Rocket Launch Blaenavon

“Rocket Launch Blaenavon followed the story of local space cadet Elin in her journey into outer space, investigating the source of ‘The Blip’, an unknown message sent from beyond the stars.

Hundreds of people attended at the ironworks, with others streaming on the Infinity Space Wales website or watching along at the Riverfront in Newport, Cellb in Blaenau Ffestiniog and the CULTVR LAB in Cardiff.”

I had an incredible time working with Rebecca Osmond’s ‘Shining Stars Music Academy’ in Blaenavon, where musical extraordinaire Helen Woods had arranged a version of David Bowie’s ‘Life on Mars’ for the incredible children at Shining Stars to record for the pre rocket launch activities. With COVID measures in place, we had two lovely groups of children, an older group and younger group, both recording to track which was then put together in post.

As well as producing Life on Mars, our Yamaha TF5 desk was out on hire to 4Pi Productions who looked after the live streaming side of the event which broadcasted out to three venues; our very own Riverfront Theatre, CULTVR in Cardiff and CellB in Blaenau Ffestiniog, as well as live to homes across the globe.

Ffion Reynolds, Heritage and Arts Manager at Cadw, said: 

“Rocket Launch Blaenavon celebrates 20 years of Blaenavon Ironworks’ listing as a UNESCO Heritage Site, and we can’t wait to welcome “Infinity Space Wales” to the Ironworks for what’s sure to be an incredible evening of live theatre. 

“We hope the local community enjoy the spectacle, and that it inspires even more visits to our collection of heritage sites across the country.”

I was privileged to be able to attend the incredible event, not really knowing what to expect and my gosh, was it incredible! A truly remarkable production and something that I will certainly remember. It was also the first fully live production that I had attended since pre-pandemic.

You can check out the performance of Life on Mars by the Shining Stars Music Academy below, as well as the LIVE broadcast version, filmed and cut by the 4Pi Productions team - this fully accessible version offers people the chance to be part or the magic. (Pre show 0m-30m and procession arrival into the performance at 40m)

Find out more about Tin Shed Theatre Co who were the masterminds behind this project over on their website: https://www.tinshedtheatrecompany.com

Opening quotation from the South Wales Argus.