Signs of The Giants arrival in Perth have begun with a giant anchor embedded in Langley Park and a section of the pavement on St George’s being ripped up creating a giant water spout.
Premier Colin Barnett spoke to the media this morning and shared his excitement about the massive theatrical show.
“I think there’s an enormous sense of excitement about the Giants.” Mr Barnett said.
“This is an enormous arts event, the biggest ever contemplated for Western Australia, perhaps Australia. We expect maybe 1 million people will come to see the giants.”
Jonathon Holloway, the Artistic Director of the Perth Festival said that company behind the enormous puppets don’t often travel to places are far away as Australia and having a good story to tell was central to bringing them to Perth.
“The first stage is they have to be convinced that there is a story to tell and that it’s an important thing to do, and when you’re asking people to travel 9000 miles, you really have to make a very compelling case that the 100 people that will travel here have a really good job to do,” Holloway said, “They have been completely convinced by the stories of Western Australia, the stories of the land and of course the 40,000 years of storytelling in the Nyoongar tradition and also the story of the ANZAC centenary.”
Mr Holloway said he expected large crowd to head into the city this weekend to see the performance and encouraged people to use public transport.
“Unless an entire city gets behind an event of this size, it can’t be done, which is why the world’s attention is on Perth this weekend and why we can say the spirit of Western Australia is really carried out to the rest of the world.”
When asked how the giant puppets move around Holloway joked that the giants were real and didn’t need any assistance.
“Well, obviously the giants are moving themselves because they are real, but the machinery around them needs help. About 70 people moving that machinery at any one time … 2 people literally jump off a 6 foot platform holding the same rope, and as they land, they let go of the rope and the next 2 people jump on.
Later Mr Holloway joined the Premier Colin Barnett and the member for Perth Eleni Evangel in front of the giant water spout. (pictured)
The Giants are set to move through the city over the next three days and share a story specially written for their Western Australian visit. The event is created by acclaimed French company Royal de Luxe.
The Giant’s journey begins in Langley Park on Friday.
