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Official guide

London 2012 Festival

21 June to 9 September

Welcome

to the London 2012 Festival! When the UK won the bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we promised that this ‘once in a lifetime’ event would include a great cultural programme that could involve people nationwide. When we are asked why, we go back to the example of Ancient Greece, where the Olympic Gamesincluded artists as well as athletes. As recently as the London 1948 Games, artists were awarded medals along with the athletes. This Festival has invited artists from all over the world to create amazing events from Shetland to Cornwall, from Enniskillen to Edinburgh, from Hackney to Hadrian’s Wall – with more than 10 million FREE opportunities to take part. The Festival would not be possiblewithout our cultural and community partners throughout the UK. But most of all, it simply would not have happened without our great funding partners and sponsors. We offer our huge thanks to them for what we hope will be a fantastic Festival for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.


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Inside the guide
Have a fabulous Festival T he Director’s cut Director Ruth Mackenzie gives a taste of theFestival programme W here will you be on 21 June? Four sensational performances taking place on opening day

Seb Coe Chair, London 2012 Organising Committee

Tony Hall Chair, Cultural Olympiad Board

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The London 2012 Festival is only possible thanks to the exceptional and generous support of our funders, sponsors and partners. We are enormously grateful to the following: PremierPartners of the London 2012 Festival

12 he unforgettable T summer of 2012 Once-in-a-lifetime experiences 18 The great art escape Find something amazing happening near you 20 ree London F Cultural experiences across the city 22 rtists who change the world A Astonishing bodies of work from Hitchcock to Hirst 24 wing into action S Ring a bell to give the Games a rousing start 26Unmissable Unlimited Disabled artists take up the challenge 28 The kids are alright Performances and exhibitions for kids to enjoy 30 How to book tickets All the information you need

Principal Funders of the London 2012 Festival

Supporters of the London 2012 Festival



Art, Design & Exhibitions

32 Objects to inspire Thomas Heatherwick designs 33 Event listings

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Comedy



Outdoor & Carnival

43 Playing it for laughs Stephen Fry curates at the Criterion Theatre 44 Event listings

78 Tricks of the light Fell runners illuminate the landscape in Edinburgh 79 vent listings E

Dance
46 Power and beauty D ance inspired by extraordinary places E 47 vent listings

Poetry & Storytelling

84 A world of words The Poetry Parnassusfestival 85 Event listings



Film, Broadcast & Digital

Theatre & Performance

53 New films Four new commissions by exciting UK film-makers 54 Event listings

87 Artist of the theatre The great director Robert Wilson 87 Wine, madness and ecstasy Three classics celebrating the Greek god Dionysus 87 In the limelight Julie Walters at the National Theatre 88 Event listings 96 Allthe world’s a stage A celebration of the world’s playwright, plus event listings



Museums & Heritage

58 Magnificent feats Artefacts of Games history, including how the medals were forged 59 Event listings



Music



Daily Diary

60 London’s great gig Performances along the Thames 62 Get in on the acts Radio 1’s biggest-ever free live music event 63 Event listings 70BBC Proms 2012 How to Prom, plus full event listings

106 Plan your Festival day by day 134 The road to Rio Passing the baton 138 Winning teamwork Meet our sponsors
This page: Circa & I Fagiolini – How Like an Angel page 88 Front cover: Rachel Whiteread, LOndOn 2O12 Back cover: Tracey Emin, Birds 2012 The posters are part of the Official London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Poster...