‘Man Engine’ comes to Yorkshire

‘Man Engine’ comes to Yorkshire

“It was an incredibly positive experience working with Capital B Media. They managed to get strong national TV coverage with an audience of millions and provided extensive regional TV, radio and print coverage that enabled us to sell out our events.”
Dominic Somers, Sector Specialist Arts, WE Great Place

  • the brief

    In June 2018 WE Great Place brought Britain’s largest mechanical puppet to Yorkshire.

    Man Engine, a 36ft (11m) tall miner powered by Volvo, visited Barnsley and Rotherham as part of its 2018 Resurrection Tour. It was the first time it had travelled to the north of England.

    Two spectacular events were planned at Elsecar Heritage Centre and Wentworth Woodhouse on the 23rd and 24th June 2018 to celebrate the heritage of both venues.

    WE Great Place commissioned Capital B Media to stage a media launch for Man Engine’s Yorkshire debut and to drive publicity in the run-up to the event.

  • the action

    Our media strategy focused on a carefully-crafted press release, with accompanying photographs and video footage of Man Engine in action.

    We used our extensive media contacts to pitch the story to national, regional and local media with the aim of gaining TV, radio and print coverage.

    We liaised with the media to set up interviews. This involved careful planning with the WE Great Place team, including overcoming some logistical challenges as the giant puppet was travelling up from the south.

    We also created an internal briefing document for WE Great Place and their partners at Barnsley and Rotherham Councils to ensure interviewees were briefed and ready to go.

  • the outcome

    Man Engine received national coverage on BBC Breakfast on the Saturday morning before the ‘Afterdarker’ street party event at Elsecar Heritage Centre.

    The following day BBC Look North filmed at Wentworth Woodhouse to capture the ‘Afternooner’ event. A spokesperson from WE Great Place also appeared on BBC Radio Sheffield.

    In the run-up to the event the story was featured in the Yorkshire Post, Rotherham Advertiser and Barnsley Chronicle.

    The story received online coverage on BBC News Online, CBBC Newsround, Sheffield Star, Rotherham Advertiser and Yorkshire Times.

    The spectacle drew crowds from far and wide to both venues over the weekend, with over 5,000 visitors.

     

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