Actor to perform in Olympics opening ceremony
An amateur dramatics actor has won a part in the biggest show of the year at the Olympic Games opening ceremony.
About a billion people will watch Lucy Deacon, of the Tarrystone Players in Cookham, take to the stage alongside thousands of other performers in the London 2012 opening ceremony on Friday, July 27.
The 25-year-old, who works in marketing for Capital FM radio, applied online last year to be part of the eagerly-anticipated ceremony.
Lucy said: "Because I work in London, I thought it will be a really good opportunity to get involved. It's one of the biggest shows ever to happen."
After attending a secret audition in east London she made it through to the second round and endured a 'nerve-wracking' audition in front of Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle, who is the ceremony's artistic director.
Attendees were asked to dance and act but weren't told anything about the top secret ceremony. On Friday the theme was revealed to be 'Isles of Wonder', but details won't be released until June.
Two weeks ago Lucy, who lives off Whyteladyes Lane, got the call to say she was through to the performance of a lifetime. "I was quite shocked as I really didn't think I'd get through," she said. "It's a really nice surprise."
The former Newlands Girls' School pupil added: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, although I am slightly nervous about dancing in front of billions of people. I am very proud of this achievement and as a member of the Tarrystone Players, I feel I have come really far."
Her mother Jane Deacon, recently given the all clear from breast cancer, said she is very proud of her daughter's achievement. Lucy will begin training four to eight hours per week from April until the final performance at the Olympic Stadium, Stratford, London.
