Sinister giant weaves a web of magic

Sep 4 2008 Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

THE mysterious giant spider prowling Liverpool streets took a rest last night in readiness for its next appearance.

Scientists will attempt to move the sleeping creature from Concourse tower, on Lime Street, and take it to a specially created research base at the waterfront.

And it is likely to create as much of a stir as yesterday when passers-by were left stunned by its emergence on the tower.

The dramatic entrance of the massive arachnid marked the start of La Machine, the biggest outdoor theatrical extravaganza the UK has ever seen.

The team of French scientists studying the spider warned that unless it was disturbed there was the danger it would begin to lay eggs.

So they kept a searchlight on the creature overnight in the hope it would awaken.

Team representative Joseph Browning explained the phenomenon they call Les Mechaniques Savants – the clever machines – often appears at times of inter- national cultural events.

“Our team of scientists will need three elements to wake up the spider – music, movement and light,” he said. “The spider has to be lit up because it is hibernating and there is a possibility that it may lay eggs if it enjoys too much obscurity, so that is why we must light it up.

“Imagine 200 eggs, 1000 times bigger than normal. Imagine the catastrophe!”

The scientists have been thinking up ways of capturing the spider, one of which would have involved evacuating the city.

Instead, they have decided on the less drastic option of bringing it down on a large crane, which they are scheduled to do today.

Mr Browning continued: “Once we have captured the spider we are going to take it over to the River Mersey, where we have set up our base, to wake it up.” Thus the scene is set for La Machine and the identity of the spider – kept secret for months, but now known as La Princess – to be finally revealed.

Among the onlookers yesterday were those heaving a sigh of relief that the five-day event was under way.

Helen Marriage, director of the show’s producers Artichoke, said it was “fantastic” that La Machine was finally under way after 18 months of meticulous planning. It was very, very exciting o see it at last and it looks great.”

Council leader Warren Bradley said: “I’m really pleased it’s here. It’s been a long time coming and a lot of hard work has gone into it, and as the story unfolds over the next few days people will embrace it and hopefully it will become part of Liverpool’s heritage.

“It’s probably always been, for me, the highlight of the year and this is one thing people will want to see that will create a great memory for the people of the city.”

Phil Redmond, deputy chairman of the Culture Company, which commissioned La Machine, said: “It’s something that’s really fun for the city to enjoy, and will remind international audiences that Liverpool is a cultural destination.”

Nick Brooks-Sykes, head of tourism and marketing at the North West Development Agency, said: “This really shows that Liverpool can deliver the big cultural events.”

“People will see the city in a new light and this will be a great weekend to be in Liverpool.”

The spider will be craned off Concourse tower today at 11.30am and taken to the research base at the Arena, where it is scheduled to arrive at 1pm