We swap concrete roundabouts for magical merry-go-rounds
Over ten extraordinary days this July, Milton Keynes played host to its first international festival and presented an ambitious, high quality programme at locations across central Milton Keynes. Inspired by the unique architectural landscape of the city, the festival’s international multi-arts programme included large-scale family events, concerts, theatre, dance, music and visual arts installations in unusual locations such as boulevards, parks, public squares and disused shops.
Our partners, Artichoke, brought some fairytale magic to the festival through a UK Premiere, transporting visitors to the imaginary land of The Magical Menagerie, a gigantic square carousel populated by oversized mythical creatures and created by visionary artist and engineer François Delarozière.
Director of French theatrical engineering company, La Machine, Delarozière has worked with Artichoke on two of their previous productions, The Sultan’s Elephant in London, and the mechanical spider La Princesse in Liverpool.
A spectacular installation, The Magical Menagerie was inspired by an imaginary story of a grand parade of mythical insects and fish. Standing as tall as a house, the carousel was populated by all manner of strange mechanical creature that could be operated by their riders. Over 25,000 visitors engaged with the gigantic buffalos, exotic fish and brightly-coloured insects whilst they appeared to magically come to life as the custom-built carousel began to rotate, filling an otherwise empty car park with colour and movement.
Originally commissioned for the French new town, Sénart, as part of its innovative vision to build art into the city infrastructure, it is fitting that the world’s largest and only square carousel made its UK debut as The Magical Menagerie in the new town of Milton Keynes.
Sky Arts Support
Magical Menagerie was the fourth project in the Sky Arts Artichoke Season, produced by our arts partner, Artichoke and part of The Bigger Picture and Sky Arts commitment to bring the arts to more people on air, online and on the streets across the UK.
Sky Arts - On the Street
Sky Sundays
As a special festive treat, Sky Arts offered 2 tickets for the price of 1 on two Sundays, as well as an accompanying raft of extra entertainment to keep young and old amused.
On screen
Sky Arts was also Media Partner to the festival and captured the buzz of the festival, as it delved behind the scenes of Milton Keynes’s artistic adventure to see the reactions of residents and visitors. We spoke to the key people and artists involved, such as Monica Ferguson, the festival director and Bill Gee, its creative producer, to gain an insight into the workings of this huge event. We also documented the response of the people of Milton Keynes who were treated to a stunning spectacle by acclaimed artists including Artchitects of Air, Graeae theatre company and of course the magical carrousel with a difference. Watch the film on Sky Arts 1 HD throughout August or online at http://www.sky.com/arts (opens in a new window)