Member Article

Giant task for Mersey crane firm

John Sutch Cranes has become an official partner in Memories of August 1914, which will see the Little Girl Giant and her pet Xolo return as part of the UK’s flagship cultural event marking the centenary of the outbreak of World War One.

The crane company were massively proud of the central role they played in 2012’s giant spectacular Sea Odyssey when their cranes manoeuvred the giants around the city. They have come on-board again in a project which will highlight their technical expertise in an original way once more.

Liverpool-born John Sutch who owns the organisation, said: “We know from our involvement in 2012 that a successful performance relies on meticulous planning, communication and scheduling, backed up by a lot of imagination!

“Our modern fleet of cranes with their technological advancements and the highly skilled operatives means we can achieve everything the creative directors at Royal De Luxe ask for, and with our impeccable health and safety record, it makes us a valuable event partner.”

At this stage of discussions, plans are in place to use around seven cranes, up to twelve operatives and two project managers. Many of the drivers were involved in 2012 so understand the scale of July’s theatrical extravaganza.

John added: “We are honoured to be part of the national commemorations of the start of the Great War, and with our growing regional and national presence, it is fitting that it marks the finale of the International Festival for Business.

“It’s going to be fantastic to be at the heart of this hugely important event which will bring national and international attention to our city.”

Assistant Mayor and cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “Since we announced our giant spectacular last month we’ve been inundated with requests from businesses, community groups and individuals who want to be part of this historic event in some way.

“We’re delighted with the response and it’s wonderful to be able to work with local organisations in bringing this event to the streets of Liverpool.

“John Sutch Cranes have a real can-do attitude which is exactly what we need when faced with the ambitiously creative demands of Royal De Luxe! They were an integral part of the success in 2012 as having these technical experts on-board means we can fulfil the scope of the project and wow people once again with the movements of our giant special guests.

“We hope this is the first of many partnerships we announce as we work towards creating one of the most unforgettable, moving and awe-inspiring street theatre events to take place in the UK this year.”

The value of the John Sutch Cranes sponsorship is not as yet fixed as the final plans for the event are still evolving. It is likely to be worth tens of thousands of pounds.

Information about Memories of August 1914:

Memories of August 1914 is the UK’s flagship 2014 cultural event, marking 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War. The event is commissioned jointly by Liverpool City Council and 14-18 NOW, the First World War Centenary Cultural Programme.

It will be brought to Liverpool by street theatre tour de force Royal De Luxe, who captivated crowds of 800,000 people in 2012 with the Giant spectacular Sea Odyssey, generating £32million for the local economy.

The event will take place from 23-27 July 2014 and will see the huge marionettes explore the city as part of a brand new moving and emotional story recollecting a time when Britain was preparing for war.

The full story and route will be announced at a later date, but throughout the event the King’s Regiment and the Liverpool PALS will play a prominent role. There will be a focus on recruitment, and how Liverpool’s efforts impacted on the rest of the country.

This will only be the third time Royal De Luxe have performed in the UK. The first was in London in 2006 when 1.5million people were wowed by the Sultan’s Elephant.

The show will act as the finale for the 2014 International Festival for Business which will see more than one hundred events taking place in June and July with the aim of accelerating UK economic growth.

To keep up with the latest news ‘like’ the Giant Spectacular page on Facebook, follow @giantspectacular on Twitter or visit http://www.giantspectacular.com/.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .