Plymouth theatre's bronze sculpture will be 'UK's largest' Published duration 26 November 2018

image copyright Theatre Royal image caption This is what Messenger will look like when the 7m (23ft) high sculpture is installed

A piece of art inspired by an actor's on-stage pose will be the UK's largest cast bronze sculpture when it goes on display next year.

The 7m (23ft) sculpture, called Messenger, will be installed outside the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Sculptor Joseph Hillier was inspired to create it by an actor rehearsing Shakespeare's Othello at the theatre.

He said its name refers to the "pivotal" role of a performer to "breathe life into words".

The sculpture, commissioned by the theatre, had a working title of Bianca after the character whose "split-second pose" is the basis for the piece.

"This work offers a young, powerful woman, a potent force about to transform the world by her actions," Mr Hillier said.

"The actor carries the voice of her playwright or director - she carried a message.

"It's a metaphor for what great theatre does," he added.

image copyright PA image caption The sculpture is too large to be put together inside the foundry in Wales

image copyright Theatre Royal image caption More than 200 panels are currently being welded together by "master craftsmen and women" in Wales

More than 200 bronze panels are being welded together at the Castle Fine Art Foundry in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys, using the technique of lost wax casting.

The sculpture will weigh nine and a half tonnes and is too large to be put together inside the foundry.

image copyright PA image caption About 30 craftspeople are involved in the sculpture's creation

image copyright Google image caption Messenger will be installed outside the Theatre Royal in Plymouth

Cornish sculptor Mr Hillier said he was "taken aback" when he first saw the completed leg section.

"It's a really big piece - if I lay on the floor, I'm the size of one of the feet," he said.

It is set to be unveiled at the Theatre Royal in spring next year as part of its £7.5m regeneration project.

Visitors will be able to walk under Messenger's body "into the theatre, like an archway".

Making Messenger

image copyright PA image caption Sculptor Joseph Hillier used the technique of lost wax casting to create the piece

The Theatre Royal said it is "by far" the UK's largest bronze sculpture by volume, at 25.6 cubic metres

It was created using 3D scans taken from the actor

It is 7m (23ft) high, 8.7m (29ft) wide and 5,5m (18ft) deep

It will be made of more than 200 individual bronze panels

Each panel weighs about 35kg (77lbs)

In total, 30 craftspeople have worked on the construction