The Sheffield City Giants were created in 1992, by the Catalan giant maker, Jordi Grau Martí (of Terrassa, Catalunya). He was commissioned by the Sheffield Festival to produce a pair of giants for the theme of the festival, which was "Life and Death." He told us, however, that it was traditionally not done to represent Death: but that he was willing to represent War and Peace - which he duly did. He brought much of the structure with him - ready-made hands and bodies, for example - but the heads were made in Sheffield over a two-week period. His method was to make a clay original on a wire-mesh frame: then to take a plaster mould off this: and, finally, to mould the head itself (in a material called cartró pedra - a kind of industrial-grade papier maché).
On 4th July 1992 the completed giants were officially presented to the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, who accepted them on behalf of the City. They were placed in the keeping of Sheffield City Morris Men, who were designated the City's official Custodians of the Giants; at this ceremony the plaster moulds were broken up with a sledgehammer - we really did break the mould when we made them! Later that month the Morris men (without the Giants, which were still required for the Festival) attended the second International Trobada of Giants, at Matadepera in Catalunya (as shown on the left). There were six hundred and forty giants(!) in this tiny town. What a top weekend. On the right can be seen the original costume designs for war and peace. War has undergone a number of changes over the years, his original costume proved too complex and has been simplified to make transportation easier. Peace finally lost her 'wedding dress' for the millennium. She no longer leaves a trail of white feathers wherever she goes.
In 1993 the geganters de Manresa - our hosts for the Matadepera visit - came to visit us in Sheffield. They didn't bring their own giants over, but they did dance ours in the Lord Mayor's Parade. We think that's Salvador under the Giantess, from how fast he's spinning her.
In 1995 the Giants went to Catalunya again, as the principal guests at the Festa Major in Manresa. With us went Sheffield City Morris, and Alan Yates, professor of Catalan at the University of Sheffield (and one of our patrons). We had a terrific week. Have a look at John Maher's account of our trip!
Here are the Giants at Selby, North Yorkshire, having it large in front of the Abbey, at a local festival held on 20th June 1998.It was a perfect day, with great weather and a very appreciative crowd.
Since then we've been based at Kelham Island Museum, where we practise once a month, on the first Sunday, at half-past ten. We're always looking for musicians (a folk background is an advantage, but not essential!), catchers, carriers and crew. You can email us if you want more information about that. Or anything else, of course!
We regularly support Kelham Island Museum by dancing at events such as their Mayfest and Christmas Fayre. The Museum has also been the venue for the Sheffield Folk Festival for the past few years and the Giants have turned out for that event.
On the municipal front we have made regular appearances in the Council's Chance to Dance and paraded through the City on the occasion of The Lord Mayor's Parade, part of the annual Children's Festival.
July 2000 saw Peace at the Littleborough Rush Cart Festival resplendent in her new dress. Designed by Sarah Eykyn, the Captain of Giants, the dress took over 25 yards of material and 200 hours to make. Two weeks later the Giants entertained the crowds at Sidmouth International Folk Festival with parades, a show on the main stage and the torchlight procession through the town as the culmination of a wonderful week.
In 2002 the Giants celebrated their 10th birthday at the Sheffield Lord Mayor's Parade followed by a party attended by gianteers past and present. The highlight of 2003 was a special appearance in Manchester at a festival organised by the Catalonian regional government along with giants, musicians and dancers from the area.
In the spring of 2004 War & Peace travelled to Riudoms in Catalunya to appear with local giants. In August the Giants appeared for the second time at the Sidmouth International Folk Festival for the 50th Anniversary celebrations.
In 2006, over the May Day weekend, the Giants were once more abroad at a huge gathering of Giants from all over the world, which took place at Steenvoorde in France's Nord Pas de Calais. This was followed by trips to the Cleckeaton Folk Festival and Wilton park, Batley.
In 2007 there was an outing to Bakewell's Day of Dance but the highlight of the year was the sight of Peace on display in the Town Hall foyer as part of the Lord Mayor's St. George's Day celebrations. After a 'Meet the Lord Mayor' in the Town hall on Saturday 21 April, the Giants joined other local dance teams in dancing around the centre of Sheffield. On St. George's Day itself most of Sheffield's traditional dance teams gathered in the Town Hall to dance in the foyer.This was followed by a reception and supper with the Lord Mayor, Councillor Jackie Drayton, who had joined in the dancing herself. The event was also attended by a number of local dignitaries.
The most prestigious event we have ever attended is to take place in August 2008. The Giants are invited to take part in the 400th Anniversary of the foundation of Québec City and will feature in La Grande Rencontre des Géants à Québec.
