PRESS RELEASE

Watermans brings light and fire to Brentford Lock in a fiery garden like no

other – FREE EVENT

On Friday 28 November for one evening only, audiences are invited to see Brentford Lock transformed into a

flame-tipped landscape as Watermans brings internationally-renowned outdoor artists Walk the Plank to

Brentford with their much-loved Fire Garden, a unique fiery and FREE event.

The event celebrates the completion of the recent improvement works to the Market Place and canal tow

path. The improvement works were funded by the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund and LB Hounslow

and this event is funded by the same programme.

Wander through this temporary garden like no other, as a sculptural scene of flame and foliage casts a golden

glow over the water. Visitors are invited to bring family and friends along to explore the specially-created Fire

Garden landscape – a world where trees crackle and blaze, flame tipped bulrushes sway in the evening breeze

and colossal lilies belch plumes of fire when you least expect it...

Following flame lined pathways audiences can expect to stumble upon carved flaming flower boxes and

delicately patterned flickering floral sculptures. From mechanical fiery flowers that bloom before your eyes to

holly bushes that ignite at a moment’s notice – the Fire Garden will offer an unforgettable family friendly

adventure.

The event has been enhanced by the involvement of Brentford young people who have been brought into the

project by Watermans to create lanterns for the garden. This reflects Watermans’ commitment to engaging

local young people in the arts and represents a fantastic opportunity for young people to see their work as

part of a nationally acclaimed installation that has previously toured to award-winning festivals and events.

Jan Lennox, Director, Watermans said: ‘A visit to the Fire Garden is a memorable experience. Watermans is

delighted to have been able to bring this beautiful installation to Brentford Lock, and to have worked with so

many local children and young people to create lanterns which will be part of the decorations around the

canal. The waterways of Brentford are so much part of the area’s identity and the Fire Garden will bring that

little extra touch of magic to them for one special evening’.

Liz Pugh, Producer, Walk the Plank said: “The Fire Garden is a really spectacular experience– and one that

appeals to audiences and communities of all ages and backgrounds. There’s something about heat and light

that brings people together and it’s that opportunity to share in something really unusual and unexpected that

makes outdoor arts activities so special.”

Listings information:

Brentford Lock Fire Garden – Fri 28 Nov, 4.30-7.30pm FREE EVENT

Join us at Brentford Lock as we take you on a family-friendly adventure into a fiery night-time landscape.

Come along at any time and wander the fiery pathways, finding your own way through the flames

accompanied by live music. This is a family friendly, fully accessible event and is also suitable for dogs on leads.

Funding information:

The event celebrates the completion of the recent improvement works to the Market Place and canal tow

path. The improvement works were funded by the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund and LB Hounslow

and this event is funded by the same programme.

Notes to editors

The event can be accessed easily:

By car: A very short drive from the A4, the postcode is TW8 8GA

By rail: The nearest overground station is Brentford from which Brentford Lock is a short walk.

By bus: 267, 237, 235, N9, E2, E8

Watermans (www.watermans.org.uk)

Watermans is the major arts centre in West London. It delivers a high quality programme designed to appeal

to all communities incorporating independent cinema, children’s theatre, new media arts and more. It also

presents an outdoor arts programme and recently opened Bell Square, a new, permanent outdoor arts space

in Hounslow town centre which will host a regular, year-round programme of events. Watermans delivers an

extensive learning and participation programme for young people which offers over 2000 sessions per year

with attendances of over 50,000. Programmes are typically focused on creative skills development, raising

aspirations and introducing young people to creative employment opportunities.

Watermans is a registered charity and is primarily funded by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio

Organisation and by London Borough of Hounslow.

Walk the Plank (www.walktheplank.co.uk)

Walk the Plank are outdoor arts experts, who create powerful events with mass appeal. From international

stage to village square, their specialist team develop remarkable moments that enrich the lives of their

audience through shared experience - encouraging a sense of place, a feeling of pride, and well-being.

The organisation empowers artists and communities through creative development, transforming people and

the places in which they live through opportunities to engage with accessible, artistic excellence. Walk the

Plank’s work includes the opening ceremony of Turku’s 2011 European Capital of Culture in Finland and The

Return of Colmcille – a landmark event for the first UK City of Culture Derry Londonderry.

Walk the Plank is a registered charity and is part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio

For more information please contact: Watermans Marketing Director Erica Weston on

Erica@watermans.org.uk or 0791 888 4500 & Watermans PR Suman Bhuchar on suman@watermans.org.uk

or 07930 101894