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Fireworks 2025

AT86 said:
It seems Towers St, and potentially other fan sites, have removed social posts surrounding the AI theme for this years fireworks - the comments on these posts seemed to be overwhelmingly negative.

It also appears all mention of the storyline/theme have been removed from the FAQ section of the website where it was previously listed.
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I would be curious to get the team's take on this.
 
AT86 said:
It seems Towers St, and potentially other fan sites, have removed social posts surrounding the AI theme for this years fireworks - the comments on these posts seemed to be overwhelmingly negative.

It also appears all mention of the storyline/theme have been removed from the FAQ section of the website where it was previously listed.
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Surely if they thought the AI theme was controversial, it would have already been brought up when the idea was being conceptualised. So many people would have been involved in the process (including Marketing, one of the industries most affected) as well as the fact that they’ve used an AI theme before with Daz Games.

We all see the flack that they get on social media in general, I’m sceptical that they’ve pulled the AI theme due to a relatively minor online controversy, because most visitors in the day won’t actually care. They want the fireworks to go boom.
 
I doubt the theme would be changed at this stage. But if they fear it may impact bookings, pulling it from the website to avoid that is a possibility.
 
It's worth noting that the quality of the Phalanx Expo shows from last year were likely aided by the fact that there were only two nights, meaning more budget could be allocated to each night. Not to say that there wouldn't be more budget for three nights overall, but there is simply no way they're spending 50% more than last year for the extra day!
 
Alastair said:
It's worth noting that the quality of the Phalanx Expo shows from last year were likely aided by the fact that there were only two nights, meaning more budget could be allocated to each night. Not to say that there wouldn't be more budget for three nights overall, but there is simply no way they're spending 50% more than last year for the extra day!
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As others have said, it was 3 days last year.

I would say the extra quality was because they may have been given a bigger budget because it was all about Nemesis's return.
 
MattL27 said:
These fireworks are created by the same team as last year
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Would they not have been outsourced to RWS Global, as the rest of the park’s entertainments operations have been?

Like others, I’d be surprised if the AI theme being controversial was the reason for references to this being pulled. Maybe it’s just the space I work in desensitising me to generative AI somewhat, but I can’t imagine that the mere mention of AI would be producing backlash strong enough for Alton to do a last-minute about turn on the theme of a Fireworks show that’s likely been planned for months, and the backlash seems to have been quite contained to a small subset of enthusiast circles. To be honest, I’m surprised that the theme has received the criticism it has myself.
 
Matt N said:
Would they not have been outsourced to RWS Global, as the rest of the park’s entertainments operations have been?

Like others, I’d be surprised if the AI theme being controversial was the reason for references to this being pulled. Maybe it’s just the space I work in desensitising me to generative AI somewhat, but I can’t imagine that the mere mention of AI would be producing backlash strong enough for Alton to do a last-minute about turn on the theme of a Fireworks show that’s likely been planned for months, and the backlash seems to have been quite contained to a small subset of enthusiast circles. To be honest, I’m surprised that the theme has received the criticism it has myself.
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The actual display is designed, produced and run by Jubilee Fireworks.

RWS Global provide entertainment services, as directed by the park, and will have no doubt had some hand in some elements of the show.

As with many things in the performing arts industry, it'll be a collaboration between different parties with complimentary areas of expertise.
 
Where on the website have they removed the AI theme from? It’s still there in the same places I found it.
 
Steve74 said:
As others have said, it was 3 days last year.

I would say the extra quality was because they may have been given a bigger budget because it was all about Nemesis's return.
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I don't know what's happened to my brain to have convinced myself it was only 2 nights. I looked back and I did indeed go to the Friday myself 😂

GooseOnTheLoose said:
The actual display is designed, produced and run by Jubilee Fireworks.

RWS Global provide entertainment services, as directed by the park, and will have no doubt had some hand in some elements of the show.

As with many things in the performing arts industry, it'll be a collaboration between different parties with complimentary areas of expertise.
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Typically the display concept/narrative is done by Towers themselves - that is then handed over to Jubilee for the pyro elements, BPM SFX for lasers and SFX (occasionally Jubilee provide SFX gear like CO2 also) and the lighting is designed by an independent contractor and the gear hired in accordingly. Any ents element (as you say) will be RWS this year if anything.
 
I would guess it depends on how alton are using RWS, as far as I can tell RWS can do a variety of functions, from design to lighting and casting

so it may be that RWS is designing the shows, writing the scripts, getting the cast, etc or they are essentially just casting services with the same people design the shows and then asking RWS to hire actors.

Both could make sence to me as I can't imagine it was cheap or easy to be able to hire actors this far from a population center and thus patnering with RWS who have a list of actors already could save costs, they also could save costs of the design team or some mix
 
While most things on X that are written as being the truth should be taken with a pinch of salt, this is from the guy that founded and owns Bravenewbeast a video production company that has done a lot of work for Towers (did most of the filming for the Nemesis Reborn marketing and produced the very latest Scarefest video/advert), so hopefully this may put a few people's minds at rest a little:


From: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YjhdP2x6LjtgSAw8XYyFC8wMWHTn1fTL/view?usp=drive_link



From: https://x.com/ParkSpill/status/1976703696101654856
 
Steve74 said:
While most things on X that are written as being the truth should be taken with a pinch of salt, this is from the guy that founded and owns Bravenewbeast a video production company that has done a lot of work for Towers (did most of the filming for the Nemesis Reborn marketing and produced the very latest Scarefest video/advert), so hopefully this may put a few people's minds at rest a little:


From: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YjhdP2x6LjtgSAw8XYyFC8wMWHTn1fTL/view?usp=drive_link



From: https://x.com/ParkSpill/status/1976703696101654856
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Sorry, did people actually believe that Alton Towers commissioned an entire show created by AI? Goose above.

I appreciate that both Alton Towers and Merlin will quite happily jump on a trend, or try to implement it as quickly as possible, but this is a stretch even for them.

It also wouldn't be a world's first for them, I believe that accolade was probably granted to the Willy's Chocolate Experience in Glasgow, so why bother?
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
Sorry, did people actually believe that Alton Towers commissioned an entire show created by AI? Goose above.

I appreciate that both Alton Towers and Merlin will quite happily jump on a trend, or try to implement it as quickly as possible, but this is a stretch even for them.

It also wouldn't be a world's first for them, I believe that accolade was probably granted to the Willy's Chocolate Experience in Glasgow, so why bother?
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As I put in my long post the other day, I think some interpreted the line about the show changing based on people's emotions as the show being AI driven/generated. And no doubt some just saw the letters "AI" in the same sentence as "Alton Towers" and jumped on the trendy bandwagon of having a go at Towers for using AI.
 
s_g_k said:
The official wording is:

Join Alton Towers Resort for a totally terrific end-of-season sensational celebration as the UK’s most immersive fireworks spectacular returns with an exhilarating new story for 2025 — Alton Intelligence, a breathtaking tale where powerful emotions are transformed into pyrotechnic wonder. Step into a world where light, music, and storytelling collide in a show like no other.
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This was the wording, I don't think it is too far to predict that it is about AI as how it is worded makes it seem as though the name of the story is alton intelligence
"... an exhilarating new story for 2025 - alton intelligence...'
 
For those interested…

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Some info about the fireworks theme released. Nothing new I don’t think but more official than the previous release in the FAQs of the website I guess.

It’s all personal opinion of course but to me this theme is just a bit naff. For those of us old enough to remember it’s giving me Webmaster on Ice VIBES, in terms of the theme chosen.

Personally I prefer fantasy, escapism, other-worldly from a Towers firework show, AI just feels very corporate and work like.


From: https://www.instagram.com/p/DP0rvxqCkgs/?igsh=YWxjMXRkbW12aTdt
 
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