News
RTBC features in Paralympics Opening Ceremony
If you were amongst the millions of viewers around the world glued to your TV screen last night to watch the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony you might have caught sight of some familiar faces.
Graeae’s Reasons to be Cheerful took centre stage for an explosive performance of Ian Dury & The Blockheads’ Spasticus Autisticus alongside Orbital and at this historic opening ceremony.
The Blockheads said: ‘Graeae’s performance of Spasticus Autisticus at the opening ceremony was historic, uplifting and spellbinding!’
Jemima Dury said: ‘I had a very special place in my heart for the wonderful Graeae cast singing Spasticus Autisticus full pelt in a stadium with Stephen Hawking, Orbital and Her Majesty the Queen! Dad (Ian Dury) would have been exploding with pride, I was! It’s a very lovely connection to have this year not least because Dad competed in the Stoke Mandeville Games back in the 50s, in a swimming event, and it’s so exciting to see what has become of those early competitions.’
The cast of performing Spasticus Autisticus at Hackney Empire
The spectacular aerial work put the spotlight on Jenny and Bradley’s passion for pioneering accessibility and innovation in outdoor theatre. If you want to see more the sway poles featured in the ceremony can be seen in The Garden this September.
Jenny Agutter OBE said: ‘As a patron of Graeae I was thrilled to hear the excellent rendition of Ian Dury and The Blockheads’ Spasticus Autisticus. Congratulations to Jenny Sealey and Bradley Hemmings for conceiving and staging such a brilliant Opening Ceremony.’
The opening ceremony was the perfect way to celebrate the Paralympics coming home to Great Britain and we look forward to two weeks of life changing sport and theatre.
Congratulations Jenny and Bradley!
To book tickets for Reasons to be Cheerful at the Southbank Centre on Sunday 9 September click here.
