London 2012 Ceremonies is now recruiting volunteer performers to participate in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Performing in front of a packed stadium and a broadcast audience of more than one billion people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of one of the largest events ever staged in the UK.

Artistic Directors Danny Boyle and Kim Gavin are searching for 10,000 volunteer performers to fill roles as dancers, actors, percussionists and general all-round performers in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies respectively. To be eligible you must be aged 18 years or older on 1 March 2012. Performing opportunities for under 18s will be facilitated through a separate process to be announced at a later date.

Previous performance experience is not required; Ceremonies Volunteer Performers simply need lots of enthusiasm, personality, a positive attitude, huge amounts of energy and a willingness to perform in front of a stadium audience and to millions of people around the world.  However, to deliver Ceremonies of this scale to a world audience a substantial commitment is required. You must be able to participate in

• Up to two auditions that will take place evenings and weekends in November and early December of this year;
• Up to two or three rehearsal sessions each week of up to four hours per session from March 2012, and a number of all day rehearsals in the three weeks leading up to each Ceremony.

All of these rehearsals will take place in east London. Whilst it is possible for us to offer assistance with public transportation to and from rehearsals between certain zones within the Transport for London transportation network, you will be responsible for covering the cost of your own transportation outside these travel zones.

If you would like a chance to take part in the greatest show on earth, register your interest by completing the online casting application form. The deadline for receipt of applications is Wednesday 31 August.  You can apply at any time during these three weeks. 

This is not a first-come, first-served process and only one application per person will be accepted. If we are lucky enough to receive over 15,000 applications a computerised draw will be used to randomly create the short list for auditions.

We will also be looking for:

• Dancers – all styles – classical, contemporary, urban, ballroom, social, traditional and culturally specific.
• Theatre skills– drama students, amateur dramatic groups and general experience either in theatre, film or performance.
• Musical skills – percussion, drumming
• Other performance skills – gymnastics and circus skills
• General all-round performers – there are many roles that do not require a specific skill, but just a great deal of enthusiasm.

Best of luck and we hope to see you at auditions.