Discussions underway to bring giant marionettes back to city as part of amazing 2018 events programme
The Giants are set to return to Liverpool!
French puppeteers Royal De Luxe are poised to return in 2018 – as part of a series of events to mark 10 years since the city’s European Capital of Culture status
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson tonight revealed that discussions are in place that could see the return of the Giants and the Tall Ships fleet.
He told how work is underway on the Eighteen for 18 plan – which would see a series of “internationally significant events, exhibitions, seasons and performances” through the year.
The return of the Giants for the third time would be a massive coup for the city.
‘The Memories of August 1914’ event in 2014, which celebrated 100 years since the outbreak of World War One, saw a million people view the spectacular event . More than £46m was generated for the Merseyside economy.
The Giants made their debut in Liverpool in 2012.
The 18 planned events will aim to attract audiences of around 5m people during the year, “creating upwards of £50m economic impact and push Liverpool to the top of the ‘must-visit’ cities in 2018”.
Mayor Anderson said: “We want everything we do in 2018 to build on the wonderful work which has taken place in the city since 2008.
“2018 will be the next watershed year in the history of Liverpool and one which will make everyone who lives here proud, and everyone that doesn’t live here wonder why they don’t.
“Our official culture year quite rightly gets huge public and media recognition, but it is the years that followed which I am most proud of, the years which have seen us build on that success.
“We didn’t treat 2008 as a one-off firework display that fizzled out, turning the lights off when everyone had gone home.
“The last four years alone have seen major events generate £177m for the local economy.”
Eighteen for 18 is intended to tie in with a series of important anniversaries which take place in 2018 including the 30th birthday of Tate Liverpool, the 20th anniversary of Liverpool Biennial and ten years of ACC Liverpool and Liverpool ONE .
The full 2018 programme is due to be announced in the autumn.
As part of the plans a study called Impact 18 will also be commissioned to look at the impact of the last decade socially and economically, as well as Liverpool’s perception globally.
Mayor Anderson added: “These are huge ambitions, but I know we will deliver it. If the past few years have told us anything about this city – hosting major events and international cultural moments is something we excel at.
“We are a city which knows where it has come from and where it is going, with the next milestone in that long illustrious history being the ambition and scale of 2018.”
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