25th July 2012

WEYMOUTH: There’s something in the air - Weymouth & Portland prepares for its largest celebration yet…

Hundreds of impressive costumes have been designed and made, countless daring circus stunts and dance have been rehearsed, a thousand voices from across the South West are warmed up, local and international artists have researched and created. Feel the excitement brewing as we prepare for the Dorset’s largest creative spectacular from the 26th July onwards in Weymouth & Portland. Maritime Mix – London 2012 Cultural Olympiad by the Sea has most definitely arrived and will showcase some of its most amazing events over the next few days; an extraordinary spectacle that cannot be missed…

Weymouth and Portland will come alive with town’s creative celebrations to mark the start of London 2012 Games in Weymouth & Portland. Locals and visitors will enjoy the unmitigated magic of live performances, taking over the host venue of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic sailing.

Make sure you visit Alex Hartley’s Nowhereisland at Bowleaze Cove. This new island nation will be anchored in the Cove until 2nd August and accompanied by a mobile embassy packed full of objects, activities and information that tells the story of Nowhereisland’s origins. The embassy will be located on Furzy Cliff.

On 26th July Battle for the Winds, the much anticipated three day outdoor theatre event commences with ‘The Gathering of the Winds’. Seven Wind Gathering Machines from the seven counties of the South West will arrive with their unique machines, performers and stories of their travels collecting winds for the Olympic sailors. Six of these machines will be located in Weymouth, (12pm – 4pm) and one in Easton, Portland (11-1pm, travelling back to Weymouth at 2.30pm).

A mischievous stone-being has been spotted around the Dorset coast of late and is plotting to steal winds ahead of the sailing events! As part of the Battle for the Winds story, this dastardly character Doldrum will be on the run on 27th July as ‘The Search for Doldrum’s Lair’, day two of the Battle for the Winds will be performed. This is a free, ticketed event with interactive dance and multimedia installations amongst the stunning scenery of Portland’s High Angle Battery. For tickets visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/246503

The final day of the ‘Battle for the Winds’ is Saturday 28th July when the Wind Gatherers will process along Weymouth Esplanade from 12pm – 4pm. The culmination of this epic tale takes place in the Live Site area with ‘The Final Battle’(8.45pm – 10pm, gates open at 8.15pm); a spectacular battle featuring hundreds of artists plays out on land and in the air to determine the perfect wind to launch the sailing, and an unlikely champion comes forward as Battle for the Winds joins up with Breathe, a company of disabled and non-disabled artists. This event will include circus, dance, street theatre, video projections, aerial, acrobatics and more. The grand finale sees a unique display from 220 of Bridgwater Carnival Squibbers. This is followed by a fire torch wade on Weymouth Beach with 2,012 community members carrying flaming torches into the sea to celebrate the release of the winds to the Olympic sailors.

There will also be a full programme of entertainment to herald the live coverage of the London 2012 opening ceremony in the Live Site area on 27th July from 2pm. 1,000 voices will perform Coastal Voices, a landmark project bringing members community choirs together to perform four new commissions under the musical director Howard Moody. New work by Sonia Slany, John Surman, John.K.Miles and Marc Yeats, all written as a response to the Jurassic Coast, will be performed. As well as this renowned folk artist Eliza Carthy and vocal ensemble I Faglioni will peform Welcome Songs, a suite of celebratory songs inspired by four areas linked to the Games accompanied by South West Music School. This feast of audio delights is free for everyone to enjoy, but there will be a capacity limit of 15,000 so make sure you get there early!

Have you ever seen a film in a 360 degree screen? Well now you can. ICCI360 Arena will open its unique arena from 26th July right through to September film screenings and live performances from the likes of Triops and the popular Bristol based Kid Carpet. Come along to see Marc Yeats conducting his new commission, an audio landslide Sturzstrom, part of Coastal Voices, in this venue at 6pm on 27th July.

The next week will certainly be a momentous occasion for all involved. Come and help us celebrate this once in a lifetime experience.

For daily updates of the fun and excitement over these next few days don’t forget to come and say Hi! on our Facebook and Twitter pages.