Olympics Opening Ceremony dress rehearsal Pandemonium

Wow - I was looking forward to seeing what the drummers were going to do - but never expected this! It was electrifying!
Filmed on my digital camera.

[@michigantraveler]

To me London’s opening ceremony will always be my favorite because it gives us a message that industrializing is hard and challenging which is amazing BEST CEREMONY EVER 😄😄😄😄😄

[@coppertopolo]

Definitely one of the most impressive Opening Ceremonies in the history of the Olympics. Well done London - I continue to watch this years later because of how amazing the entire production was.

[@LalaShwante]

They worship Baal, they chose darkness rather than light. What the hell do you like this ceremony? Nasty as they are, they are doomed, just like ancient civilizations.

[@charlottewebster4233]

Oh my Lord this is better than the actual coverage the drums sound immense, you can hear all the individual beats and off-beats from different sections and best of all there's no commentary!

[@lau_bowery]

seeing this in my home was electrifying, i can't even imagine seeing it live... simply awesome

[@SteveB2000atJazzEx]

...only just found this one - thank you so much - I drummed down the isle two to the right of the camera -the dress rehearsal was everyone's favourite it was like playing to the biggest family gathering ever - never ever to be forgotten - I've just posted this on our Olympic Drummers Facebook Page - thanks again x

[@DoneyDTV]

What I find so interesting about this section is that it takes place right as the sun is going down, so by the time the sparks go off, its dark.

[@DeltaNovember21]

I love it at 3:50 when somebody goes "oh my god, look at that!!". I assume she means the giant inflatable chimney rising out of the ground!

[@MumzyJ]

ha ha. In all honesty, it was me.

[@hoskas]

Brilliant sound on this, you can really hear the drummers. Thanks so much for uploading!

[@danielfuller2995]

Just noticed the #savethesurprise on the screens at the end because it was a rehearsal. Brilliant

[@Sephirayne]

Just come across this. incredible sound. Very epic. loved this section in the Opening Ceremony

[@BossySwan]

Absolutely brilliant! I was lucky enough to also see the dress rehearsal as I was a volunteer at the Stadium. One of the best experiences ever!

[@walshjm2712]

Thank you for posting this. It's a lovely video & one I've not seen before.

[@MumzyJ]

Happy memories!

[@hcpttt]

Still gives me goosebumps

[@MumzyJ]

So glad you like it. It was a great event because everyone we met was involved in some way.

[@johnnywhite58]

How was it kept a secret and did they run the James bond video?

[@MumzyJ]

@@johnnywhite58 for one thing, everyone had to sign a NDA and surprisingly, a lot of people didn't reveal what their scene was. Then, most sections of each scene did not know what else would be going on, or what the overall effect would be. Only the Bond music was played and all we saw was someone sweeping the stage.

[@johnnywhite58]

That's so interesting. Thanks .

[@johnnywhite58]

What has happened to UK since ?

[@neilrodley491]

"HERE THEY COME!"

[@MumzyJ]

Hi Ryan. I was in the umbrella cast in the Paralympic opening ceremony. Along with other volunteers and local people involved with schools and charities etc, I was given a ticket. The idea was to test all the security and general park arrangements before the real thing.

[@Ron-Ayres]

Such a great perspective of the drummers from tthis angle - thank you!

[@isabelleperera2294]

I was there lol

[@AngusJones]

Surely would have spoilt the surprise for all the people there.

[@MumzyJ]

The way the rehearsals were organised was that every element was kept a secret. I had a close friend taking part in this ceremony and she would not tell me anything at all. Even my section, in the Paralympic ceremony, had no idea what else would be going on during our slot. Note that I posted this video long after it was taken. Hope you enjoyed it.

[@browr020]

how did u get into to see the rehearsal

[@halogen123]

I notice that the rings seem to have sparked earlier on during the music than they did during the actual ceremony - does anyone know why they changed the timing?

[@DanielWhit]

I suspect the ring firing effect was simply cued up to happen too early here. It's fairly obvious that the "proper" time placing was what happened on the night itself. I think this was from the Monday tech run, I was at the Wednesday one, when the effect was much closer to where it should have been.

[@cj4631]

Monday was an early cue, Wednesday was a failed fuse but come Friday...spot on!

[@Allianceify]

Those were the rehearsals?? Why were so many people then? oo

[@MumzyJ]

It was a full technical rehearsal to make sure everything was going to be safe. Even all the food outlets were open. The stadium audience was, as I understand, made up of volunteers for the Paralympic ceremonies and lots of other local volunteers and NHS staff.

[@DanLoudShirts]

@@MumzyJ From when they lit the rings this is the Wednesday rehearsal. There was one on the previous Saturday with very few people there and the Monday rehearsal was full capacity and each volunteer performer was given two tickets for friends/family to watch.

[@MumzyJ]

@@DanLoudShirts hi there. I don't remember which day of the week this was. The whole rehearsal process of ceremony rehearsals was shrouded in secrecy. It was amazing how each little section was rehearsed and we only had slightly more of an idea of the scale of things once rehearsals moved from Three Mills to Dagenham. I only knew what I was officially told.

[@DanLoudShirts]

@@MumzyJ Def the Wednesday. They only lit one ring on the Monday. I know as I am a Pandemonium Drummer. The only things that were not part of the dress rehearsals was James Bond, Rowan Atkinson and the Cauldron lighting. The main elements of the ceremony were reheared at the three dress rehearsals. Pandemonium, NHS, ThanksTim, Akram Khan.

[@MumzyJ]

@@DanLoudShirts thanks for this information. I was in the Paralympic opening ceremony, so it was a great experience having the opportunity to be there. Now and then, I discover that people I know were also Pandemonium drummers.