Hollywood director in search of Hackney kids

pic: Hackney_DannyBoyle_Press_photosubbed

Oscar winning filmmaker Danny Boyle is looking for school children across Hackney to perform at the Olympics opening ceremony.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) announced last Friday that under-16 volunteer performers for the Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies will be selected from various British schools, including four schools from Hackney.Students from Brook Community Primary School, Gainsborough Primary School, Sir Thomas Abney Primary School and Skinners’ Academy have been auditioned among 25 other schools across six Olympic host boroughs.

More than 900 youngsters will be chosen as part of the spectacular £81million ceremony. Eighteen primary and seven secondary schools in the six Host Boroughs have been involved in an audition process and in total 1,650 children auditioned for the London 2012 Ceremonies Mass Movement Team, undertaking large scale choreography as well as dance routines.

For the selected children there will be rehearsals taking place initially at the selected schools, then in East London at London 2012 Ceremonies rehearsal sites and finally in the Olympic Stadium. LOCOG is providing transport between the schools and the rehearsal venues for the young people.

Seb Coe, London 2012 Chair, said: “Being part of the Ceremonies is a great way of inspiring young people, I’m delighted school children from the host boroughs will be part of show and help tell our story to the world. The students involved will have an incredible experience which will build their confidence and a sense of pride in themselves, their friends, family, school and wider community.”

Principal Jenny Wilkins, Skinners’ Academy said; “Skinners’ Academy is committed to inspiring our students to become involved with all aspects of the London 2012 Olympic Games. We are excited and honoured to have been selected to participate in the London 2012 Opening Ceremony. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity which will be fantastic for our students and will be one that students, staff and parents alike will always remember!”

The theme of the opening ceremony will be based on a passage from Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Around 10,000 volunteer performers have been recruited and Boyle hinted that there will be a sequence in which school children will be taking part.

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