Durham Brass Festival 2007

Durham Brass Festival 2007

Durham International Brass Festival Fireworks 2007

Firework displays are like life – the more you put in, the more you get out. And, there’s always a way of making it better. Oh yes, it’s harder work, but it really is worth it. Rooftop firework displays definitely fall into the “hard work but rewarding” category.

Alchemy’s firework display for the finalé of Durham’s 2007 International Brass Festival sums up our commitment to doing whatever it takes to put as much as possible into an event. Despite a parkland location at Aykely Heads, with options for a ground-based firing site, we knew straight away that the most effective use of the budget and the most spectacular results would be achieved by launching the firework display from the rooftop of Durham County Hall. Not only that, but under the direction of Frank Wilson from Event International, we animated County Hall with lighting, making it a striking visual foreground for the fireworks on the rooftops, and the aerial fireworks launched from the parkland behind to frame the whole tableau.

As was so often the case during the 2007 summer season, the weather was not great. In fact it was awful. Heavy rain. All day. Again, the waterproofing of the fireworks both in preparation at Alchemy’s lab, and again on site, meant that we were able to carry on and fire even though the brass concert itself was unable to carry on outside, and had to be relocated inside Durham County Hall on the evening itself. Nonetheless, the weather cleared later in the evening, and the audience – and performers – ventured back outside to close the festival in front of the spectacular backdrop of an illuminated County Hall and a fantastic rooftop firework display.

Download this Alchemy Fireworks Case Study as a PDF

Alchemy Fireworks useful links: Event International