The Curfew Run short film and soundscape celebrates Berwick’s living heritage

As part of our Living Heritage Fund, we commissioned Berwick-based composer and sound designer Xennon Easton to create a new video and piece of music celebrating our town’s historic Curfew Run.

An important part of Berwick’s living heritage – the traditions, behaviours and activities we pass down through the generations – the annual Curfew Run is inspired by our town’s centuries-old tradition of ringing the Curfew Bell.

Originally used to mark the town’s curfew, the bell continues to ring out across Berwick every day at 8pm. And now, every year, hundreds of people gather in the town to take on the Curfew Run challenge.

A 1.28 mile loop around Berwick’s Elizabethan Town Walls, the Curfew Run (and The Curfew Fun Run for children aged 12 and under) sets runners the challenge of completing the route before the final toll of the Curfew Bell, which strikes 13 minutes after it begins. Marking its 30th anniversary in 2026, The Curfew Run is part of Berwick’s living heritage and a proud tradition we want to see continue for generations to come. 

Xennon’s inspirational video combines sweeping aerial imagery of Berwick with historic footage of the Curfew Run. His moving and atmospheric soundscape evokes the history and tradition of the run, whilst also capturing the excitement, passion and community spirit that makes it such an important event in Berwick’s calendar. The original score composed by Xennon features Paul Knox on the Northumbrian Pipes.

Xennon’s Curfew Run film will be shown at Maltings Cinema at Berwick Barracks from 18:30 – 19:30 before the start of this year’s Curfew Run on Wednesday 8th July. You can also see the film on our Facebook and Instagram feeds. 

Places for this year’s run are still available and can be booked via https://www.entrycentral.com/Curfew-Run or on the evening of the run.

Create Berwick’s Living Heritage Fund is designed to keep our town’s living heritage alive for generations to come. These special projects are an opportunity to create new partnerships and collaboration between our town’s residents and Berwick’s creative community. Working together, they will breathe new life into our important living heritage assets.

The Curfew Run short film and soundscape by Xennon Easton is commissioned by Create Berwick. The operator for the drone footage is Kerry Brown. Paul Knox plays the Northumbrian Pipes
on the original score.

The project is funded by Create Berwick, Northumberland County Council and the
North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.