Mouth of the Tyne Festival 2009

South Shields seaside spectacle

Not sure if we have ever witnessed such a spectacular show in South Shields, well at least not since the last time Malabar performed during the Saturday night parade.  Last night’s parade must have been followed by one of the largest crowds of visitors and tourists that I’ve ever seen at these events, which create a kind of Pied Piper of Hamlyn atmosphere.

The 9 metre high mechanical praying mantis show was entitled Helios ll and Malabar’s performance was enhanced with techno music, lights, and fireworks that built into a pyrotechnical frenzy as they paraded from Gypsies Green to the Groyne harassed and ever so slightly menaced by a gaggle of photographers and the mass of humans in it’s wake. The show was designed to illustrate the birth of a mythical sun god and the French team certainly came up with the goods once again.

My family certainly enjoyed the evening as we took in two smaller side shows at the amphitheatre and Ghandi’s Temple, and by time we’d finished the children were packed off to bed and asleep in record time.

Hope you enjoy the slide show, and if you are around Tyneside today get yourself to South Shields where there will be another afternoon of varied entertainment along the sea front, Nexus are running extra ferries and free shuttle buses whilst the Tyne Tunnel is closed.

Keep your eye on my two photoblogs (see the side bar) for more individual pictures during the course of this week.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

About these ads