Sheaf Square Opening Celebrations December 21, 2006

A spectacular and explosive event to celebrate the public opening of Sheaf Square - the new public space outside Sheffield Station - will take place on Thursday 21 December 2006. The fun, family event will include street theatre, music, a dramatic firework display and the first chance to see the finished Sheaf Square with the lighting on and water features running.

From 5.30pm there will be an entertaining programme of street theatre inside the station, in the new Sheaf Square and on Howard Street. These include comedy Railway Porters; living gargoyles; seasonal stiltwalkers; colourful light jugglers; and festive street theatre. (There

The Jacks Of Frost are two frosted, glam-dancing elves who interact and melt with the crowd. Bread and Butter Theatre Company will present the amazing Carol-Singing Christmas Crackers. These colourful, festive characters tell the obligatory dodgy cracker-jokes and will entertain the whole family with their "Name the Tune and We'll Sing It" Christmas Special. Curios Cargo Railway Porters are two mad-cap men in search of the railway station. This duo from a silent movie can't resist exploring their cargo and weird and wonderful tales unfold. Expect the unexpected! Lightfantastic will provide a colourful and luminous display of juggling with light that is certain to brighten up even the dullest winter's evening.

The official opening ceremony will begin with a welcome from the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Cllr Jackie Drayton at 6.40pm. This will be followed by speeches from Sir Robert Kerslake, Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council, Garry Raven, Managing Director, Midland Mainline and Cllr Jan Wilson, Leader of Sheffield City Council. Then the lights and elegant new water features will be switched on.

The event will climax with a spectacular firework display above Sheaf Square. The plunger to launch the display will be pushed by Everett Ebanks, one of the longest serving member of staff at Sheffield Station.