RSC celebrates the launch of the Cultural Olympiad by lighting up the site of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
25 September 2008
Friday 26 – Sunday 28 September 2008
RSC light up weekend
To celebrate the launch of the Cultural Olympiad, the site of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST) transformation in Stratford-upon-Avon will be illuminated after dark on the nights of Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September.
The RST is one of a number of iconic buildings that will be lit up as part of events taking place up and down the country over the weekend to mark the beginning of the Cultural Olympiad.
As already announced, the Royal Shakespeare Company will work with partners from around the UK and worldwide on the World Shakespeare Festival. As part of the Cultural Olympiad the Festival will be staged from Shakespeare's birthday in 2012 to the beginning of the Olympic Games in July, and will celebrate Shakespeare's influence and popularity in cultures and theatre traditions around the globe. More details about the Festival will be revealed in due course.
Speaking about the RSC's involvement in the Cultural Olympiad, RSC Artistic Director Michael Boyd said:
"We are very lucky to have been given this major opportunity. A challenge that faced us after The Complete Works Festival 2006/07 was how to build on the excitement and relationships established during that very successful year. The World Shakespeare Festival gives us the chance to harness the legacy of what we achieved and go much deeper in our search for better and fresher ways of sharing Shakespeare’s stories with the world."
Further information
For more information please contact:
Dean Asker
RSC Press Office
01789 412660
dean.asker@rsc.org.uk
Notes to editors
The Waterside aspect of the site of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre will be lit up between approximately 8 - 11pm on the nights of Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September. The predominant colour will be pink, one of the London 2012 colours.
