Working in partnership with Culture Liverpool and Pagoda Arts Centre we put together a stilt training and performance project to be delivered as part of the 2025 Lunar New Year Celebrations in Liverpool City Centre.
Our eight chosen participants ranged in age and experience, some having never used stilts or having limited performance experience, to some who had previously tried stilt walking but had lost confidence. During the six training sessions we took the participants through the basics, how to put the stilts on properly, how to get onto them safely, how to walk with support, how to walk with confidence and introduced them to a range of different environmental challenges such as uneven pavements, kerbs, low hanging trees, steps, gradients and strong wind. The participants rose to every challenge and worked beautifully as a tight supportive team allowing each person to work at their own pace.
The performance elements of the project took place in January and February, the first opportunity being a community parade through Liverpool’s central shopping area alongside Chinese community groups and organisations followed by two days of walkabout performances for the main celebrations. We really enjoyed working with the group of participants and performing alongside them at the events and would be open to more opportunities like this in the future.
