Features / arcadia
Arcadia spider to be unleashed in Queen Sq
Groundbreaking performance, creative recycling, music and technology looks set to head to the heart of the city as Arcadia have confirmed that Queen Square will be the venue for their shows on September 4 and 5 this year.
The centrepiece of this Arcadia Spectacular event will be the organisation’s world-famous mechanical spider, built in Bristol from 50 tonnes of recycled military hardware – quite the spectacle at festivals throughout the world.
This will be Arcadia’s first ever city centre event, combining cutting-edge sculpture, music, special effects and huge-scale pyrotechnics to deliver a truly unforgettable weekend.
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A licence application to hold the show in Queen Square was submitted today.
‘Metamorphosis’, a brand new show, which will be unveiled at Glastonbury Festival in June, is being brought to Bristol as part of the city’s year as European Green Capital. It will see the conversion of Arcadia’s signature flames to biofuel – creating the world’s first recycled biofuel pyrotechnics system.
Set against the backdrop of the historic Georgian square, Metamorphosis will see the Spider come alive as a living organism, fusing sustainable ideas with art and music, to create a spectacular symphony of transformation.
Arcadia’s founders, Pip Rush and Bert Cole, explain: “We’re hugely excited to bring Arcadia home to Bristol for our first inner city UK show. Bristol and its community have been so influential in our evolution, and it’s a real honour to play such a key role in the city’s life during such an important year. We hope it will be a memorable moment of unity that celebrates the inspirational possibilities of what can be done with the world’s waste.”
Metamorphosis is one of six projects funded by Arts Council England’s Exceptional Award, as part of Bristol’s year as European Green Capital. The event will be produced by Team Love, in partnership with Brisfest.
The full premises licence for Queen Square has been submitted and will be subject to standard licensing procedures, consultations and approval.
Tickets (from £25) are now on sale from www.arcadiabristol.com