As the World Tipped aerial show coming to St Helens

Billed as the headline event for St Helens’ year as the Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture, As The World Tipped is the largest and one of the finest large-scale outdoor shows to be produced by a UK company. It tells the powerful tale of an ecological crisis through an extraordinary piece of aerial theatre with spectacle, humour and emotion.

Combining dramatic film and visuals with a stunning aerial performance, this is the once in a lifetime opportunity to see this ambitious work in St Helens, the hometown of Wired Aerial Theatre’s artistic director, Wendy Hesketh-Ogilvie.

The show comes to St Helens this October Picture: Sophie Laslett

At the Secretariat of the Copenhagen Climate Change conference, harassed staff fail to notice as the world around them, literally and metaphorically, slides toward disaster. Suspended above the audience in the night sky, the performers struggle to control their increasingly precarious world as they do battle with the effects of a drastic environmental catastrophe.

Written and directed by Nigel Jamieson, one of the world’s leading creators of outdoor spectacle having overseen the Sydney Olympics and Liverpool Capital of Culture, the 45-minute family-friendly show has been created by the pioneering team from Wired Aerial Theatre who recently brought their exhilarating bungee-assisted dance show, Me vs Me, to St Helens Town Hall in September.

As well as forming part of Borough of Culture celebrations, the event also aims to raise awareness of St Helens Council’s 'net zero by 2040' ambitions.

The show comes to St Helens this October Picture: Yannick Dixon

Commenting on bringing As The World Tipped to her hometown, Wendy Hesketh-Ogilvie, who started her career in dance as a student at St Helens College, said: “Bringing 'As The World Tipped' to my hometown of St Helens fills me with joy: I can't wait to put on this amazing performance in a place that is so close to my heart.

“The show is a reminder of how art can bring our community together, spark conversations, and make a real impact. Let's tip the scales of imagination and creativity right here in our hometown, to address one of the most important issues of our time and change the world together."

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Cllr Anthony Burns, St Helens Borough Council’s cabinet member for wellbeing, culture and heritage, said: “As The World Tipped is without doubt the most ambitious event we’ve ever staged and one we’re very excited to bring to St Helens, having toured all over the world – so it’s a big deal to have it here and certainly not to be missed.

“What a year it has been so far as part of our status as Borough of Culture, with a large number of successful events having already taken place which have drawn in large crowds – and As The World Tipped promises to be right up there with the biggest and best.

“Borough of Culture for us is all about celebrating the borough’s talent therefore it's fitting that the internationally acclaimed theatre company's artistic director was born and educated here, one of many talented and creative individuals St Helens has produced in the world of arts and theatre."

The show comes to St Helens this October Picture: Sophie Laslett

Cllr Mancyia Uddin, St Helens Borough Council’s climate change champion, added: “Through dramatic aerial theatre, As The World Tipped portrays the disaster we all may be facing if we don’t address the climate issue.

“Here at St Helens Borough Council, we’re making great strides towards becoming carbon neutral by 2040 having adopted a detailed action plan earlier this year that includes decarbonising the glass industry, making the Council’s transport fleet more environmentally friendly and increasing our recycling rates. Each and every one of us can play our part so I ask everyone attending to consider how together we can reduce, reuse and recycle so that our place becomes the most sustainable it can be.

“To have such a high-profile event come to St Helens is a real coup and one residents should embrace by coming out to watch, appreciate the tremendous talent on show, while taking in the moral of the story which is put across in such an eye-opening and spectacular way.”

The show is coming to St Helens this month Picture: Christophe Raynaud

As The World Tipped will be performed on Birchley Street Car Park, St Helens Town Centre, on Saturday, October 21, at 6.30pm, with the site open to the public from 5pm.

Toilet facilities and refreshments will be available, with designated viewing areas for people with mobility issues.

The presenting of As the World Tipped as part of St Helens Borough of Culture is funded by Arts Council England, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

As the message behind As The World Tipped is the effects of climate change, attendees are encouraged to consider active or public modes of transport when travelling to and from this event.

For full accessibility information and requests, please contact St Helens Borough Council’s Arts Service by emailing artsservice@sthelens.gov.uk or calling 01744 676823.

To find out about upcoming Borough of Culture events, visit: www.culturesthelens.co.uk

For more information about St Helens Borough’s journey to net zero emissions visit https://netzero.sthelens.gov.uk