Legendary Greek titan Prometheus is set to rise up from the ground and walk among earthlings, towering 26-feet into the night sky to bring us fire and humanity.
The awe-inspiring puppet, controlled by six volunteers, will be joined by a gravity defying 42-person human net soaring 12-metres high to an explosive backdrop of fireworks during Greenwich and Docklands International Festival.
Between June 21 and 30, Greenwich venues will be taken over by out-of-this-world performances sure to leave people of all ages and tastes spellbound – and it’s free.
Gigantic insects, a magical ship of dreams sailing on a foam ocean and a 30-foot long pig you can stick your head into are just some of the incredible theatrics on this year’s line-up.
And to coincide with the Paralympics, Prometheus Awakes will be the first ever large-scale outdoor theatre production in this country led by disabled artists.
Sally Atkins, board member of the festival, said: “There’s a really fantastic variety of outdoor theatre, I’m most looking forward to Prometheus Awakes.
“There’s something for everyone.
“Some things are very small and intimate and you can wander into a tiny tent and experience something amazing.
“Last year I went into a tent and found out the truth about The Borrowers.
“It’s an incredible event.”
Last year’s finale saw eight life-sized red giraffe puppets walking among the audience in Woolwich.
Sally added: “I can’t do justice to it in words.
“It was absolutely extraordinary – 4,000 people progressed with this story through the town.
“The giraffes looked so gentle and inquisitive.
“It was a bit like The Lion King (West End show) but bigger and more bizarre.
“It’s stuff that can really move you to tears and make you laugh.
“I would say try and see everything.”
The festival’s launching show, Prometheus Awakes, is created by boldly inventive disabled-led theatre company Graeae in collaboration with Spanish masters of visual magnificence, La Fura dels Baus.
Taking place at 10pm outside the National Maritime Museum on June 22, it aims to inspire people with extraordinary stagecraft, mass choreography, projections and special effects.
The re-interpretation of the Greek myth premieres against the 17th century Queen’s House within the world heritage site.
The performance, which includes disabled people and non-disabled people, then moves to Stockton on Tees where the story unfolds in the high street.
Amit Sharma, co-director of the show and associate director of Graeae, told Vibe: “It’s a huge, huge project.
“Be prepared to be wowed.
“Mentally, physically, emotionally, be prepared because this is going to knock your socks off.
“It’s been a meeting of minds working with La Fura dels Baus.
“Leading on this project is the stuff dreams are made of.”
Prometheus Awakes also features an eight-metre wide wheel controlled by athletic volunteers in a “hamster-like” fashion.
Also for the first time this year, the event brings the spirit of outdoor theatre inside with Crow – a show created by Handspring Puppet Company whose work on War Horse is beloved around the world.
This production, which runs between June 18 and July 7 at Greenwich Dance, is the only paid-for show of the festival.
For the full programme visit festival.org
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