UNITED KINGDOM: OLYMPICS - Cast members from West End shows gather in Trafalgar Square to mark 100 days to go until start of the London 2012 Olympic Games
Record ID:
330652
UNITED KINGDOM: OLYMPICS - Cast members from West End shows gather in Trafalgar Square to mark 100 days to go until start of the London 2012 Olympic Games
- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: OLYMPICS - Cast members from West End shows gather in Trafalgar Square to mark 100 days to go until start of the London 2012 Olympic Games
- Date: 18th April 2012
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (APRIL 18, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS PERFORMERS MARKING 100-DAY COUNTDOWN TO OLYMPICS WITH A WARM UP ROUTINE STEPHEN DALDRY GETTING IN PLACE FOR PHOTOCALL UMBRELLAS FROM VARIOUS LONDON SHOWS PHOTOCALL WITH CAST HOLDING THEATRE BANNER, FAMOUS FACES ON THE LEFT: ACTRESS SAMANTHA BOND, ACTOR/ FORMER OLYMPIC ICE SKATER ROBIN COUSINS AND PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY OF LONDON THEATRE MARK RUBINSTEIN AND ON THE RIGHT: BILLY ELLIOT ACTOR KAINE WARD, OLYMPICS CEREMONIES CHIEF STEPHEN DALDRY, ACTOR JULIAN BIRD, DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER NICA BURNS AND DIRECTOR OF THE CULTURAL OLYMPIAD RUTH MACKENZIE STEPHEN DALDRY AND KAINE WARD FROM MUSICAL BILLY ELLIOT TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) OLYMPICS CEREMONIES CHIEF STEPHEN DALDRY, SAYING: "You know it has been the theatre capital of the world for however many decades, it is an extraordinary time, it has been an extraordinary time, we do have the world renowned - whether it is The National, The Royal Court or The Royal Shakespeare Company it is an extraordinary diversity of theatre in London and it is one of the most popular reasons why people come here in the first place we just want to make sure on this Olympic year that people know they should come we want them to come and we've got great deals for them." VARIOUS OF PERFORMERS, INCLUDING KAINE WARD ON THE FAR RIGHT (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, KAINE WARD, SAYING: "It is to encourage all the people that are coming to London for the first time, or who have been before to come and see a West End Musical." PHOTOCALL WITH STARS (LEFT TO RIGHT) NICA BURNS, RUTH MACKENZIE, ROBIN COUSINS, SAMANTHA BOND, MARK RUBINSTEIN, JULIAN BIRD, KAINE WARD AND STEPHEN DALDRY, STANDING IN FRONT OF COUNTDOWN CLOCK. SAMANTHA BOND AND ROBIN COUSINS (SOUNDBITE) (English) OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST AND ACTOR, ROBIN COUSINS, SAYING: "It is a once in a life time opportunity to host a championship not many people see one in their home country in their lifetime and I think we as a nation by the time the Olympics come around we will in all parts of the country know somebody who knows somebody who is involved in the Olympics and we will grow in the next 100 days to be a great supporting country as we always are we are Brits and we want everybody to do well." CAST OF CHICAGO (SOUNDBITE) (English) OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST AND ACTOR, ROBIN COUSINS, SAYING: "Of course nervous, but excited it's the same with anybody you want to give the performance of your life whether it is on that running track or for me on the stage and I want to make sure I get those butterflies in the stomach that tell you you can have a good day." (SOUNDBITE) (English) CAST FROM CHICAGO, SAYING: (JENNY) "See the sports in the days and come and have a great evening at the theatre seeing us girls and guys in the shows." Reporter: "Are you athletic? Might you compete for team GB? (JENNY) "Maybe not competing but as performers, we are all fairly fit." (LAURA) "You have to stay fit to do what we do and remain fitting in our costumes, so we do have to stay fit!"
- Embargoed: 3rd May 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment,Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA6MOS9RIX00WE8LSBBDR07DT53
- Story Text: To mark 100 days to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games cast members from West End shows gathered in Trafalgar Square in London on Wednesday (April 18).
Performers from productions including Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and Shrek the Musical took part in a dance warm-up event to welcome the world to London.
The 'West End Warm Up' was organised by the Society of London theatre.
Guests included film and theatre producer Stephen Daldry, who is also executive producer for the opening and closing ceremonies, he explained what makes theatre in London so special:
"You know it has been the theatre capital of the world for however many decades, it is an extraordinary time, it has been an extraordinary time, we do have the world renowned - whether it is The National, The Royal Court or The Royal Shakespeare Company it is an extraordinary diversity of theatre in London and it is one of the most popular reasons why people come here in the first place we just want to make sure on this Olympic year that people know they should come we want them to come and we've got great deals for them."
Former Olympic champion Robin Cousins was also on hand to support the event. The Dancing On Ice judge is to join the cast of West End musical Chicago. He will make his debut in July, playing lawyer Billy Flynn, the role Richard Gere took on in the Hollywood version of Chicago.
Cousins, who won gold at the 1980 Winter Olympics, has previously had stage roles in Cats, The Rocky Horror Show and Grease, but admitted he is nervous about his new role: "Of course (I am) nervous, but excited, it's the same with anybody you want to give the performance of your life whether it is on that running track or for me on the stage and I want to make sure I get those butterflies in the stomach that tell you you can have a good day." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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