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

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The Fitzcaraldo, Britain's first theatre ship

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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

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The Fitzcaraldo, Britain's first theatre ship

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Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony, 2002

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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

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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

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• 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

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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