Giants will walk the streets of Perth next year as part of the national Anzac Centenary commemorations.
An 11-metre tall Deep Sea Diver and a six-metre tall Little Girl - will be used to tell the true story of the little girl in Albany’s Breaksea Lighthouse who was the last human contact for many young troops departing for Gallipoli in 1914.
The Giants will be brought to Perth by the French street theatre company, Royal de Luxe as part of the Perth International Arts Festival.
Festival organisers initially struggled to attract enough funding to secure the puppets but have since been able to secure a new donor.
It is expected to cost more than $5 million to bring them to WA.
Premier Colin Barnett said some may not know the significant role that Fay Howe - the little girl in the Albany lighthouse, played for the troops moored off Albany’s coast.
“She signalled to the departing fleet in Morse Code, becoming the last human contact the young soldiers would ever have with Australia. Weeks later, postcards began arriving from the Middle East addressed to ‘The little girl on Breaksea Island’, from the men who had hung on to that final memory of home," he said.
“Hopefully now this story will forever be remembered as The Giants bring this tale to life.
“Royal de Luxe has developed a very special performance, unique to WA, which will reflect the true Anzac spirit, a story of reunion and community. It will have wide appeal for people of all generations and backgrounds.
“The Giants will bring this extraordinary tale to life in the most inspiring and moving way and I commend the Perth International Arts Festival for their vision in developing this program.”
From February 13 to 15 next year, the giant Deep Sea Diver and Little Girl will roam the streets around Langley Park and the city, portraying an uncle and niece reunited 100 years after the landing at Gallipoli.
The Giants performances have been enjoyed by millions of people around the world, drawing enormous crowds at each event in cities such as Berlin, London, Santiago, Antwerp and Liverpool.
The state government has provided $2 million in funding towards the project and other funding has come from the corporate sector.
