Last week in Stockton, an eight metre high figure took to the streets as part of Stockton International River Festival when Prometheus Awakes was performed, presented by Graeae
and La Fura dels Baus
and co-commissioned by GDIF and SIRF, as part of the London 2012 Festival.

Graeae of course, are part of PUSH ME with The Garden, but this exhilarating re-interpretation of the legendary Greek myth also involved two other PUSH ME artists, who helped make the earth move and the sky explode as the huge Prometheus figure rose from the ground and created fire and humanity in defiance of the God Zeus.

Simon Mckeown created the stunning digital projections – you can see the opening sequence here - reviewed at its London showing at Greenwich as follows:

…with the help of McKeown’s projections, which saw fire take over the Queen’s House or make it appear shattered into a thousand pieces, the emotive qualities of the Greek myth came to full force…

Mish Weaver, founder of Stumble danceCircus is the other – having worked on Prometheus Awakes as aerial advisor – and what aerial it was! The birth of mankind, soaking the audience, three dancers floating above, and figures in white decontamination suits hung from a range of objects – a smoke tailed censer, an enormous wheel and finally over 40 people suspended like a net of humanity flying over the audience.

Prometheus Awakes was the first ever large-scale outdoor theatre production in this country that was led by disabled artists, and with its eight metre high protagonist, it will remain one of the most memorable even in this year of exceptional moments.

As Lyn Gardner said in her review for the Guardian:

There are no limitations here, just glorious liberation, as the performers fly across the sky and the world explodes all around them.