Liverpool to be visited by 'Little Girl Giant'

Giant fever will hit North Liverpool this April as the city prepares itself for an unusual visitor – a 30-foot tall puppet girl.

French artist group Royal De Luxe, the world's leading street theatre company, is bringing its spectacular show Sea Odyssey to Liverpool which will be the city's biggest ever outdoor event.

The extravaganza tells the story of how the human spirit triumphs over the Titanic tragedy and will involve the puppet – nicknamed Little Girl Giant – wandering around areas including Stanley Park, Walton Lane, Vauxhall Road, Everton and Anfield.

Sea Odyssey has been in the planning stages since 2006, when Artistic Director and founder of Royal De Luxe, Jean-Luc Courcoult, visited Liverpool and was inspired by an emotional letter he saw in the Maritime Museum written by a young girl whose father was a passenger on the tragic maiden voyage of the Titanic.

The Titanic was registered in Liverpool making the city its home port and is one of five Titanic cities holding events in 2012, as part of the ship's centenary commemorations.

On her travels the Little Girl Giant will also explore the areas around both football clubs, reflecting the importance of sport to Liverpool, on only her second visit to the UK – the first being in London in 2006.

The show will have echoes of a similar event held in Liverpool during its year as European Capital of Culture in 2008 when a 50-foot spider, La Machine, drew thousands to the city centre.

But for the first time in the city’s event history, around half the action will focus on North Liverpool, and it is hoped Sea Odyssey will be a transformational event for this part of the city.

Liverpool city council’s cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “Sea Odyssey will be a seminal event for the city. We want the occasion to not just be a huge success for the city in April, but bring a longer lasting legacy as a result of the area being placed in such a unique spotlight.

“Tens of thousands of people visit the north end for football matches, but rarely spend any more time there, so this is the perfect opportunity to show off the area and its potential, and as a result, hopefully encourage investment.

“Everton Park is a prime example of a significant city asset in close proximity to the city centre which some people, even Liverpudlians, may not be aware of – so it’s a case of highlighting these hidden gems and transforming people’s perceptions of the area.

“These will be the first steps towards significant regeneration and investment and the event will prove to be a real catalyst for positive change, not just for the area, but for the entire city.”

The free event is part of the Liverpool Plan which aims to change perceptions of the city and have partners working together to promote the city in a positive way.

The show will attract an estimated half a million spectators, especially as Little Girl Giant soaks in the stunning view of Liverpool from the brow in Everton Park.

The event will take place from April 20 – 22 and the full route and locations will not be released until several weeks prior to the spectacular, but will also include city centre spots.

Funding is in the final stages, but will be a mixture of public and private investment, and Arts Council England have given nearly £200,000 for the event.

Sarah Maxfield, Regional Director of Arts Council England, commented: “We are very happy to be supporting this event and enabling this world renowned company to bring their work to Liverpool.

“We applaud Liverpool City Council's vision and ambition in recognising the benefits that the arts can deliver to communities and to the economy and we are pleased to be working in partnership with them to ensure those ambitions are realised.

“Liverpool is at the forefront of outdoor performance events in the UK and Sea Odyssey promises to be an extraordinary, spectacular and – given the links to the Titanic anniversary – a moving experience.”

The Sea Odyssey website will go live at the beginning of February (www.giantspectacular.com­).

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