‘First Light’ refers to the point in the evolution of the universe when it had cooled sufficiently to allow light to pass unimpeded. It also refers to the moment in the construction of an observatory when it first receives data.

On August 3rd, 2007 the fiftieth anniversary of First Light at Jodrell Bank was marked with a one hour performance of sound and light in which the telescope took itself became the focus of attention.

Choreographed to explore its range of movement, it turned and tilted and relayed a continuous stream of radio data. Meanwhile microphones attached to its structure amplifed the sounds of its motion.

Mixing these two sources with a new composition, a direct link is drawn through the telescope and its terrestrial location and the deep expanses of space and time.