10.04.2014

Recently I was asked to perform at the top of the Arcelor Mittal Orbit tower in London’s Olympic Park. If you’re unsure what that is, it’s the red twisted steel structure that looks like a UFO has landed on top of a buckled roller coaster.

Having been unsuccessful at getting tickets for any event at the 2012 Olympics (nope, not bitter at all!), I had previously only seen the Olympic park from the car when driving to Westfield Shopping Centre.

Every Olympic venue seemed to be changing- the aquatics centre lost it’s steep wings that housed the seating and the stadium itself lost it’s top tier ready for his new job as West Ham’s football ground, but the Orbit stood tall waiting for people to visit.

On April 3rd 2014 the Orbit was to Launch, two days ahead of it’s opening to the public, for an invited group of people who have all played a part in it’s creation and development. There would be live entertainment throughout the night from myself, strolling about performing close-up magic to the guests as they sipped Champagne and watched the Sunset across the capital from inside, and outside of the 360° observation deck, and from Aircraft Circus whose performance was kept secret from everyone until it began!

It was a well kept secret and suddenly as the lights were dipped, the music was turned up and Claire O’Neill from Aircraft Circus performed an incredible acrobatic routine on a hoop, suspended 80 metres above the ground in the orbit’s central void… complete with confetti! It was quite the spectacle!

Designed by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond, It’s an incredible structure; it has 3 structures that twist together to form the overall shape. Inside one of these is a large rust coloured steel cone that weighs in at 84 tonnes! The Orbit is as impressive as it is odd and at 376 feet tall, it is now the UK’s tallest sculpture, dwarfing the Big Ben clock tower by 66 feet, standing twice as high as Nelson’s column and if they were next to each other (they’re not… obviously… but if they were…) the Orbit would tower 72 feet above The Statue Of Liberty in New York!

The views therefore are, as I’m sure you can imagine, breathtaking. Unfortunately the launch night was during the week that London was bogged down with thick smog so the distance to which you could see was limited, however it was still incredible. On a clear day, you can see at least 20 miles into the distance.

There are 2 mirrors inside on one of the observation decks that are not made of glass, they are steel that has been polished within an inch of it’s life… As the clumsiest person you will ever know, I didn’t want to get too close… especially after being told they are worth £1,000,000 each!

What’s so special about the mirrors though? It’s too difficult to describe how awesome these mirrors are. From some angles, it turns a reflection upside-down. From a different angle it makes people seem twice as big as they are! It really warps reality and is just fascinating to see. It was a great night performing inside the UK’s largest sculpture, for the very people who made it all a reality, whilst the sun set over Ol’ London Tahn.