Wallace and Gromit in Space to launch at Spaceport on Merseyside

19th March 2010

Wallace & Gromit are coming to Spaceport for a world premiere – an exclusive exhibition entitled “Wallace and Gromit in Space”.

It opens on Thursday March 25 and will feature a collection of wacky inventions alongside fascinating factual information about the Moon, our Solar System and the history of Space exploration.

Wallace & Gromit in Space has been designed specifically for Spaceport and includes frequent references to the pair’s first short film ‘A Grand Day Out’ which sees Wallace & Gromit journey to the Moon in a homemade rocket in search of cheese.

Nick Park, creator of Wallace & Gromit, says he is excited to see his creations re-visit the Moon: “It’s been 20 years since we first sent Wallace & Gromit into Space and it’s great to see them back out there again, delving more deeply into the mysteries of the universe.” he said.

“Hopefully their efforts will help educate others about some of the amazing facts surrounding Space exploration and recent advances in technology.”

Neil Scales, chief executive of Merseytravel, which owns Spaceport as part of the Mersey Ferries operation, said: ”This is a tremendous coup for us and a unique first for Merseyside.”

“The Mersey Ferries are already the most popular paid-for tourism attraction in the region. Spaceport and our other attractions, including The U-Boat Story, are helping us maintain that position. This new exhibition will help boost our tourism business even further.”

Visitors to Wallace and Gromit in Space will be see the famous orange rocket from the film as well as Wallace’s  Moon Base Exploration Station, where the inventor harvests cheese, collects space junk, keeps an eye on the planets and checks for lunar life. Sets from the Wallace & Gromit films will also be on display.

The exhibition will take visitors on a journey through the history of man’s fascination with the Moon, delving into the earliest attempts to communicate with life on other planets to the first lunar landing in 1969 and culminating with Wallace and Gromit’s visit in 1989.

Information on advances in robotic technology will sit alongside some of Wallace’s own inventions for exploring the surface of the moon, and gathering cheese of course.

Spaceport is housed in a listed building alongside the Seacombe Mersey Ferries Terminal .

Merseytravel contributes more than £34 million a year to the region’s tourism economy through the Mersey Ferries and its associated attractions. It also supports the equivalent of 742 full-time jobs.

The Ferries, together with The Beatles Story, Spaceport and the U-Boat Story attracted 343,000 tourists last year with 16 per cent visiting from overseas.

Wallace and Gromit in Space opens to the public on 25th March 2010

Opening times: 10.30 with last admission at 16.30 closing at 18.00 (closed Mondays except during public and school holiday periods check website for further details)

 Admission: Adult £8.00, Child (3-15 years) £4.50 and a Family ticket £20.00 (this consists of two adults and three children)