JEAN-LUC Courcoult, founder and Creative Director of the world’s most influential street theatre company, Royal de Luxe, has announced Liverpool’s Dream will be the final curtain for the Giants.
At a press conference held in Liverpool earlier today (Tuesday 18 September), Jean-Luc revealed which Giants will be heading to the city and Wirral from 4-7 October, and then delivered the news that the current family will retire after the event.
This will herald a new chapter for Royal de Luxe, which has been producing shows with the much-loved characters since 1993. They are now working on a new show featuring a silverback gorilla.
In just over two weeks’ time, the Little Boy Giant (brother of the Little Girl Giant) will make his UK debut and will explore the streets alongside canine companion and crowd-pleasing favourite Xolo and the 33ft high Giant.
Jean-Luc Courcoult, said: “I have made a firm decision to end this saga of the giants. If we carry on doing the same thing it wouldn’t churn up the same emotion in people but, at the same time, I am very sad.
“It must be 25 years since we did the first show but, just like Monty Python, the comedy must move on.”
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “For more than 25 years, the creative genius of Royal de Luxe has wowed millions of people around the world, so I’m sure the news that the Giants will no longer be performing will come as a shock to many.
“It’s a huge coup for Liverpool to stage the last ever Giants event, and final preparations are being put in place to ensure the Little Boy, Xolo and the Giant are given the most spectacular send-off.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Jean-Luc and the rest of the Royal de Luxe team for the pleasure they have brought to the hundreds of thousands of people lucky enough to enjoy their creations and I wish them luck with the exciting new chapter they are about to embark on.”
Here’s what to expect in October:
Little Boy Giant Inspired after working in African villages, Royal de Luxe created the Little Boy Giant in 1997 which was premiered in Cameroon. He is 20-foot high, weighs 600kg and needs 27 Lilliputians (23 from Royal de Luxe and 4 local).
The Giant He is a massive 33-foot high and weighs 2.5 tonnes. Able to move at 2km an hour, he needs 44 Lilliputians (30 from Royal de Luxe and 14 local) to move his body which is made of steel, lime and poplar wood.
His hair is made of horsehair, eyelashes made of broom hair and his eyes are streetlamp lights moved by small motors.
Xolo Pronounced cho-low – this pup is making his third visit to the city and is set to enjoy licking unsuspecting members of the public and scampering up and down the city streets.
This playful canine is 9ft tall and weighs 200kg. The fastest of all the giants, he can travel at 4km an hour and needs 23 Lilliputians to operate him (19 from Royal de Luxe and 4 local). He is made of steel and papier mâché.
There are just a couple of weeks left until the Giant visitors walk the streets of Liverpool and Wirral – in what will be the final in the trilogy of Giant spectaculars.
Between Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 October, the Giants will pass major Merseyside landmarks. The action kicks off from 10am on Friday in Liverpool on St George’s Hall Plateau and on the other side of the water in New Brighton, another Giant will wake at Fort Perch Rock at 11am and will spend the day enjoying the sights and sounds of Wirral.
Saturday will see all the Giants in Liverpool – they will all come together in the afternoon and spend the rest of their time in the city together.
The show culminates on Sunday with a focus on the waterfront and a parade finale. And as this is Royal de Luxe’s final ever time in the city, expect some surprises…
Details of the static element of the show taking place on Thursday 4 October will be revealed in the coming weeks.
