Christmas in Australia falls in the summer months. This show strikes a direct link with the colours and imagery found in the beauty of Australia.

The Christmas season offers us a time to slow down and reflect upon the past year and plan for the future. It is a time when we re-establish old relationships and look at forging new ones. It is a time when we share our experiences with friends and family - the Christmas season is a time when we experience the beauty of nature and relationships.

The season of Christmas encourages us to examine our conscience and think of ways to better ourselves and our world. It’s a season when we experience many emotions; joy through the rekindling of friendships and beauty through taking time out to enjoy our natural environment. Christmas is often a time of personal growth and with growth often comes wisdom.

In our final scene we return to the traditional Christmas imagery of a tree growing from seedling. The tree, an iconic Sydney fig tree that is highly decorated and places us in the present.

As Christmas approaches we are reminded about what’s most important to us: naturally our family and friends, our thoughts also extend to our world and how precious each and every living thing in it is.

The show starts with dusk falling over the desert, a spectacle shared by Ancient and contemporary Australians alike..The stars unite in the form of a Christmas tree moving throughout the universe. In line with our overarching theme of Unity, we see symbols appearing that are representative of the cultural backgrounds of our audience. The show culminates in the Christmas wreath designed to represent modern Australia. We stand together and wish the world goodwill and unity.

This Lights of Christmas centres on light and how it is used to herald Christmas. Light is the symbol of life eternal, of hope, and of warmth. Around the world the flame of the candle brings forth the soul of Christmas as people gather to celebrate and share as families, as friends and as communities.

In the first sequence the story of the nativity unfolds as the entire façade of the Cathedral is transformed into an animated stained glass window. Light, filled with rich colours and radiant glows carry the narrative of new life, joy and love in the story of Christmas.

The Lights of Christmas examines the joy of giving and of service. Serving, or put simply, ‘doing things for others’ is one of the greatest gifts we can give someone that costs nothing.

The ‘Joy of Giving’ is illustrated symbolically through nature. One of the most important and unsung heroes of the natural world that serves humanity and is key to our survival is the bee! The Bees take us on a mesmerising journey through a world of pollination and stylised flowers. We are reminded that the work of bees is a gift that brings life to us all and allows us to love this world and all of Mankind, especially at this time of Christmas. The greatest gift we can give someone this Christmas is our time.

We all speak a language of light...‘we sparkle with Joy; our minds brighten with wisdom, love shines from within….let there be Light!’

Light plays a vital role in our lives and is fundamental to our existence. Everywhere in the world our day begins and ends with light. Light is Life, it provides us with focus, mindfulness and clarity, allowing meaningful and meditative reflection.

The show depicts a dream-like journey of enchantment and imagined worlds revealed through nature. Fireflies lead us on our expedition through underground caverns, then we are transported to the skies and return to the depths of the ocean. Along the way we meet a family of animals, bringing colour and joy to the world!

The Gift of Time reflects on being ‘in the moment’ and encourages connection to each other and the beautiful world around us. The characters in this story have been created by hand using watercolour and gauche in traditional styles, then brought to life by digital animation.

We were very proud that Australia Post selected images from our Lights of Christmas public event to feature on their 2017 Christmas stamp release.

This year we invited talented actor and writer Simon Pryce; currently performing as the ‘Red Wiggle’, to develop a story that resonates with chidren.

Christmas Kindness is a beautifully animated story that follows Roger Robot, Charlie, Marley, Chairman the Cat, Chimpanzee, and other characters as they go on a journey to make friends, share love, and help others through the gift of giving, that ends with a happy Christmas Day for all!

To mark 10 years of the Lights of Christmas a special scene was designed drawing upon the ideals of the Christian architecture through honouring the magnificent St Marys Cathedral.

Cathedrals have traditionally been the highest of all buildings in town. The architectural style is carefully designed to draw the gaze toward the heavens and to create a sense of awe and wonder while lifting the spirits of those around.

This year’s Lights of Christmas begins with the flickering of a candle, a symbolic reminder of the difficult year we have experienced and a solemn gesture to those in our community who we lost to the pandemic and the natural disasters of 2020.

Following the difficulties of 2020, the show honoured those who have served our Sydney community, the men and women who have worked tirelessly throughout natural disasters and the pandemic to provide our community with essential services to keep us safe.

This year the people of Sydney stayed home, uniting together in lockdown, so we could safeguard and heal our community. In the 2021 show, the tree is a symbol of our common home.

We are lucky to share our community with our neighbours, and through that we are truly never alone. Home, although technically a shelter, is a whole lot more than that. The four walls and roof built over our heads is an extension of ourselves, filled with our most precious mementos that reflect our personal struggles and our triumphs. Home is where we can be ourselves, it’s where life unfolds, it’s where we learn, love and grow. It’s our world within the world, our sanctuary and our safety net.