La Princesse

The spider was showcased in Liverpool, England, as part of the 2008 European Capital of Culture celebrations, travelling around the city between 3–7 September.

[2] Arts reviewer Lyn Gardner wrote in The Guardian "There were times when it seemed to be leading the entire population of the city on a merry dance, like some kind of arachnid pied piper.

[6] The spider was built in Nantes in France, using steel and poplar wood and complex hydraulics, and took an entire year to construct.

[10] The performance artists of La Machine created a story about the spider with one member of the company playing scientist Joseph Browning who gave interviews to the press.

[11] On Wednesday 3 September the spider appeared for the first time on the side of Concourse House, a derelict tower block in Lime Street, which had been designed by architect Richard Seifert and was scheduled for demolition.

Local media reported that the scene was more representative of a victory parade of a football team or the crowds attracted by the Beatles to the city centre in their heyday.

The next chapter of the story continued the same day and involved the city ‘fighting back’ and attempting to halt the path of the invading spider.

Upon reaching Lime Street the spider was met by huge fans, which blew air to attempt to hold it back.

[13] The cost of the project has been defended by Phil Redmond, who is responsible for the performance as Liverpool Culture Company's artistic director.

"[14] However, the project has come in for criticism in some quarters: the UK mental health charity Anxiety has highlighted the potentially traumatic effect of the production upon those suffering with arachnophobia.

"[15] The vast majority of the public response was positive, however, with most of the belief that "The Liverpool Princesse's" performance was the highlight of the city's Capital of Culture 2008 celebrations.

Although the event was free to the public, there has been a shortfall of between £300,000 and £400,000 in funding for the project, exacerbated by the falling exchange rate with the Euro, the currency in which the French participants are paid.