The event was designed and produced by LCC’s Cultural Events Unit, which sorted all the necessary technical and health and safety infrastructure and dealt with all site co-ordination. The show was run by event manager Nick Handford, working with Lee Forde (CEU Manager), Eddy Grant (CEU Operations Manager) and Kirstie Blakeman (CEU Events Officer). The City’s Christmas Illuminations were switched on by Stephen Gately, ex-Boyzone pop star.
The CEU team’s biggest challenge was squeezing an ambitiously-sized production into a small area full of beguiling and historically significant monuments, statues and a war memorial, plus the Grade I listed St George’s Hall. The timeframe was tight, as St George’s Hall is also currently undergoing refurbishment, so the site build couldn’t effectively start until the day before the show. They worked around the clock and amidst the ongoing construction work, having also to leave the site clear the next day after the Sunday night show to avoid delaying the builders.
Early on in the show’s design, the CEU team decided to make fireworks and pyro the central ‘spectacle’ effect, and to base them around the 140ft high Wellington Column that stands at right angles to St George’s Hall. The production, performance and public areas for the event were then planned from there. The Cultural Events Unit is the hub of Liverpool City Council’s initiative of actively involving the community in events happening in and around the City. The frenetic 2002 events programme is also linked to their bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008, for which Liverpool has now been shortlisted.
The team hired locally-based Ad Lib Audio and Ad Lite Productions for the stage sound and lighting respectively. Ad Lib used their JBL Vertec line array system, ground stacked, for the show - it’s punch and directionability proving ideal to shoot the sound image down the long and thin audience area. Ad Lite’s lighting rig included Martin MAC 500s, used to produce colourful, fast-moving, very flexible looks, and an eclectic mix of generics. Stage lighting was operated by Lee Forde using an Avolites Pearl.
The stage was one of Star Hires’ compact mobile units - chosen for it’s quick erection and dismantling capabilities. Generators were supplied by Golden Triangle, lasers - located on top of the Walker Art Gallery - were from Laser Studio, and the pyro was by Fantastic Fireworks.
(Lee Baldock)
