So I discovered I'm a bit rubbish at keeping this blog up to date...
Anyway though I'd make a post after the last crazy few months. Basically on Friday I was one of 10,000 volunteer performers who appeared in front of billions of people (though maybe only the back of my head!) in the Olympic Opening Ceremony!
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| A picture of my segment in which the back of my head can be identified though you might have to trust me on that one! |
The experience began back in November when I had my first audition followed by the recall during which we had to do a strange set of dance/acting combination routines. Once I found out I had been selected for a role it was time to attend my first rehearsal! I found out that I would be a "Working Men and Women" in a spectacular sequence reinacting the industrial revolution by removing "England's Green and Pleasant Land".
We quickly progressed to the 1:1 rehearsal venue out in Dagenham East (and I thought it would be easy to get over to East London from Fulham!! HAHAHA!!). This was basically a massive carpark the same size as the field of play. Here we got allocated into Counties (Go County Jersey) then pieces and jobs (eventually). It turns out my star position was being one of 16 people manning a rachet that pulled the currently imaginary chimnies out of the ground. There was also a lot of hanging around.
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| A picture of us hanging around in Dagenham. These are the props that were so nothing like the real pieces! |
We got to see the stadium for the 1st time about 1 month before the actual show. The stadium is amazing and the set was even more amazing! We continued rehearsing; perfecting the sequence, adding choreography and final flourishes to make it spectacular.
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| A picture of some of us chilling in front of the Olympic Stadium! |
I just need to add that it was raining about 90% of rehearsal time up to this point. It wouldn't be the London Olympics without it though!
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| A picture of us rehearsing at the stadium courtesy of The Sunday Times (I am on this one identifiable by a bright pink rain coat!) |
About 10 days before show day we get moved out to our holding venue Eton Manor which was literally a half hour walk away from the stadium. Anyway it had the changing tents and a nice large lawn which we could all sit on and enjoy ourselves on whilst being their in total for about 7 hours a day for a 20min section!
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| Eton Manor on the very left - Stadium on the very right = very long walk |
Fortunatly the persistant rain cleared away for the last week of dress rehearsals during which games makers and friends and family of the cast were invited and then it was show night...
The atmosphere in that staidum was just incredible, the applause just phenonmanl, and the whole thing so emotional. I didn't want it to end. And the newspaper reaction the next day was pretty cool as well!
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| Cover of The Independent the next day. I am also in this one though you really really do have to trust me here because I can't even find myself though I know I'm here because I was standing behind the Jarrow Crusade sign on that side of the rings! |
The last few months doing this have just been so incredible and I am so proud to have been part of something so special. :D
