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Issue Date:- 14 January 2008

European Capital of Culture People’s Opening
Photographs by P Trollope, report by L Trollope.

LIVERPOOL was buzzing on Friday 11 January 2008, night as a crowd, estimated at 25 to 30 thousand, possibly more, thronged into and around St George’s Plateau for the “People’s Opening” to the year of Liverpool’s reign as European Capital of Culture.

Folk had been appearing for several hours beforehand.  The weather, although dry, was strikingly cold but the crowd remained good -humoured despite the lack of any intervening entertainment.  As no agenda had been released, no one knew what to expect so last minute preparations were watched with great interest for clues as to what would follow.

At 20:08 precisely the festivities began with floodlighting and a blazing 2008 sign at the top of St George’s Hall.  The 40 minute performance comprised some highly original material.  The adjacent buildings, always striking, looked spectacular as they became the backdrop for light shows and images and the rooftops displayed numerous colourfully illuminated guitarists and drummers, who bombarded the scene with sound; even from as far away as Radio City’s unique tower and from Wellington’s statue.  A narrator boomed the significant details as the tableaux unfolded.  Offerings varied from the zany to the traditional at the bewildering speed; the thread, was Liverpool’s character and its workers. 

A container, labelled ‘Precious Cargo’, was whisked, by a giant crane, to be deposited by the main platform.  Once opened, mist spewed out and then the Lord Mayor and other dignitaries and celebrities emerged, followed by performers, including Liverpool schoolchildren carrying their illuminated “Treasure Boxes” representing things that they held dear in their lives.  Choirs sang more soberly, poetry was spoken and later the well known Liverpool group, graduates of LIPA, Liverpool School of Performing Arts, the ‘Wombats’ gave it some ‘wellie’, providing an opportunity for some jigging and stomping to ward off the cold.

There were climbers on ropes, who clambered around in front of glowing 08 banners on the side of the Hall, gyrating and spinning plus aerial performers who somersaulted around in shining, suspended squares high above the arena.  Fireworks were also loosed from adjacent locations.  Large equipment performed a mechanical ballet before our eyes, but, unfortunately, the very equipment necessary for the performance tended partially to obscure the view of some of the performances and projections, including the information and pictures showing on the walls....  ...continued...

To read the rest of the report and to see out photographic coverage of the event, please click HERE! ......

Click on now to see lots of photographs....

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