SO Festival Seeks Games Time Players

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200 people will participate in Games Time when it premieres at SO Festival in July.

Games Time will see four teams from Skegness, Mablethorpe, Boston and Lincoln compete against each other in a 40 minute movement-based performance set against music, video projections and fireworks.

Responsible for over 100 original works, Lea is one of Britain’s most esteemed choreographers and received an MBE in 2002 for her services to dance. Lea has been given the role of artistic director by by Déda Producing, which has received funding from Legacy Trust UK to develop Games Time.

“This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for people to get involved in a unique event and to work with a world famous choreographer,” says SO Festival Director, Robin Morley. “Lea Anderson’s work has been performed around the world, so we’re in for a real treat on Saturday 23rd July when Games Time premieres on Skegness beach. We need 200 people to help put on the performance. They don’t have to be world-class dancers. Games Time will involve dance, parade walking and simple arm movements and gestures, so people of all ages and abilities can get involved.”

People interested in getting involved can participate at one of three levels: Gold, Silver or Bronze.

140 people can play a lead role in Games Time as Gold Volunteers. These prominent roles will require the performers to attend eight rehearsals, which will be up to four hours in duration and staged on Sundays, starting on 15th May. A dress rehearsal will take place on Friday 22nd July before the performance on Saturday 23rd July.

Games Time also needs 20 Silver Volunteers, with gymnastic backgrounds, who will need to commit to six days of rehearsals spread over three weeks, starting in early July.

40 Bronze Volunteers can also get involved in Games Time. They will need to attend two days of rehearsals in July.

“Games Time will be unlike anything I’ve worked on before,” says Lea. “The 2012 Games are not just about what happens in London, the Cultural Olympiad that is linked to the Games is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Games Time is part of this wider celebration and SO Festival 2011 will be its premiere. We need people – no matter how good they are at dancing – to get involved and play their part. Games Time will only ever be staged five times, so it really is a special production to be a part of.”

People wanting to play their part in Games Time or needing further information should contact James Turner at East Lindsey District Council by calling 01507 601111 or emailing james.turner@e-lindsey.gov.uk. The closing date for expressions of interest is 28th April.

Games Time is one of four Community Celebrations to be funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to create a cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As well as Games Time, Legacy Trust UK is funding other large scale outdoor community events in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the South East of England.

Skegness has been chosen as the launch event for Games Time, which will, following SO Festival 2011, travel to Loughborough, Northampton and Derby as part of a tour of the East Midlands to celebrate the countdown to London 2012. Games Time will also be presented in London in August 2012 – the time of the Olympic Games, which will be staged between 27th July and 12th August.

Games Time is being produced by Déda Producing, a key East Midlands arts organisation based in Derby. Déda Producing will work alongside long-standing partners Arts Agenda on delivering the event.

Stephen Munn, Director of Déda said: "Games Time gives local people an amazing opportunity to work with world-class artists and performers in their locality on a project of national significance. Deda Producing is proud to be producing this exciting and ground-breaking event.”

As well as Games Time, SO Festival 2011 will feature an extensive programme of supporting events, including theatre, music performances and visual and digital art installations.

Further information about SO Festival 2011, which has been funded by Arts Council England and other partners, can be found online at http://www.sofestival.org