Colourscape is presented in collaboration by Eye Music, Crescent Music and Bath Arts Collective in partnership with Bath Recreation Ground with support from Bath Rugby, Roper Family Charitable Trust, Bath & North East Somerset Council and Arts Council.

"We’re very proud to support the return of Colourscape to Bath and the collaboration behind it, as organisations come together to create an unforgettable experience that brings creativity, joy and wellbeing". - Alicia John, General Manager at Bath Recreation

“At Crescent Music, we’re passionate about creating opportunities for people, especially young people, to experience music in new and accessible ways. Colourscape offers a unique environment where sound becomes something you can move through and interact with, a real feast for the senses!” - Jason Thornton, Director and Founder at Crescent Music

“We love bringing Bath audiences something a little bit different, not just a sit-and-watch experience, but something you can step into and be part of. Colourscape is exactly that. It’s playful, immersive and open to everyone, with the freedom to wander, follow the music or simply pause and take it all in.” - Jasmine Barker, Marketing and Audience Director at Bath Arts Collective (CIC)