Opening ceremony team inspires a generation of teachers as readers

Danny Boyle and Frank Cottrell Boyce, two of the creative minds behind the Olympic 2012 opening ceremony, came together again to support The Reader Organisation’s reader-in-residence project in the Faculty of Education at Liverpool Hope University on Wednesday 10^th October.

As Boyle’s first event since the opening ceremony, the pair talked about the literature that influenced the show, offering a unique insight into their creative processes, as well as readings from the books and poems that influenced their vision.

The audience was filled with trainee teachers from the University who will go on to teach more than 1 million children in their lifetime. Frank and Danny’s talk gave them an insight into the power of reading and how it can fire up a child’s imagination.

Danny Boyle said: “Part of the privilege of our position is to be able to share our experience with people like the students at Liverpool Hope. Reading for pleasure is the fuel for everything and books, music and films are the creative platform to access the most amazing ideas.”

Frank Cottrell Boyce, who is also Professor of Reading at Liverpool Hope University, said: “Danny and I can provide first-hand experience of where reading can get you in life. We are two working-class northern boys who ended-up helping to create what was ‘the greatest show on earth’ out of books. We hope our story will inspire the next generation of teachers to read for pleasure with their students.”

Jane Davis, Director of The Reader Organisation, said: “Reading is the key to building imagination and as Danny and Frank have shown, imagination changes the world. We're delighted to be working with Liverpool Hope to create a culture of reading for pleasure and think it's brilliant that Danny agreed to come to help the reading revolution!” 

Professor Pillay, Vice-chancellor and Rector of Liverpool Hope University, said: “Liverpool Hope is very proud to have welcomed Danny Boyle, along with our Professor Frank Cottrell Boyce and the event is something our students will never forget. The whole country was enthralled by the London 2012 Olympics and its wonderful Opening Ceremony and we are very pleased to have this opportunity to hear first-hand from a wonderful director. I have no doubt that this event has inspired our students and enrich both their learning and reading experiences.”