UK - An aggregate quarry and production plant might sound like a challenging venue for high-level corporate hospitality, but when Aggregate Industries wanted to entertain 300 VIP guests at the end of June, that was the location they suggested to event management consultancy Corporate Innovations.

The venue was Aggregate Industries' North End Farm Works site in the Cotswold Water Park, near Cirencester. As well as being a working production plant, the site incorporates a man-made lake, created from quarrying activities, which now forms a wildlife haven. Corporate Innovations, working with AV specialist Blitz, transformed the lake-side venue with a creative concept designed to raise awareness of Aggregate Industries' environmental activities, whilst also providing spectacular entertainment in a novel setting.

The guests were first taken on a tour of the working production plants in a fleet of Chrysler Grand Voyagers. They were then taken back in time - quite literally - as amphibious vehicles used in the D-Day landings transported them across the lake. This 1940s theme was continued with the creation of a pier and lantern-lit viewing platforms which led guests to a lake-side entertainment marquee. Inside the marquee they were able to enjoy more than 50 period amusement arcade machines including 'What the Butler Saw', 'Roll a Coin', fortune tellers, strength testers and one-armed bandits.

After dinner, seven long-service awards were presented to Aggregate Industries' employees. The after-dinner entertainment then began with a video presentation, projected by Blitz across the 75m span of water onto a specially constructed 33ft wide screen. This was followed by a spectacular water aquabatics display combining lights, music and 8m high water jets. A crane was then used to lower a 20m wide 'human mobile' over the lake. This mobile carried performers from French group 'Trans Express' - seven drummers and an aerial stunt acrobat. As their drumming reached its peak, the show concluded with aerial fireworks and a floating pyrotechnics display.

Blitz used a 12,000 lumens Digital 15SX projector for the video projection and constructed a 33ft projection screen on the far side of the lake. The company also provided a 10k d&b audiotechnik sound system, followspots and radio microphones for the aerial performers.

(Ruth Rossington)


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