Director coup for 08 curtain raiser

Aug 23 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

THE man in charge of spectacular acrobatic displays in the opening ceremony for the Sydney Olympics has been drafted in to direct the opening weekend of the Capital of Culture year.

Nigel Jamieson, a renowned international theatre director, will be co-artistic director with Jayne Casey, former head of communications from Liverpool superclub Cream for the three-day curtain raiser.

The appointment of Mr Jamieson was last night described as a huge coup.

The pair have been charged with delivering a line-up of events heralding Liverpool’s status as European Capital of Culture from Friday, January 11 to Sunday January 13.

St George’s plateau and surrounding streets will be transformed into a giant theatre for the “People’s Opening” on the Friday night.

The surrounding buildings will be used in aerial, light and pyrotechnic displays.

It will be followed by “Liverpool the Musical” at the Arena and Convention Centre on the Saturday.

Last night officers at the Liverpool Culture Company said more details would be announced later this year.

Mr Jamieson, 53, who currently lives in Sydney,

said: “I know this is currently a turbulent time, but in the time I have been coming here I have been totally knocked out.

“It’s one of the most vivid places I have spent time in”

He added: “In terms of the sense of working within a city, a place, with enormous cultural richness, this is a real highlight of my career.”

He said the show was intended to be funny, witty, and a bit tongue in cheek without too much pomp. A number of bands would be involved.

Ms Casey, 50, has been at the cutting edge of arts culture in Liverpool for the past 30 years.

The former lead singer with Big in Japan said: “Both shows are the kind of spectacle and scale that Liverpool has never seen before.”

davidbartlett