Melbourne’s Regent Theatre unleashed a creature of epic proportions yesterday (May 27) – a one-tonne silverback gorilla, to be precise – to promote its latest musical offering.
The six-metre-tall gorilla, which was constructed using and incorporates NASA-like technology, is not only a marketing stunt. He will also be the star of the Regent’s latest production – King Kong the Musical.
If you’ve ever wanted to come to our beautiful city, now is definitely the time to get your Melbourne car rental organised and see a world first!
“King Kong is the mastermind of Melbourne-based Global Creatures – the team behind the Walking with Dinosaurs and How to Train Your Dragon spectaculars,” said Louise Asher, minister for tourism and major events, in a May 27 statement.
Approximately three off-stage controllers and ten on-stage puppeteers will be used to bring Kong eerily to life.
The big reveal even garnered attention from UK newspaper The Guardian, which reported that “this gigantic marionette sends a shiver down your spine”.
King Kong the Musical will showcase local talent on an international scale. A total of 50 actors, singers, dancers and circus performers have been enlisted from such prestigious institutions as the Victorian College of the Arts and the National Institute of Circus Arts.
Ms Asher revealed that the size of this production – and, indeed, its star – is “unprecedented” for not only Melbourne, but Australia as a whole.
“The world premiere is expected to attract around 50,000 national and international visitors keen to experience King Kong fever,” she revealed.
The public can enjoy this spectacular show from June 15.
We encourage you to book your tickets – and your car rental in the Melbourne airport while you’re at it – so you can see for yourself why Melbourne is regarded as “Australia’s cultural hub”.