It's been criticised for being a flippant commemoration to those lost in the Titanic, but since it was announced last September, there has mainly only been optimism and goodwill surrounding the arrival of two giants which will be pounding the city streets this weekend (April 20-22).
They are doing so as part of the the 100th anniversary of the disaster - and one of the world's most exciting street theatre companies, Royal de Luxe, from Nantes, are pulling out all the stops and all the strings in what is claimed to be the UK's biggest event of its kind in 2012.
Paid for out of the final bit of legacy money from Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture in 2008, The Sea Odyssey, as we wrote at the start here is definitely one to watch.
More than 20 cranes will be used to manoeuvre the giants over 28 hours, and with around 250,000 expected to descend in the city, expect severe traffic disruption all weekend.
Where are yer?
The action begins at 9.30am on Friday 20 April when the 30 foot Little Girl Giant wakes up in Stanley Park and starts striding around. Those foraging for interesting mushrooms in the early morning dew of the park, listen up: no, it's not you - she really is for real.
Waking up in a park is never pleasant, but far from this being the result of a night at the Cat and Fiddle on Stanley Road, this very big lass is on a quest to receive news about her father, a stowaway who died on the ill-fated Titanic. And now she's off around town.
The plot goes on: "Unbeknown to the Little Girl Giant, her uncle made a promise to scour the ocean floor for the shipwreck and put his brother to rest, and in doing so discovered a letter written by him to his beloved daughter. For the past 100 years he has walked across the ocean floor with the sole purpose of delivering the letter to its young owner. And now he’s set to emerge from the depths of the Mersey...
"But as they cover 23 miles, roaming the city in search of a family connection, will they find each other?"
Yeah.
Two Giant steps
Friday 20 April
Little Girl Giant – 9.30 to 12.30pm and then 4.30 to 7.30pm
Wakes up 9.30am and leaves Stanley Park via Walton Lane, onto Anfield Road, Sleepers Hill, Walton Breck Road, Oakfield Road, Breck Road, arriving at Everton Brow 12.30pm.
Following a siesta, she will leave Everton Brow at 4.30pm, turn right onto Heyworth Street, on to Islington via Low Erskine Street, Commutation Row, Lime Street, St George’s Place, Queen’s Square Bus Station, Whitechapel, Paradise Street (Liverpool ONE), Liver Street, onto the Strand, Queens Wharf and arrives at Kings Dock from 7.30pm.
View Friday 20 April - Little Girl Giant Route in a larger map
Friday Uncle – 2pm to 6.30pm
Departs from Albert Dock at 2pm, and walks along The Strand, James Street, Castle Street, Dale Street, left onto Moorfields, Tithebarn Street, Vauxhall Road, Boundary Street, Kirkdale Road, Walton Road, Salop Street, Tetlow Way, Langham Road, Walton Lane and arrives in Stanley Park from 6.30pm.
View Friday 20 April - Uncle Giant Route in a larger map
Saturday 21 April
Little Girl Giant – 9.30am to 12.30pm and then 4.30pm to 7.30pm
Wakes up at Kings Dock at 9.30am and then travels left on the Strand, up Chapel Street, Tithebarn Street, Moorfields, Dale Street, Castle Street, James Street, crosses the strand to Mann Island, arriving at the Pier Head at 12.30pm.
Following a siesta at the Pier Head, she will wake up at 4.30pm turn right onto Canada Boulevard, onto Mann Island, James Street, Castle Street, Cook Street, Victoria Street, Stanley Street, Whitechapel, Paradise Street (Liverpool ONE), Liver Street, onto the Strand, Queens Wharf, arriving at Kings Dock 7pm where she will sleep.
View Saturday 21 April - Little Girl Giant Route in a larger map
Uncle – 11.30am to 2.30pm and then 4.45pm to 7.30pm
Wakes up in Stanley Park at 11am, leaves Stanley Park via Walton Lane, onto Anfield Road, Sleepers Hill, Walton Breck Road, Oakfield Road, Breck Road, Heyworth Street, onto Islington via Low Hill and Erskine Street, Moss Street, Daulby Street, Pembroke Place, London Road, arriving at St George’s Hall at 2.30pm.
Following a siesta at St George’s Hall, he will wake up at 4.45pm and walk down Lime Street, Renshaw Street, Berry Street, Nelson Street, St James Street, Blundell Street, Queens Wharf, arriving at Kings Dock 7pm where he will sleep.
View Saturday 21 April - Uncle Giant Route in a larger map
Sunday 22 April
Little Girl Giant and Uncle – 9.30am to 2pm
Wake up at Kings Dock and leave at 9.30am, travel left on the Strand, onto Mann Island, say farewell to the Liver Building, onto Canning Dock where the show’s finale will take place from 12.15pm. The Giants will then leave Liverpool down the River Mersey.
View Sunday 22 April - Both Giants Route in a larger map
Sunday Sea Odyssey - map it
