Glastonbury Tor to host powerful Mirrorbox installation from people too ill to climb it

You'll see your reflection – but hear someone else's reality.
A mirrored phone box-style art installation is heading to the top of Glastonbury Tor this month – packed not with people, but with powerful messages from those too sick to ever make the climb.
The Mirrorbox, created by Bristol artist Alison Larkman, lands in Glastonbury on 18 June as part of the national I Would Be Here If I Could project – a raw and emotional experience that gives voice to people living with ME and long Covid.
Step inside, and you'll hear real stories recorded by people who can't visit the Tor themselves – including those who are bed-bound, on oxygen, or only able to speak in short bursts. For them, the site is out of reach. But their words are very much present.
"Where would you be if you could?" said Larkman, who lives with ME herself. "That's what I used to ask myself when I was stuck in bed. For me, it was Victoria Station in London. For others, it's a swing in the park. The Tor means something to so many – even if they can't get there."
Some participants couldn't speak on the day – so they texted their messages, or wrote them down. Visitors are invited to respond with handwritten postcards, left inside the box for others to read.
The installation blends into the landscape with mirrored walls that reflect the surrounding countryside – but the voices you hear are far from invisible.
The Mirrorbox has already toured sites in Bristol and will arrive at Glastonbury Tor on 18 June – a date chosen to coincide with summer visits and give maximum footfall to the stories waiting to be heard.
So next time you're up the Tor, step inside. Listen. And remember those who would be there – if they could.
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