The Scarborough Fair, led by Festival Director Julian Caddy, has become a staple of the town’s winter season, and bringing a drone light show back to this historic site gave us the opportunity to build on the success of our previous collaboration. With the castle rising over the coastline, it remains one of the most distinctive and atmospheric locations we’ve worked in.
This year’s show focused on Scarborough’s story – its heritage, its people, and the developments that have shaped the town over the last four centuries. As Scarborough approaches 400 years since being named Britain’s first spa town, the narrative traced how the discovery of its spa waters transformed it into a place of national significance. The drones moved through scenes depicting its early community, the spa era, the growth of tourism, and the town’s continued evolution.
The script and sound design were created by Ernest Acquah from the Stephen Joseph Theatre, whose clear, thoughtful storytelling gave the show its structure. Voices from the theatre’s youth company helped carry the narrative, adding a personal connection to the town’s history. Set against the castle backdrop, the drones formed shapes and transitions that followed the timeline of Scarborough’s development.
Across the three-night run, audiences gathered inside the castle grounds as part of the Scarborough Lights festival. Live music, fire performers, and lighting around the site helped set the scene before the drones lifted above the keep. The combination of the historic location, the soundtrack, and the aerial visuals made for a distinctive and memorable event.
We are grateful to English Heritage for once again allowing us to use Scarborough Castle for the show. Working within a protected heritage environment comes with responsibilities, and their support is essential in making an event of this kind possible.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the castle. It was a pleasure to help mark an important moment in Scarborough’s history and contribute to the wider celebrations across the town.
