LONDON 2012 FESTIVAL PROGRAMME IS ANNOUNCED

As top names in music, film, art, literature, dance, theatre, fashion and visual arts come together to provide a 12-week London 2012 Festival, VisitEngland looks forward to a very special time to be in England.

Opening on 21st June 2012, London 2012 Festival will see household names such as Alan Ayckbourn, David Hockney, Cate Blanchett, Tracey Emin, Yoko Ono and Damien Hirst participating in world-class cultural events up and down the country to celebrate the arrival of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. There will be over 10 million opportunities to see free events across the country during the London 2012 Festival, which will run until 9 September 2012. 

James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive, comments: “This fantastic 12-week celebration will showcase the fantastic range of products and destinations we have here in England, from Stonehenge to Hadrian’s Wall and from the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-on-Avon to London’s British Museum. So whether you are enjoying a holiday in the Lakes, a city break in Manchester or a rural retreat in the east of England, you can get involved in an unprecedented cultural line-up country-wide.”

Brits choosing to take a holiday at home next year can join in the celebrations throughout the country and be part of what promises to be a very special year in England. Here, VisitEngland highlights just some of the world-class events set to take place next summer.

IN THEATRE… the World Shakespeare Festival will bring together thousands of artists and over 50 arts organisations to present major new productions, ground-breaking collaborations and radical interpretations of Shakespeare’s works in England’s parks, pubs, theatres, churches and castles. Alan Ayckbourne will direct two plays – one a premier of his 76th play and the other a revival of a best-loved classic - at two award-winning theatres of international importance, the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough and Chichester Festival Theatre. In Greenwich, the Handspring Puppet Company, made famous by the National Theatre’s production of War Horse, will present the world premiere of a new show based on Ted Hughes’ powerful CROW poems.

IN PERFORMANCE & DANCE… Written and performed by Blur and Gorillaz front man Damon Albarn and directed by Rufus Norris, the highly-acclaimed Dr Dee will see its London stage premiere. The pyrotechnicians and musicians of the French street arts company, Les Commandos Percu, will bring music and fire to the shores of Lake Windermere in Cumbria in a spectacular outdoor show, On the Night Shift.
IN VISUAL ARTS… Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Creed’s Work No. 1197: All the bells in a country rung as quickly and loudly as possible for three minutes encourages the whole country to take part and mark the opening day of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on 27 July. By ringing any kind of bell – hand bell, doorbell, church bell, bicycle bell or school bell – everyone can help celebrate the arrival of the world’s greatest sporting event.

David Hockney’s first major exhibition of landscapes will go on view at the Royal Academy of Arts, including large-scale paintings, drawings, films and iPad art, while Tate Modern will host the first substantial survey of Damien Hirst’s work ever to be held in the UK. Tracy Emin will present a major exhibition, She Lay Down Deep Beneath The Sea, at the award-winning Turner Contemporary in her hometown of Margate.

ART & HERITAGE SITES… Designed to showcase the country’s sites of outstanding beauty and heritage, a number of special events utilise iconic locations across the country. A major art installation by the Manhattan artists’ collective YesyesNo will utilise the 86-mile length of Hadrian’s Wall. And the BT River of Music will offer a weekend of music representing all 205 participating Olympic & Paralympic nations at landmarks along the River Thames. There will be six stages representing the continents – Battersea Park (Asia stage), Jubilee Gardens (Africa stage), Trafalgar Square and Somerset House (Europe stages), Tower of London (Americas stage) and Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich (Oceana stage).

For information on how to access tickets, including free tickets, sign up now to the London 2012 Festival website .
Ends

For more information contact:
Laura Smith / Rebecca Holloway
VisitEngland Press Office
Tel: 020 7578 1400
Email: laura.smith@visitengland.org / Rebecca.holloway@visitengland.org

Notes to Editors:
About VisitEngland
• VisitEngland is the country’s national tourist board. We work in partnership with the industry to develop the visitor experience across England, plan national tourism strategy, grow the value of tourism in England and provide advocacy for the industry and our visitors
• Our work is underpinned by robust research and customer insights. You can access the latest in-depth market intelligence and statistics on www.visitengland.org/insight-statistics 
• VisitEngland markets England under the Enjoy England consumer brand in the domestic market and markets England under the VisitEngland brand internationally 

About England
• England is a unique destination and a real powerhouse in global tourism. It represents 84 percent of the total UK visitor economy, is worth £97 billion, and supports in excess of 2 million jobs
• More information can be found on www.enjoyengland.com and www.visitengland.org