Part of the Liverpool 08 events, ‘The Long Walk’ is based on the 2004 tragedy in which 23 illegal Chinese immigrants lost their lives cockle-picking in Morecambe Bay.

The international project marks the third anniversary of the disaster, involving the More Music Ensemble, Community Choir and Orchestra; British Chinese musicians Guo Yue, Semay Wu, Seaming To and Dino Li; and hundreds of people from northwest England and China.

“This is the story of a journey,” says Lemn Sissay. “A story of a journey of some people I don’t know. A story of a journey of the Chinese people who came to Morecambe Bay. And it’s a story that may open up our own stories. Their journey is a metaphor for all of us.”

The new commission will travel between musical styles from choral to drum and bass, set against a dramatic backdrop of evocative projected images by Dinu Li, taking the audience by coach between secret destinations.

After visiting the four locations across the city, the second act will return to The Great Hall, Cornerstone, to join the performance continued by more than 100 musicians and vocalists.

Pete Moser visited China in 2006 to develop connections for the production.

“The Long Walk is an opportunity to make vibrant new music that has a context in reality, “ said Artistic Director of More Music, Pete Moser. “When people come together to sing and play something they have created, can relate to and understand, you hear a real passion in the performance.”

“The new work has also given me, as a musician and composer, a unique chance to play with some brilliant Chinese musicians and gain a new understanding of Chinese culture and philosophy.”

Organisation More Music has spent four months working with different local groups and communities in Liverpool for The Long Walk, including the RLPO’s Music for Life educational strand, Liverpool Community College, Nugent Education, Beatlife, Frakture, Sense of Sound and Hope University Music Department.