A spectacular free lightshow will transform a North East quayside during a prestigious festival.
Walk the Plank, one of the UK’s leading outdoor arts companies, will present The Tower of Light in Hartlepool.
There will be a display of pyrotechnics, performance, and music during The Tall Ships Races Hartlepool 2023 at 10.20pm on Friday, July 7, followed by a spectacular fireworks display on Saturday, July 8.
The Tower of Light celebrates the lighthouse and the people who lived and worked in them - the lighthouse keepers who kept sailors safe for centuries.
The outdoor theatre piece is centred around a giant lighthouse and its three hapless lighthouse keepers who keep the tower animated with light, fire and stunning effects.
In 1998 the last of Britain’s many lighthouses was automated. Tate Liverpool commissioned Walk the Plank to mark the departure of lighthouse keepers from their remote outposts around our coastline, and the show has toured internationally ever since.
John Wassell, Creative Producer of Walk the Plank, said: “The Tower of Light will celebrate a unique part of our maritime history - the role of the lighthouse and its keepers.
“Their dedication to keeping ships and sailors safe through the centuries inspired this playful nautical spectacular featuring three lighthouse keepers given to dancing hornpipes in a shower of silver rain.
“Our show will delight families, friends looking for a good night out, salty seadogs and fishermen, and anyone else interested in seeing Hartlepool’s maritime landscape lit up with special effects.”
Hartlepool Borough Council’s Tall Ships event director Catherine Honey said: “The Tall Ships Races Hartlepool 2023 promises to be a fantastic showpiece, with so many activities and entertaining performances planned.
"As well as the music headliners that we have already confirmed, there will be lots of creative and theatrical performances for people to enjoy.
“There honestly will be something for everyone over the course of the four days and it’s all to be enjoyed for free.”
The firework display on the Saturday will fill the sky across the whole event site following the final performance from the X-Energy Stage.
The Tower of Light will be part of a The Tall Ships Races Hartlepool 2023 programme that includes household and locally renowned names in music over four days of free family fun when thousands are expected to descend on the North-East coastal town.
The event will see more than 50 live music and entertainment acts perform, with indie rock band Maximo Park headlining on the Friday and acclaimed reggae band The Wailers on the Saturday.
* The Tall Ships Races Hartlepool 2023 will run from July 6-9. For more information about the event, including the various ways that people and businesses can get involved, go to www.tallshipshartlepool2023.co.uk
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