Ignite your senses at Docklands
To kick off winter on Saturday 30 May and officially commence the city’s winter program of activities, Ignite@Docklands will entertain families for free with a series of performances boasting light, sound and fire to blast away the winter chills.
Holding true to the city’s winter theme of ‘Illumination’, a highlight of the winter’s eve party will be a fireworks show to set the night skies ablaze as a parade of lit boats glow their way through the harbour.
“The City of Melbourne is extremely proud to be offering this not-to-be-missed experience to Docklands visitors as part of the winter’s jam-packed events calendar. In only its second year, the event is already attracting a wide range of sought-after artists specialising in light and fire attractions,” said Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.
Creative Director for Ignite@Docklands, Scott Maidment from Strut n Fret says those who loved last year’s event will find some old favourites and new surprises on display.
“Drawing on the success of 2008, we’ve gathered together a hot mix of international performance artists and lighting experts to invigorate, illuminate and stimulate the waterfront this winter.”
“This year we’ve commissioned a new performance specifically for Ignite. We’re calling them the ‘Suits of Light’ – picture business men dressed head to toe in thousands of flashing lights. The ‘Suits’ will be strolling the promenade throughout the festival, occasionally stopping to play music” said Scott.
Also new to Ignite@Docklands is the Sprocket is an illuminated, moving trolley featuring five performers connected by a rotating hoist. They are swung around the trolley merry-go-round style while playing acoustic instruments – a sight and sound spectacular sure to entertain young and old.
Popular and visually mesmerising installation, The LightScraper, will become a fixture of the Docklands this winter. The custom-built aluminium structure has an infra-red camera that tracks participants as they walk through, playing musical notes with every step along with constantly changing visual projections. The result is a giant musical instrument and visual delight!
As the lights go down, the imagination will be ignited by a shadow puppetry performed on a grandiose scale. Called ‘Sticks & Stones’, household items convert through shadow to become images of fantasy and fun. Melbourne’s theatre favourites will also light up the Waterfront City stage with a special live performance offering a sneak peek at some of the city’s major winter entertainment events.
The spectacular, flame fuelled Pyrophone Juggernaut also returns for another explosive season with more bass, more fuel and more fire. The fire fuelled organ erupts as international performance artists and musicians captivate audiences with its unique sound. Made from recycled materials, the largest hand-operated multi-octave fire organ in the world, measuring 12 metres in length and 10 metres high (and based on a 250 year old experimental musical instrument), will treat visitors to Ignite@Docklands to a sensory delight to warm them from the inside out.
Ignite at Docklands runs each Thursday, Saturday and Sunday until Sunday 14 June (including public holiday, Monday 8 June). Following it is Slow Sundays, a special dining offer taking place in Docklands 5 July through to 30 August (8 weeks) from 2pm to 6pm – participating restaurants will offer a winter tasting plate and glass of beer or wine for $15.
WHAT: Ignite@Docklands
WHERE: Waterfront City and NewQuay, Docklands
DATES: Winter’s Eve Party: Saturday 30 May 2009, 5.30 – 9.00pm, fireworks at 7pm
Ignite@Docklands will run from Saturday 30 May to Sunday 14 June 2009 on selected days over three weekends including:
- Saturday 30 – Sunday 31 May
- Thursday 4 – Monday 8 June (Monday 8 June is the Queen’s Birthday holiday)
- Thursday 11 – Sunday 14 June
COST: FREE
AGE: Suitable for all ages