AFTER recent news of the win of the ‘best arts project’ in the prestigious National Lottery Awards, it has today been announced that the largest mechanical puppet ever constructed in Britain will rise again next Easter in a sparkling ‘Resurrection Tour.’

The Man Engine, unveiled in Tavistock last summer, steamed the length of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site, unearthing a deep lode of passion and pride. Now, the colossal mechanical miner is set for his Resurrection Tour across Cornwall and Devon, before he drives further, into Somerset, South Wales and up to the North of England.

The creator of the Man Engine, Will Coleman of Golden Tree Productions, said: ’Our big boy is setting off in the footsteps of the Cousin Jacks but he needs to say a proper farewell to Cornwall, and our friends just over the Tamar in Tavistock, before he goes onto Somerset on the first UK leg of the epic global tour that we hope one day to achieve.’

The Man Engine crawls at 4m high and ‘transforms’ to stand at 11.2m high, powered by Volvo’s brand new L220H wheeled-loader.  Five mining related venues across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset will each host two separate events; a daytime family-friendly fun day and an ‘after dark’ edgy extravaganza.

On Saturday March 31, 2018, the Man Engine will re-appear where he was last seen: at Geevor Tin Mine in the ultimate West. Then he heads east; on Easter Sunday, April 1, he will be at Heartlands. On Easter Monday (April 2) he will visit Cornwall’s ancient Stannary capital, Lostwithiel then he crosses the Tamar to Tavistock on Tuesday, April 3.

He will then travel to the old coal-mining town of Radstock in Somerset before heading onwards to South Wales and then onto Ironbridge in Shropshire, Elsecar in Yorkshire, and to the foremost mining and quarrying equipment show at Hillhead Quarry, near Buxton in Derbyshire.

Will Coleman explained the difference between the new daytime and night-time events which will take place at each of the Cornish, Devon and Somerset venues saying: ’Our ‘Afternooner’ will give families and big kids the chance to really get to know their favourite giant miner: there will be an industrial-scale feast of fun and frolics. The ‘Afterdarker’ promises an edgier explosive experience including white-hot pyrotechnics - sparks will fly! Suffice to say, we are cranking up the experience that held everyone spellbound last year.” 

Will also announced an affordable earlybird ticket scheme for the Cornwall, Devon and Somerset events saying: ’Last year 150,000 residents and visitors from across Cornwall and West Devon, managed to see the Man Engine. It all went pretty bonkers and, due to the colossal demand and excitement, we had to encourage people not to come to certain events that we were expecting to be really busy and some people even got turned away!’

Will continued: ’So this year, we want to make sure that everyone who is keen to see the Man Engine can definitely know that they will get to see him at a certain location, at a certain time. So, we are going to sell 3,000 super cheap (£5 per person) tickets for each event,   starting from now! 

’We really hope people will want to come out and support The Man Engine again.’

The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site also announced a new sponsorship for a Cornish schools educational programme, 16+, that will be run in collaboration with Golden Tree Productions and the Man Engine Resurrection Tour supported by Cornwall Council.  The new project will involve participating teams of five students or apprentices being invited to a specially hosted STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) workshops with the Man Engine design and build team at one of four Cornish Mining World Heritage sites (Geevor Tin Mine, Heartlands, Wheal Martyn, Wheal Annamaria).

These workshops will illuminate a little of Cornwall’s inspiring history of technological invention and innovation. Teams will also be invited to one of the Man Engine Resurrection events to compete in public and to discover the most efficient, innovative and entertaining inventions. 

Mayor of West Devon Cllr Jeffrey Moody said: ’It means a great deal to West Devon and to Tavistock that The Man Engine will be returning next year. West Devon and Tavistock is the gateway to the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and when he came to Tavistock last year, it generated so much interest. It was brilliant for the local economy, brilliant for tourism and for business. Once people know that he is coming back, I am confident that we’ll have even more people come into the town – I am really looking forward to it.’

Tavistock Cllr Mandy Ewings said: ’I’m sure I speak on behalf of the people of Tavistock when I say that I cannot wait for the Man Engine to return next year. I can only describe it as truly wonderful. I was mesmerised by the Man Engine when I saw him last year, and know that a lot of people were. It is so inspirational for kids and people of all ages.’

Nick Allen, CEO of SMT GB, distributer of Volvo Construction Equipment in Great Britain said: ’We are really pleased to be supporting the Man Engine once again for his resurrection tour in 2018 by providing the wheeled loader that powers this magnificent feat of engineering. We’ve been proud to support this project since the beginning when Volvo powered the Man Engine’s first steps back in July 2016 and we can’t wait to see him back in action next year.’

Go to manenginetickets.com for more information. The cheap tickets will be available for five weeks only or until 3,000 tickets have sold for each event. The ticket price will then increase up to £10/£12/£15 until the events themselves next year.