1.4 million watch The Giants open Perth International Arts Festival
An audience of 1.4 million experienced the ‘Incredible and Phenomenal Journey of the Giants’ through the streets of Perth, by France’s Royal de Luxe, in a three-day free spectacular to open the 63rd Perth International Arts Festival.
Australian and international visitors joined locals in being entranced by the 6-metre Little Girl Giant and stood in awe of the 11-metre high Diver Giant.
Over three days the narrative wove together a commemoration of the Centenary of Anzac and a celebration of the Aboriginal community of Western Australia, and above all united the city in child-like wonder.
A delighted Perth Festival Artistic Director Jonathan Holloway stated “they say it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a city to raise a Giant.
“Perth came together for this event and everyone embraced it. This is one of the largest example of the extraordinary transformational quality of art.
“It has been widely accepted that Perth will never forget the weekend that it walked with Giants.”
The journey began on Friday, as the Girl walked alone through the streets of Perth, searching for the Diver who was asleep at Perth train station.
Both moved throughout the city on Saturday, before finally finding and embracing each other at Langley Park.
The Girl spent the night nestled in the Diver's lap where she awoke this morning surrounded by a huge crowd.
The Girl marionette danced to loud applause and cheers before settling back into the diver's lap.
A tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Anzacs then followed before the pair took a final walk to a barge which carried them down the Swan River.
Crowds exceeded plans for the event by transport agency Transperth with massive queues and lengthy wait times reported for public transport after the event.
Click here for more information on the Perth International Arts Festival.
27th November 2014 - NEW PERTH INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL DIRECTOR REVEALED
11th November 2014 - INDIGENOUS CAST TO PRESENT SIGNIFICANT ANZAC PRODUCTION AS PART OF THE 2015 PERTH FESTIVAL
28th November 2013 - PERTH INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL TO OPEN WITH A BANG
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