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A lantern like boat with an arctic scene on top of it floats above a crowd of people.A lantern like boat with an arctic scene on top of it floats above a crowd of people.

Aarhus 2017

Battle Royal Studios supported renowned Director Nigel Jamieson to create an impressive opening to the European Capital of Culture in Denmark. Filled with striking light installations and dazzling live music, the procession and culminating show were a nod to the past, an embrace of the future, and a celebration of the present, engaging citizens of the region who stepped in to bring the ceremony to life.
Concept
Set Design
Motion Mapping
Costume Design
Show Design
Motion Design
A building lit up in blue with spotlights shining from it.A building lit up in blue with spotlights shining from it.

A Year of Culture

The opening ceremony for Aarhus’ year as European Capital of Culture 2017 took over the entire city and had a development period of twelve months. While the major event was centered around Danish history and thereby also linked to their Viking origins, it also took a very modern approach with a clear focus on community and the future.


The lantern boat makes its way through the crowd as a purple and pink lit tower throws spotlights into the night sky.The lantern boat makes its way through the crowd as a purple and pink lit tower throws spotlights into the night sky.
A large crowd fills the streets leading up to a building with colorful patterns projected onto it and spotlights shining from it.A large crowd fills the streets leading up to a building with colorful patterns projected onto it and spotlights shining from it.

Featuring close to 5000 participants from around the Danish region, a 500 meter long lantern parade carried six illuminated life-sized Viking ships and 4000 individually hand painted lanterns.



This enthralling light procession was accompanied by fifty choirs from the region, bringing together almost 1000 singers as well as a wide range of musicians from individual lur players to full orchestras.


A large crowd fills the streets leading up to a building lit up in blue with spotlights shining from it.A large crowd fills the streets leading up to a building lit up in blue with spotlights shining from it.
Big bursts of fireworks in front of a purple-lit crane. A crowd watches on.Big bursts of fireworks in front of a purple-lit crane. A crowd watches on.

The procession culminated in an elaborate and spectacular video show, with enormous projections mapped onto the industrial buildings in the Aarhus harbour.

The content of this epilogue was to encourage the people to “RETHINK” their future; what is the world they want to live in and how can they make it more inclusive and sustainable for all involved.

A large crowd watches a building with a woman's face, and the words "diversity," "sustainability," and "democracy" projected on it.A large crowd watches a building with a woman's face, and the words "diversity," "sustainability," and "democracy" projected on it.

Battle Royal Studios proudly worked with Nigel Jamieson, one of the world’s leading creators of large scale theatre and special events,

such as the opening of the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000, the closing ceremony of Manchester Commonwealth Games and the Opening Ceremony of the European Capital of Culture Liverpool in 2008.

A parade of paper lanterns and children's drawings.A parade of paper lanterns and children's drawings.
A crowd of people headed by a group with homemade signs and lanterns in a large plaza at night.A crowd of people headed by a group with homemade signs and lanterns in a large plaza at night.
A broad view of Aarhus from above at night. in the center, a tower of light emits long reaching beams into the night sky, stretching all across the city.A broad view of Aarhus from above at night. in the center, a tower of light emits long reaching beams into the night sky, stretching all across the city.

Credits

Client

Aarhus 2017 – European Capital of Culture


Creative Producer, Associate Ceremony Director & Light Design – Battle Royal Studios

Nigel Jamieson – Executive Creative Director, Ceremony Director

Chris Moylan for Battle Royal Studios – Light Design

Images
Paul Gärtner
Brendan Shelper

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On metal scaffolding, two performers in LED suits cast two white, glowing LED fishing rods down to 2 children who excitedly play with them. A group in white hi-vis vests is in the corner- it's dusk.On metal scaffolding, two performers in LED suits cast two white, glowing LED fishing rods down to 2 children who excitedly play with them. A group in white hi-vis vests is in the corner- it's dusk.

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A wide shot of a crowd facing an outdoor stage. Blue lights are beaming out into the night sky, and industrial brick tube-towers and machinery frames the stage and has video content projected onto them.A wide shot of a crowd facing an outdoor stage. Blue lights are beaming out into the night sky, and industrial brick tube-towers and machinery frames the stage and has video content projected onto them.

Esch2022

The challenging circumstances of the first Covid-19 lockdown offered Battle Royal Studios the opportunity to develop a novel hybrid format for the Esch2022 REMIX Opening, unique in its scope and interactivity for the traditional opening ceremony of a European Capital of Culture. With a wide range of immersive live entertainment, Battle Royal Studios took the audience to the moon and back.

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A broad view of Aarhus from above at night. in the center, a tower of light emits long reaching beams into the night sky, stretching all across the city.A broad view of Aarhus from above at night. in the center, a tower of light emits long reaching beams into the night sky, stretching all across the city.

Opening Ceremonies of the Future

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