Water Sculptures has been in collaboration again with celebrated choreographer Kim Gavin and renowned production manager Chris Vaughan, for Take That's Circus stadium tour.
For the band's Back for Good number, performed on the stadium's central satellite "B" stage, a 7m high screen of water appears from jets concealed within the stage floor, which shields the boys from their screaming fans. As they walk into and out of the water screen, the water disappears and re-appears as though by magic.
Six tonnes of water are stored in tanks under the stage, which during the three minute performance showers the nearby crowds. Although they are all offered waterproof macs before the show begins, most prefer to go get a little wet as part of the whole Take That experience.
Water Sculptures director Alasdair Elliot was there for several days to build and test the installation, and throughout the tour's full dress rehearsal evening and opening night. Take That use umbrellas during the dance routine for Back for Good, preventing them from becoming too wet... "always an important consideration when using live microphones," the company adds.
Alasdair says: "The boys were delighted, and so were we, in fact the whole production really is stunning, very well put together." The demanding tour ends with two nights at Wembley stadium in July.
Hot off the heels of Take That's opening night, Alasdair and his team travelled to London to set up a water installation at the Royal Albert Hall, for the lavish staging in its circular arena for The King and I.
Water Sculptures helped design and build the large stage set which becomes the King of Siam's sumptuous palace, surrounded by canals of water, boats and bridges. The show runs from 12th to 28th June.
Water filters and atomisers are just some of the technical know-how used by Water Sculptures to create a magical atmosphere on stage, producing low-lying mists resting precariously above the water, which is kept continuously rippling throughout the show's performance.
(Claire Beeson)
