As the year pulls us further from summer and the days get shorter, we at Walk the Plank shift our focus and ready ourselves to deliver a string of events that will brighten up the coldest of winter nights. We’re currently designing and debating, fusing and formulating. Halloween, November 5th and Christmas bring with them the opportunity to create some winter magic with bright blasts from above, fire effects on the ground and vivid costumes all around at Newcastle’s Winter Carnival.

Join us and we’ll do our very best to help rid you of those winter blues!

Check out upcoming Walk the Plank events

WalkthePlanktv: our new YouTube channel

Last month, we launched our new Walk the Plank DVD which contains clips and videos from recent site specific specially created events, firework displays and touring performances. You can now see these videos and others (including our action packed showreel) online as part of our brand new YouTube channel.

Check out our channel now and watch videos from the first Manchester Day Parade, last year’s Tower Hamlets November 5th display Great Balls of Fire and The Fire Queen’s Court in Blackpool.

The road to Turku

Walk the Plank and Director Mark Murphy are making significant progress creating THIS SIDE, THE OTHER SIDE, a world class theatrical event which will launch Turku as the 2011 European Capital of Culture on January 15th next year.

We’ve appointed local Production Manager Kristiina Koskinen and local Participation Coordinator Tiina Salmia. 1000 school children have been recruited and several choirs have already volunteered to perform the city’s Song for the Year, composed by Nathaniel Reed who is creating a score for the show.

We’ll be returning to Turku early next month to continue our work with the Turku 2011 federation… more updates in the next enews!

To learn more about THIS SIDE, THE OTHER SIDE and Turku’s 2011 year, visit their website

Overwhelming interest in Training School

From Wed 27th October to Sun 31st October, we’ll be hosting Flaming Tips… Training in the Dark Arts of Fire, Special Effects and other Night-time Tricks for Outdoor Performance, our first ever pyrotechnic training course in partnership with Essex County Council and Chelmsford Borough Council Cultural Events Team.

The residency, is part of the run up to devising an ambitious large-scale outdoor performance for the region in 2012. If you’d like to register your interest in training in night time special effects for events (including fire technology, illumination and animation, pyrotechnics) email Tor in the Marketing Office.

Bon voyage Terry…

Walk the Plank’s General Manager, Terry Luddington, has been with the company for almost 6 years and over that time has played a significant role in the development, expansion and success the organisation has enjoyed. A life-long brass band enthusiast, Terry will be leaving us to take up the new role of Liaison Officer at Barnsley-based organisation The British Federation of Brass Bands.

We’d like to thank Terry for all his hard and dedicated work with us. We will miss his calming, practical influence and wish him all the best in his future role. Read more about Terry’s move on the Arts Council website.

Sad news

Last week and very sadly, Walk the Plank heard of the loss of two of its past colleagues and good friends.

Captain Nick Weiss was master of the theatre ship for the UK tour of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

Flo Foster was administrator for Walk the Plank in 1993/4.

Our thoughts and condolences are with Flo and Nick’s friends and families at this very sad time.

ESSEXstreetdiversions

Sat 30th October 2010, 6pm to 7:30pm

Chelmsford Town Centre and Bell Meadow

Walk the Plank’s training course has been designed to coincide with ESSEXstreetdiversions, in Chelmsford on Saturday 30th from 2pm. From 6pm as darkness falls, the training school participants will be using their newly acquired skills to create two to three small scale installations/performances, joining the various walkabouts.

We’ll also be producing a fiery finale for the event at 7pm in Bell Meadow, created by Walk the Plank’s own experienced artists, working with some of the training participants.

Derry’s Halloween fireworks

Sun 31st October 2010, 7pm

Banks of the Foyle

Derry’s family Halloween celebrations last for four days and include haunted houses, a cruise with pirates, chilling ghost stories, a colourful carnival parade, as well of lots more activities and events.

Walk the Plank are looking forward to marking the city’s final frighteningly fun filled evening with a spectacular firework display, fired to a spooky soundtrack using our precise digital systems.

BOBCOM media launch event

Mon 1st November 2010, 7:30pm

On Monday 1st November, we’ll be working with events and communications company Ear to the Ground to create a media launch moment for BOBCOM, an independent musician’s portal.

Walk the Plank will be adding a touch of fiery intrigue to the event by creating a burning brazier featuring the BOBCOM logo and using a gas flame system and internal pyro effects to animate an acoustic performance.

Countdown to Christmas

Wed 3rd November 2010 to Fri 31st December 2010

Center Parcs

Walk the Plank will be working with Center Parcs to mark the run up to Christmas by staging outstanding firework shows at three of their locations: Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, Elveden Forest in Suffolk and Longleat Forest in Wiltshire.

Goole

Fri 5th November 2010, 7:30pm

West Park, Goole

This year, Goole’s Bonfire Night Spectacular is themed around 101 Dalmatians. A procession and sculptural bonfire arranged by Goole Town Council will precede an impressive firework display by Walk the Plank.

We’ll also be working with bonfire builders Blaize to animate the sculptural bonfire which will take the form of Cruella Deville’s house. Expect a unique, enjoyable and family friendly evening.

Nov 5th at Peel Park

Fri 5th November 2010

Little Hulton, Salford

Walk the Plank are working with local volunteers and the Salford Ranger Team to produce a community bonfire and fireworks display in Peel Park to celebrate November 5th.

The bonfire will be lit at 7pm and firework display will begin at 7.30pm.

Remember Remember

Sun 7th November 2010, 7:30pm

Tower Hamlets’ Fireworks Night, Victoria Park

Last year’s display Great Balls of Fire, was named the best fireworks display in London by Capital Radio and the London Evening Standard. “A wildly ambitious theatrical fireworks display” Timeout.

Walk the Plank and Tower Hamlets Council Arts and Events Team return to Victoria Park to stage another breathtaking display for the whole family to enjoy on fireworks night. With this years display titled “Remember, Remember”, we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the start of the Blitz.

We plan to dramatically light up the skies of East London with a unique and spectacular display accompanied by a soundtrack reminiscent of the era.

Newcastle’s Winter Carnival

Fri 31st December 2010, 2:30pm to 6:15pm

Part of the NewcastleGateshead Winter Festival, come and see Newcastle’s very own Ice Queen and her entourage of local community participants warm up a cold winter’s day. Fantastic illuminated costumes, mischievous characters and musicians  parade through the streets of Newcastle, culminating in the annual early-evening fireworks display at Newcastle Civic Centre.

Warm-up with the carnival atmosphere from 2pm when there’ll be performances in Newcastle City Centre. Join us for the main event – a vibrant winter parade at 5.15pm, and follow the parade as it makes its way to Newcastle’s Civic Centre for the 6pm fireworks and fire balls finale.

To find out more about Newcastle’s New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival, visit the website

A huge thank you

… to all those who made the last month of events possible

BBC Proms finale fireworks, Buille Hill
Andrew Stratford, Lucy Carlin, Jen Chung, Nathan Jackson, Malki Miller, Chris Haworth, Richard Babbington. With thanks to Ear to the Ground and the BBC Philharmonic team.

The Tiger and the Emperor for Watermans
Ellie Turner, Liz Pugh, Paddy Wagon, Mike Pattison. With thanks to the Watermans team and all the volunteers that gave their time, effort and enthusiasm.

In the Dhol Drums for Molten Festival
Ellie Turner, Peter Finegan, Pete Mountain, Annie Taylor, Parminder Gill and the whole of the Dhol Academy. With thanks to Julian Rudd and the Molten Festival team.

Ravana for Manchester’s Diwali celebrations
John Wassell, Nick Clarke, Peter Finegan, Pete Mountain, Tim Greeves, Richard Babbington, Adam Ayodele Platten, Daisy Bird. With thanks to Raj Dutta and Manchester’s Diwali events team.