The venue was Aggregate Industries' North End Farm Works site in the Cotswold Water Park, near Cirencester. As well as being a working production plant, the site incorporates a man-made lake, created from quarrying activities, which now forms a wildlife haven. Corporate Innovations, working with AV specialist Blitz, transformed the lake-side venue with a creative concept designed to raise awareness of Aggregate Industries' environmental activities, whilst also providing spectacular entertainment in a novel setting.
The guests were first taken on a tour of the working production plants in a fleet of Chrysler Grand Voyagers. They were then taken back in time - quite literally - as amphibious vehicles used in the D-Day landings transported them across the lake. This 1940s theme was continued with the creation of a pier and lantern-lit viewing platforms which led guests to a lake-side entertainment marquee. Inside the marquee they were able to enjoy more than 50 period amusement arcade machines including 'What the Butler Saw', 'Roll a Coin', fortune tellers, strength testers and one-armed bandits.
After dinner, seven long-service awards were presented to Aggregate Industries' employees. The after-dinner entertainment then began with a video presentation, projected by Blitz across the 75m span of water onto a specially constructed 33ft wide screen. This was followed by a spectacular water aquabatics display combining lights, music and 8m high water jets. A crane was then used to lower a 20m wide 'human mobile' over the lake. This mobile carried performers from French group 'Trans Express' - seven drummers and an aerial stunt acrobat. As their drumming reached its peak, the show concluded with aerial fireworks and a floating pyrotechnics display.
Blitz used a 12,000 lumens Digital 15SX projector for the video projection and constructed a 33ft projection screen on the far side of the lake. The company also provided a 10k d&b audiotechnik sound system, followspots and radio microphones for the aerial performers.
(Ruth Rossington)
