Identity produced London’s biggest ever
New Year's Eve fireworks and celebrations show, featuring 12,000 fireworks and 400 drones.
The first event of its kind since 2020, Sussex-based Identity worked in close collaboration with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to develop the “with love from London” theme, with the aim of sending a powerful message of love and unity to the world.
Organised by
the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, the 12-minute spectacular included
12,000 fireworks from Titanium Fireworks, 400 drones from Celestial, lighting
designed by Tim Routledge and music directed by Kojo Samuel and On The Sly.
More than 100,000 tickets were sold for the return of the spectacular
public celebration along the bank of the Thames with millions more
watching it online and on TV.
Identity produced two shows in parallel: the South
Bank spectacle to a live audience and an enhanced drone display on Horse
Guards Parade, adding a new element to the show for the
broadcast audience.
Planning
Planning
for the show started in July with soundtrack development, followed by
pyrotechnics design, lighting design and programming.
The
show set-up started off-site before
Christmas and moved on-site to central London from December 27th. Identity
had a core team of 55 people on the ground with final preparations, included
rigging the lighting and pyrotechnics on the lastminute.com London
Eye - all work was completed within hours of the start of the
show. More than 25 tonnes of equipment were used to rig the
pyrotechnic effects, using 18 kilometres of cable and wire and three
pyro barges in place in front of the London Eye.
Hannah Clark,
Identity’s project director said: “Identity was honoured and proud to
support the Mayor of London in the delivery of London’s biggest New
Year’s Eve show, the first time Identity has had the privilege of delivering
this important event. Identity would like to thank the many stakeholders
involved in supporting us on the delivery of this major event and the general public
for its amazing response to the show as a global spotlight fell on the capital,
sharing ‘with love from London’ with the world.”
The event
highlighted the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory, 50 years of London's Pride and
showed solidarity with Ukraine. Drones paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth
II and honoured King Charles III along with news and voice clips from the late
Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Dame Judi
Dench and Peter Tatchell from the Gay Liberation Front.
The Major of
London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m delighted
that Londoners and visitors to the capital were once again able to join
together on the banks of the River Thames to welcome in the new year with our
best ever celebration. Millions from around the world also watched our unique
show, which brought together fireworks, drones, lighting and music to remember
key moments in 2022 and look ahead to 2023. I’m proud that we have sent a message
of love, hope and unity and I am excited for 2023 as we continue to build a
better, fairer and more prosperous city for everyone.”
Identity has been responsible for
the delivery of some of the UK’s largest and most prestigious events to include
COP26 in Glasgow, the NATO Leaders Summit, London as well as working with
global brands such as New Balance, Unilever, Panasonic, Netflix and Siemens
among many others.
