Post on 30-Jul-2020
Ironbridge River Festival
John Wassell – Co-founder and
Creative Producer
Mariel Bunnage – Production
Coordinator
2
Walk the Plank
Outdoor arts experts
• Artists, theatremakers,
pyrotechnicians,
inventors and event
engineers
• Based in Manchester,
UK
• Nearly 25 years’
experience delivering
productions and events
on a regional, national
and international scale
• Won Best Outdoor
Event 2014 at the Event
Awards for Return of
Colmcille
• Registered charity and
part of the Arts Council
England’s National
Portfolio
2
The Fitzcaraldo, Britain's first theatre ship
3
Our History
Outdoor arts experts
• UK’s only touring theatre ship taking
shows around UK for 16 years
• Firework finales in every port &
harbour led to experience of making
shows on water and in unusual
locations... In docks, harbours, rivers
and canals
• Led to more commissions in
– difficult city centre locations
– heritage sites and new buildings
• Led to Commonwealth Games Closing
in Manchester
3
The Fitzcaraldo, Britain's first theatre ship
4
Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony, 2002
5
What we do
Outdoor arts experts
– Our site-responsive events are
designed to encourage a sense
of place, a feeling of pride and
well-being.
– Engage people as participants
in the process of making work,
as well as spectators in final
result.
– Work with local people to develop
story ideas that resonate with the
audience in each location
5
Rowers and participants, Ar Waith Ar Daith, 2015
6 Ar Waith Ar Daith, celebrating Wales Millennium
Centre’s tenth Anniversary, 2015
7 Ar Waith Ar Daith, celebrating Wales Millennium
Centre’s tenth Anniversary, 2015
8 Ar Waith Ar Daith, celebrating Wales Millennium
Centre’s tenth Anniversary, 2015
9 Turku European Capital of Culture Opening Ceremony, 2011
10 The Return of Colmcille, UK City of Culture 2013 Derry~Londonderry
11
• Water procession of fiery, illuminated
and pyro boats, provided by both
Ironbridge and by Walk the Plank.
• Illuminated spinning coracles, exciting
fiery canoes blasting out flames, colourful
rowing boats carrying musicians, fiery
pirate ship and fireworks will set the River
Severn ablaze with colour and light.
• The procession will celebrate the river’s
heritage, and could include the
illumination and decoration of local boats
and coracles
The Return of Colmcille, Showdown on the Foyle,
UK City of Culture 2013 Derry~Londonderry,
Creative proposal
Fiery river procession spectacular
The Aquatic Procession
13
Illuminated Canoes
• Local canoeists joining
the river procession are
illuminated with colour
changing lights, creating
beautiful reflections on
the River Severn.
• Walk the Plank canoes
are ablaze at each end
and fire out pyrotechnics.
14 A Wave at Picasso, commissioned by TATE Liverpool, 2010
15 Sound to Sea, Glasgow, 2014
Coracles
• Walk the Plank envisages working with the Ironbridge Coracle Society to bring local coracles in to the parade. They would be brought to life with lights around the rim and the paddlers would also be illuminated.
• Walk the Plank would also provide coracles that would be animated with spinning moments and pyrotechnics.
• Special spherical coracles provided by Walk the Plank would spin along the water, illuminated with colour-changing lights.
The Urchin
Welsh Rowers enter Cardiff Bay for Ar Waith Ar
Daith, celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Wales
Millennium Centre
• Local rowing boats could be illuminated with colour changing lights.
• Sea rowing boats would be illuminated and carrying gas flames, they
might also carry a performer or musicians.
Fiery Rowing Boats
Bridges Festival
18 A Wave at Picasso, commissioned by TATE Liverpool, 2010
This would be illuminated and might have flames
and a band or PA on board.
Severn Trow Pirate Ship
A Wave at Picasso, commissioned by TATE Liverpool, 2010
The Pyro Boat would be rigged with our
dynamic flame system and
pyrotechnics
Pyro Boat
Bridges Festival, Newcastle, 2012