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Danny Boyle to direct London 2012 opening ceremony

Academy Award winner and British filmmaker Danny Boyle has been appointed  to direct the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Academy Award winner and British filmmaker Danny Boyle has been appointed  to direct the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Boyle will work with 4 specially selected British executive producers who will work across all 4 opening and closing ceremonies:

  • Stephen Daldry, theatre and film director, producer, and three-time Academy Award nominated director; his films include Billy Elliott (which he later brought to the West End stage), The Hours and The Reader.
  • Mark Fisher, who creates spectacular live entertainment such as concerts for Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and U2; he was also involved in the design of the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
  • Hamish Hamilton, a British TV producer, music video and award show director, who directed the 82nd Academy Awards Ceremony. 
  • Catherine Ugwu, Creative Director, producer of ceremonies, shows and festivals; she has been involved in the delivery of ceremonies at the Vancouver Winter Olympics and the Manchester Commonwealth Games.

They will begin work immediately, developing creative content for the Ceremonies, that will demonstrate the UK’s creative talent to the world. Up to one billion people watched the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games, and we can expect a similar level of interest in our Olympic opening ceremony on 27 July 2012. 

An Artistic Director for the Olympic Closing Ceremony and one for the Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be appointed later this year.

Published 22 June 2010