The Solo
Years - Paul McCartney
Open to the
Public - Saturday 26 July 2003
LIPA
Students and The Beatles Story "Come Together" and Sir Paul McCartney's vision comes
full circle
Students from LIPA
- Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts have created an entirely new
area due to open to the public at The Beatles Story on Saturday 26
July. The Solo Years - Paul McCartney, has been designed by Morgan
Large, a graduation student, with lighting by Richard Reardon and Sarah
Kamender - both on theTheatre and Performance Technologycourse
- and a video by Elisabeth Nord (ex LIPA student).
In response to the demand from the fans, The Beatles Story is to extend the
period covered by the exhibition from purely The Beatles as a group to include
their individual careers after the break-up hence The Solo
Years. This next stage of the exhibition's development, as well as
reflecting on Paulıs continuing musical success, focuses on his inspirational
achievement in building the future through his support of LIPA.
In looking at Paulıs tremendous solo achievements the exhibition includes many
references to his songs and albums, though the main focus highlights Paul's
commitment to the future of the performing arts by enabling thousands of
students to be given a flying start at LIPA.
Jerry Goldman, Director of The Beatles Story, said "I was recently made
very aware, in addition to everything that Paul has achieved in his career, of
his influence on the new generation. It was during the LIPA prize-giving
ceremony that it was really brought home to me, and I felt that we should
illustrate this element of his work for a wider audience - and now we have the
result of this through collaboration with the students."
Morgan Large, a final year LIPA student of Theatre andPerformance
Design, has created this remarkable setting for the exhibition. Visitors
feel as if they are flying over a floor map of Paul's life, on which important
buildings are depicted while subtle lighting effects enhance their
theatricality. Morgan says: "I am thrilled that my design has been
accepted for this exhibition. To be a student at the Institute which Sir
Paul McCartney is linked to, and then to create a design for The Beatles Story
it's a dream come true! I feel very fortunate and I can't wait for the
opening".
The buildings represented include Forthlin Road (Paulıs family home),
the skyline of Liverpool, the Mull of Kintyre, London Bridge
and Liverpool Cathedral (where Paul's Liverpool Oratorio was first
performed). The large floor map, based on one of Paul's paintings, refers
to his songs and albums: e.g. Red Rose Speedway, Standing Stone and Give
my regards to Broad Street.
The Liverpool skyline will fade as dusk falls and lights appear in the
buildings.
A performance within the LIPA structure begins; the front doors are open to
reveal the Paul McCartney Auditorium and, with one video performance every four
minutes, Paul appears on stage to tell the audience of his involvement with LIPA
and what it means to him - it was, in fact, his old school.
Also involved in the project are other LIPA students lighting designers Richard
Reardon and Sarah Kamender. The video was compiled by an ex-LIPA student
Elisabeth Nord - Director/Producer Grieg Nord Productions.
In the prospectus Paul talks about his involvement with the Institute: "I
and others in the industry want to be involved with a place which opens peopleıs
eyes and ears, and where we can pass on the skills and experiences that have
contributed to our success lessons which have had to be learnt the hard way.
I have always seen LIPA as being that place. Itıs great that my old school
is now back in use helping the next generations. Itıs exciting that once
again my home town will be the worldıs target for tomorrowıs talent."
