Ghost Ship appears in Liverpool ahead of Tall Ships regatta
The first vessel has arrived ahead of the Three Festivals Tall Ships Regatta this weekend – but it can only be seen after dark.
The Ghost Ship evokes the spirit of the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman as it shimmers apparition-like against the backdrop of the grade I listed Albert Dock.
It is the British premiere for Romania-based Studio Biangle which has previously created mysterious craft in Berlin and at the Amsterdam Light Festival.
The eerie recreation of the 17th century ship, using water curtains and stage lights, is one of 18 Tall Ships descending on the River Mersey this weekend for the regatta, part of Liverpool 2018 celebrations marking 10 years since the city’s European Capital of Culture title.
Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Culture Tourism and Events, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “The ghost ship signals the countdown to the start of our spectacular Three Festivals Tall Ships Regatta and Bordeaux Wine Festival.
“Three days and nights of magnificent tall ships, spectacular entertainment and art across three stages and the chance to sample some of the world’s finest wines.”
The Bank Holiday weekend event will also feature of host of free cultural commissions and performances on the waterfront and in town, along with a crew parade on Saturday afternoon.
Luke Jerram's Museum of the Moon will be at Liverpool Cathedral. Photo by Carolyn Eaton
Top: Ghost Ship at the Salthouse Dock. Photo by Gareth Jones
Highlights include a new water ballet, The Sun, The Moon & The Stars, by House of Suarez accompanied by a pyrotechnic display, which will be performed in the streets over the weekend as well as on Saturday and Sunday night at 10pm in front of a spectacular projection onto the Cunard Building by Illuminos.
Other attractions include artist Luke Jerram’s enormous illuminated replica of the moon which will hang in Liverpool Cathedral, and a performance by Wired Aerial Theatre, while Aigburth-based sculptor Faith Bebbington has created a massive ship’s cat, which will be seen on the Albert Dock, chasing her Super Rat sculpture which appeared on a rooftop in the Baltic Triangle back in 2016.
On Monday, the Tall Ships will start a race to Dublin, where they will take part in its river festival, before speeding on over the Bay of Biscay to Bordeaux.
The Three Festivals Tall Ships Regatta runs from May 25-28.