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WI helps “Little Mermaid” production fly

WI Creations supplied flying - both people and objects - and stage automation equipment, expertise and crew to the Marmalade production of Disney’s ”The Little Mermaid”, staged in Halls 7 and 8 of the Ghent Expo in Belgium, which ran from the 17th of December until the 7th of January.

Directed by Frank van Laecke, this production with a set design by Stefan Haudenhuyse and lighting design by Luc Peumans from Painting with Light was based on the 1989 animated musical fantasy film from Walt Disney Features, in turn inspired by the Danish fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1837.

Hans Willems project managed for WI Creations, who were asked to design and co-ordinate flying systems and stage automation having provided similar services for Marmalade’s 2016 production of another Disney musical, “Beauty and the Beast”.

WI supplied all the equipment needed for the lifting and flying tasks from its rental stock. Centre stage, one of WI’s TP02 lifts was positioned below the stage and used to bring Ursula, the main antagonist, onstage. Twelve WI-Band Hoists were rigged on various trusses in the roof and used to bring assorted props and scenic pieces in and out throughout the performance.

For the people flying, WI installed five TP02 Winches and 60 metres of flying track in the ceiling between the stage and the FOH position, complete with a WI TP04 winch and double wire, which were utilized so that the main character  Ariel could ‘swim’ from centre stage out over the audience to FOH. Over the stage another personnel flying system was rigged with five TP02 winches positioned to fly five different characters during the underwater scene.

All the movement elements for the people and the stage lift were programmed and run by Pieter-Jan Nouwinck using one of WI’s bespoke 2D motion control systems. Joining him and Hans Willems on the WI crew for this production was Brecht “Bright” Moreels who specifically assisted with the people flying.

(Photo: Frank Lambrechts/Picturesk)

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