Liverpool Giants: Crowds back for second day of puppet parade

6 October 2018

Hundreds watch "Giants" street puppet, The Giant Man, during a street theatre performance in Liverpool — Image caption,
Thousands lined the streets to watch the Giants

Thousands of people have packed the streets of Liverpool as enormous puppets parade though the city for a second day.

Known as The Giants, the over-sized marionettes are back for a third and final time after visits in 2012 and 2014 attracted six-figure audiences.

The spectacle has been arranged by French arts company Royal de Luxe.

Steph McIntyre, who is attending a wedding nearby, said: "It makes the city come alive."

Xolo the Dog looks on — Image caption,
Xolo the giant dog went for walkies in the city

Giant on a boat — Image caption,
One of the giants arrived at Liverpool's Canning Dock by raft

Crowds on Liverpool Waterfront — Image caption,
A huge crowd of people gathered on the Strand to see the show

Phyllis Flemming, who was watching the parade with her family, said: "I want to say thank you to (artistic director Jean-Luc Courcoult) from everyone who comes for doing it. It's brilliant."

Little Boy Giant in Derby Square — Image caption,
It is Little Boy Giant's first visit to Liverpool

Awe-inspiring puppets

By Bronwyn Jones, BBC News, Derby Square

The excitement is palpable.

The crowd gasped as The Giant jumped high above us over a washing line and cheered as his huge feet touched down.

Yellow Submarine rang out across the city centre as onlookers joined the Little Boy Giant in belting out The Beatles classic.

They laughed as a scuba diver, clasping a glass of wine, plunged into an enormous basin to splash about as the Little Boy Giant did a spot of fishing.

Part of the joy is the look on the faces of children and adults alike as the awe-inspiring puppets spark their imagination.

It's the last time they will be here but they sure are putting on a spectacular show.