Pyrovision's News Archive 2005

2005
Coldplay Twisted Logic Tour 2005
Challenge: To create a stunning effect for the finale without distracting from the music.
Display: Arena Mines were used on top of the stage to add a blaze of light and sparkle in tune to the music.

"90 stirring minutes of sensitive majesty and polite emotional fireworks" --The Times

^top

November 2005
Lord Mayor's Show, London
Challenge: To successfully introduce music to this firework show.
Display: As the shell size on the River Thames is restricted to 6", the show mainly used cakes and candles with the shells being used as finales to the sequences. The audience shouted 'thank you' from the bridges and the embankment after the show.

Campbell Park, Milton Keynes
Challenge: To achieve a high impact display over 25 minutes to a varied music score.
Display: The music included the theme from Harry Potter as well as O Fortuna to appeal to a wide audience. Due to safety restrictions it was very difficult to achieve symmetry with the shells so more cakes and candle were used for a better frontage. There was a lot of positive feedback after the show and the client immediately booked the display for next year!

Castle Hill, Huddersfield
Challenge: To create a worthy display for the famous Black Cat/Standard Fireworks.
Display: With so many true firework enthusiasts watching the pressure was on to create something truly outstanding. The site was perfectly situated on the highest point of Huddersfield and with a very comfortable safety distance to the audience large calibre shells were used for a high impact. During the quieter passages of the music large quantities of flares together with candles and cakes were fired. The show proved to be a great success with the audience.

"Fireworks fill the skies in colourful super-show" --Huddersfield Daily Examiner

^top

September 2005
The Glory of Wales, Denbigh
Challenge: To design special effects, pyrotechnics, fireworks on site for an ever changing script telling the history of Wales.
Display: This was the first time material was taken unprepared to create the display together with the show designer on site. To simulate air craft attacks during the wars petrol bombs and machine gun simulators were used together with randomly fired flares to imitate the burning of buildings. Whilst the Welsh National Anthem was performed green flares lit up the stage and surrounding building creating a beautiful atmosphere. To celebrate the end of the wars as well as for the finale outdoor displays were incorporated in the show. Although it was difficult to change elements during rehearsals the end result was a huge success for the organisers of this event.

Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert, Edinburgh
Challenge: It is always a huge challenge firing a display of this scale to live music but even more so when the music is Beethoven's 7th Symphony.
Display: With more than 225,000 people enjoying the show, the 40 minute display was a resounding success - in fact it was felt that it had been the best interpretation of music ever! The silver waterfall spilling down the castle was again one of the most popular parts of the display, the finale was simply stunning with 60 x 5" shells, 75 x 4" shells, 150 x 3" shells, 24 x 6" shells as well as 11 x 8", 2 x 10" and 1 x 12" shell together with 50mm crossette candles setting the sky over the castle alight.
Photos at scotsman.com

^top

August 2005
Fireworks Display for Scandia Cowes Week
Challenge: To retell the history of the battle of Trafalgar through narration, music and fireworks.
Display: The fireworks and effects were designed to match the narration and the music, for example the arrival of the French fleet was marked by firing blocks of blue, white and red candles and mines with larger shells in the same colours going over the top of these. Similarly for the arrival of the British fleet Tough Business Cakes were used to create a blue background with 40mm and 59mm Candles crossing over to create the Union Jack. During the battle scenes ripple firing was used to mimic cannon fire on two barges as well as red and yellow flares together with flash pots to simulate the impact of the firing. The finale was very strong and colourful with candles and shells being layered on top of each other to create a stronger impact. As bells marked the end of the battle brocade shells ended a spectacular display.
Photos and video at cowes.co.uk

^top

July 2005
Opening of Kingsbridge Fair Week
Challenge: To create a display suitable for the picturesque harbour of Kingsbridge.
Display: The display was fired from a barge in the harbour to reach the largest possible audience. To fulfil the brief from the client a large amount of noisy effects were used in this display such as whistles, hummers, crackles, screechers and maroons. For the colourful finale Pyrovision used Cakes, Candles and a large amount of different calibre shells to create a large frontage with effects being fired into each other.

Bedford Proms
Challenge: To fire the display to music from a live band.
Display: The display was set to the music of '633 Squadron', 'Hall of the Mountain King' and 'Live and Let Die'. To imitate the Spitfires and the bombing during the first piece, crisscross shells, crackers and petrol bursts were used, together with various red/white and blue effects.

^top

June 2005
'Big Gay Out'
Challenge: To co-ordinate stage effects on two stages as well as fireworks.
Display: During the show on the main stage various effects were used including red stage mines, white stage comets, sparkle flash and airburst, white flutterfetti cartridges were used on both stages. Outdoor fireworks had to be rather large as the firing site was one mile away from the stage. During a piece from 'Frankie goes to Hollywood' a break of red hearts was used - the finale was an intensive display in silver.
Photos at biggayout.com

^top

May 2005
Sea Princess Naming Ceremony
Challenge: To create a firework extravaganza set to a Hollywood Theme.
Display: The launch of the Sea Princess coincided with the opening of the latest Star Wars movie. As the theme of the evening was 'Hollywood' is seemed appropriate to use some Star Wars music. The beginning of the fireworks was introduced with the 20th Century Fox Fanfare; the Searchlights used in their introduction were mimicked with Tiger Tail Shells on a Sequencer. The finale was set to the music from Indiana Jones and the glitzy atmosphere of the evening was represented with silver and gold spider and croissette shells.

Jersey Liberation 60 Celebrations
Challenge: To re-enact the story of the invasion, occupation and liberation of Jersey through music, speech and fireworks.
Display: The fireworks were set to music and broken up with short pieces of famous speeches. Parachute Flares were specially commissioned to mimic Illuminating Flares used during the invasion; Strobe Flares were positioned over the castle to flash in time with the marching sound of soldiers and for the battle effects giant explosions were re-enacted with Mines and Maroons. The finale was set to 'Land of Hope and Glory', with various green firework effects representing the green lands of England and the hopes of the islanders.

The Night of 1000 Voices, Royal Albert Hall
Challenge: To supply stunning pyrotechnic effects at very short notice.
Display: Two Airburst Systems and Electrical Air Cannons rigged in the truss gave a truly spectacular finale with bright silver bursts and white Flutterfetti to a very successful concert.

April 2005
Arcadia Naming Ceremony
Challenge: To create a stunning display for an audience with a very restricted view.
Display: As the audience was in a 70 foot high marquise tent with a clear plastic screen, it was important to create a full frontage with fireworks that were restricted in height. Two barges were moored alongside the ship to increase the frontage and to accommodate barrages of candles and smaller calibre shells. In addition a waterfall effect was created over the side of the ship and flares were placed on board the ship to create an intense display set to P & O's chosen music 'Zadok the Priest'.

Photos and video at pocruises.com

^top

news pages » current | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001