The invitation to develop a master plan for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin (following our successful work with ATHOC, the Athens 2004 Olympic Organising Committee) was the opportunity to create a spectacle in every sense of the term - dramatic, emotional, unforgettable.
It demanded a concept to unify a spectacular 90-minute show for a live audience in Turin and television viewers in their billions, a performance wholly true to the spirit of the Olympiad.
Projects of this scale represent a paradox. Their success calls for simplicity, in that the creative concept relies on a story that can be told in broad strokes; but it also demands the ability to manage complex staging on a vast scale - this is arena theatre.
The narrative for the opening ceremony comprised a journey through the history of Turin, revealing how a city of style, passion and heritage came to be created. It opened simply enough with a composer seated at a piano, seeking inspiration for a melody.
The telling of the ensuing story called for a mountain, a river, a roadway, 50 chariots and horses, a fleet of classic cars, giant snowballs, swooping kites, rolling fog, dancing flames, fireworks, a cast of thousands, a specially composed soundtrack, an orchestra, a massed choir and the release of doves by local children.
In the same vein, our concept for the closing ceremony celebrated the spirit of the Games in a manner that saluted the achievements of those particular Olympics and paid due tribute to the host city and its people.
Our work on this particular project also involved designing a methodology and operational structure for the production of each ceremony, a challenge met by liaising with local authorities, sports bodies and relevant event stakeholders In Turin.
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