back to listings SME Profile: Walk the Plank Ltd
|
37-41 Cobden Street, Salford M6 6NA T: +44(0)161 736 8964 | E: info@walktheplank.co.uk | W: www.walktheplank.co.uk
|
ABOUT US
Walk the Plank are the UK's leading makers and creators of outdoor arts, theatre and spectacle in the public realm.
OUR STORY
We’re specialists and pioneers in the creation, production and presentation of outdoor arts and performance. From small-scale local events to awe-inspiring epics that draw national and global attention, our work is defined by our faith in the power of storytelling – and our belief that we all have stories to tell.
We create people-powered art that sings of the places where we make it – from Salford schools to the banks of the Thames, city centres to National Parks. And we celebrate the lives of the people who call these places home: diverse individuals and communities from every corner of society, eager to use the arts to capture the essence of who they are.
We're collaborators at heart, as happy teaming up with European Capitals of Culture and international sporting events as we are making site-specific and site-responsive work with the people of towns and cities across the UK – and beyond. A huge collective of artists, creatives and technical wizards helps our close-knit core team bring our ambitious ideas to life, working hand in hand with the organisations who commission us, the places that host us, and the communities who are integral to every work we make. Through such collaborations, magic happens.
Our first project remains one of our most memorable – a decommissioned Norwegian ferry that we converted into a touring theatre ship (hence our name) and sailed round the nation. We’ve since devised dozens of on- and offshore projects, from a mythical epic with a 70-metre fire-breathing sea monster to our recent five-month journey through the UK’s wild landscapes that ended with a one-hour BBC Countryfile special. From daytime celebrations to immersive nighttime specials defined by our passion for what we call The Arts of Darkness, our portfolio pages tell you more.
If you’re interested in working with us, whether by presenting one of our existing works or collaborating with us to make something new, please get in touch. Everything's possible – and anything goes.
WHAT WE DO
We create and produce outstanding moments of outdoor performance and public celebration. We connect with audiences in public space in impactful ways, through the making of artistically ambitious work.
We are experts in designing, building and bringing to life your wildest dreams to create mind-blowing outdoor events. With three decades of experience, we're also passionate about helping the next generation of creatives through our learning opportunities.
|
Floats and flags, ice and fire, music and magic – no one makes a celebration quite like Walk the Plank. |
 |
 |
From lantern parades to fireworks extravaganzas, we’re pioneers in the Arts of Darkness. We can make your site sparkle – and your sky come alive. |
|
CONSULTANCY, LEARNING & TRAINING Through collaboration, consultancy and education, our programmes support individuals and organisations across the UK and beyond to make extraordinary outdoor arts. |
 |
 |
Our signature celebrations have made our name around the world. If you’ve got a big event upcoming, we’ll help you launch it in sensational fashion. |
|
World-changing ideas are no good if you can’t make them happen – but we can. Discover how we take the craziest visions from imagination to reality. |
 |
HOW WE DO IT
How do we do it? Good question, and one without a single answer – every project starts with a blank slate.
From city-wide events to closing ceremonies, parades to community celebrations, everything we make is built on conversation, collaboration and a little bit of magic.
 |
 |
 |
|
There’s nothing we like more than a blank slate and a willing partner. Tailor-made from scratch for people, places and special events, our bespoke commissions are our signature projects. |
We’ve created several shows that we can bring to wherever you are – tailored to your space, your audiences and your event. |
Participation and engagement are central to many of our people-powered productions – and the more the merrier. |
MAKING WORK THAT MATTERS
No two projects are the same – but all our shows, festivals and productions share a common approach:
We’re collaborators. From our first conversation to the big day or night, we’ll work with you, your partners, and the communities to whom your project matters most. And as we do so, we’ll make work that’s ambitious, relevant and as brilliant as we can make it in the time and budget we have available.
We’re storytellers. From installations to festivals, theatrical bonfires to robotic puppets, we understand the power of a good story. If you don’t know yours yet, we’ll find a compelling narrative or a playful poetic proposition that takes people on a journey they’ll never forget.
We work locally – to you. We’ll invite creative practitioners in your area to join our project team, developing talent and forging new partnerships in the process. We’ll bring a fresh perspective to bear on any event, and we’ll also always respect and utilise the local knowhow and heritage that makes your part of the world special. Our site-specific and site-responsive work only truly reflects and connects with the places where it happens if we work with diverse local partners.
Discover more about how we bring ideas to life on our Bespoke Commissions page. And if you’re interested, get in touch. Everything starts with a chat.
PROJECTS
No two Walk the Plank events are the same because no two ideas, stories or communities are the same. Every single event we create reflects our passions and skills alongside your original ideas or the creative wizardry of bringing our own wild ideas to life.
