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.

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 centred 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.

Aerial night view of a harbour stage lit in blue and purple, beams crossing overhead and reflections falling across the water.
A city square at night filled with people, an illuminated tower structure and a lit boat-shaped lantern in front of a church spire.
Aerial night view of a harbour, a long building facade covered in brightly coloured projections, pink and red light reflecting on the water.

Featuring close to 5000 participants from around the Danish region, a 500-metre-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.

Aerial view of a harbour at night, blue and white beams crossing above a floodlit stage with a dense crowd lining both quaysides.
A burst of white fireworks behind the silhouette of a harbour crane, with a crowd watching in the foreground.

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.

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 long outdoor stage at night carrying projected images of faces, a green container and brightly coloured panels of text.
A dense night-time crowd in front of a large illuminated modern building, many people holding tall white paper lanterns on poles.
Close view of tall white paper lanterns shaped like sails, held up on poles against a dark sky beside a red and white tower.
Beams of white light fan out from an illuminated tower structure into the night sky above a city of low rooftops and church spires.

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
    Light Design – Battle Royal Studios

  • Images

    Paul Gärtner
    Brendan Shelper

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