LCI Productions, the event production specialist, has won a contract to act as design consultants on a multi-sensory and immersive ‘Water and Light Show’ as part of Southport’s waterfront regeneration, on Merseyside, UK.
Following a public consultation, Sefton Council supports plans to transform The Promenade by Marine Lake with the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC), a 15,000 sq ft state-of-the-art business and events venue, and the Water and Lights Show to further leisure and tourism initiatives.
The new centre is designed to attract thousands of visitors each year with an auditorium suitable for large conferences and an exhibition space capable of accommodating more than 3,000 people. A café and signature restaurant will provide facilities for both visitors and the community.
The plan is set to deliver a permanent Water and Light Show on the Marine Lake, adjacent to the centre. The show will be the first of its kind in the UK and will provide a unique, purpose-built attraction that will further help to attract visitors to the MLEC, the waterfront area and set apart Southport from other towns.
The show, with the potential to attract 288,000 visitors a year, will display a diverse offering of shows created by jets of water and a ‘misting water screen’ to create a platform for 3D projected imagery. The structure will be built on a floating device situated within the Marine Lake.
“The after dark shows will also include combinations of enchanting coloured lighting and laser effects,” said Rob Paul, design director at LCI Productions. “The show’s narratives will vary throughout the year, with opportunities for local artists to get involved in creating displays and effects that can be incorporated.
“The intention is to have the shows running hourly, depending on the weather, and all year round with changing narratives, encouraging locals and visitors to return to experience the latest instalments.”
The MLEC and Water and Light Show forms part of the Southport Town Deal which acquired Government funding in 2021. The project is also being funded with support from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Sefton Council.
