Art / wake the tiger
Lak Mitchell on Wake The Tiger: “Bristol really deserves this”
Wake The Tiger is finally open for business, welcoming prospective buyers into its Meridia show home, and on through the portal into a parallel world.
“There were so many times we thought this was never going to come together,” reflects Lak Mitchell, co-founder and creative director of the project, as well as the immersive festival Boomtown Fair.
“We had a team of up to 130 people working across all departments to deliver Wake The Tiger. But because of our experience with Boomtown, we had that festival drive to be able to get it done in time.”
is needed now More than ever
The Mycelium Room, Wake The Tiger – photo: Andre Pattenden
The Submarine Room, Wake The Tiger – photo: Andre Pattenden
And get it done they have, in astonishing style. Walking round the immersive worlds within worlds that Wake The Tiger have created, it strikes you just how much talent and drive they have brought together.
“It’s important to say that this is a big underground art collective; a manifestation of so many eccentric and brilliant creative people we’ve met over the years,” says Mitchell.
Their remarkable achievement is all the more laudable for how unlikely it might have sounded to investors when the vision first began to take shape.
Wake The Tiger – photo: Doug Francisco
Galaxy, Wake The Tiger – photo: Andre Pattenden
“We had to be brave, since it could have gone very badly wrong,” Mitchell admits.
“There were times when we thought – ‘oh my god’! A couple of investors fell through because they just didn’t understand it enough.
“And it was hard even for us to figure out exactly what it was at first, because it isn’t like anything else.”
First conceptualised by Mitchell, along with Doug Francisco (Invisible Circus) – the creative process for Wake The Tiger will continue to develop indefinitely, as the experience grows into every corner of their vast building in St Philips.
Photo: Doug Francisco
As an all-year-round, permanent destination, it’s an evolution of Boomtown, to which hopefully a diverse mix of people, and ages, will be attracted.
“This is about opening up to absolutely everyone,” enthuses Mitchell, “including many people who wouldn’t normally see this style of creativity.
“Bristol deserves this, it really does. It’s made by Bristol people, expanding on the rich creative culture of our city. And it’s just the beginning.”
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Tickets for Wake The Tiger are on sale now at www.wakethetiger.com, where you can also find more information about the experience and FAQs. Wake The Tiger is open Wednesday-Sunday, from 10am-10pm in July and August; opening and closing times vary from September. Last entry is 90 minutes before closing.
Main photo: Andre Pattenden
Read more: Tickets launched for Wake the Tiger – the world’s first ‘Amazement Park’
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