A remarkable three year project which brought thousands of people to the Yorkshire coast and inspired many local communities to get involved has drawn to a close.
With giant puppets, a mammoth cardboard Trojan Horse, stunning sand art, live events and online challenges the Odyssey which was backed by Yorkshire Coast Business Improvement District and organised through Animated Objects has left a lasting legacy.
The events centred on the coast from Whitby down to Scarborough, Robin Hoods Bay, Filey and Bridlington. More than 65,000 people watch and 3,300 people from the local community were involved.
At the heart of The Odyssey stood ‘The Survivor’, a towering five-metre-tall female puppet. Cast ashore on the Yorkshire Coast, she was embraced by enormous crowds. The local community extended their hospitality and kindness by wrapping her in a large blanket composed of uniquely designed squares, knitted by individuals and groups with their own messages.
The project also showcased sand art across 12 Yorkshire Coast beaches.
The arrival of the mighty Trojan Horse marked a new chapter in the grand saga with 180 schools across North and East Yorkshire involved through a design competition and winners helping to build the 23ft high cardboard sculpture at Bridlington Pavilion.
Kerry Carruthers, chief executive of Yorkshire Coast Bid, said: "The Odyssey was a way for us to demonstrate that the Yorkshire Coast is the perfect backdrop for events of scale that can be built with the support of people who live and work here.
"It is a credit to Animated Objects that they took an epic story like The Odyssey, adapted it to the area and committed to events outside the main summer season bringing many different people into the very heart of it.”
Lee Threadgold of Animated Objects Theatre said: ”The Odyssey has taken storytelling to new heights, inviting everyone to play a vital role in bringing this ancient tale to life.
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“As we bid farewell to the final chapter of this remarkable journey, we reflect on the outstanding accomplishments of the project which sought to reinvent a timeless story while placing a strong emphasis on community involvement.
“Bringing ‘The Odyssey’ to towns along the entire length of the Yorkshire Coast over the past three years has been an incredible journey. We are overjoyed to witness the immense joy it has brought and the seed of creativity it has planted.
"The overwhelmingly positive response has shattered records and breathed life into our larger-than-life creations. What truly matters is witnessing individuals who have never experienced anything like this getting involved and returning for more.”
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