Shanghai , Sep.2,2010 ---- the UK Pavilion announced it’s diverse and rich programme for National Day Programme on the 8th of September. The programme will begin the evening before when the Duke of York and Madame Fu Ying celebrate the contribution made to each others economies by Chinese and British investors, but includes performances by the English National Ballet and a gala performance by the London Symphony Orchestra. .
The UK’s National Day is the highlight of the UK’s participation at Expo, and continues the theme of partnership which has run throughout the six months of the UK’s participation. The close partnership between the UK and China extend from business to the arts, and the centrepiece of the programme will be the world premiere a ballet, created especially for UK National Day at the World Expo 2010, but performed by dancers from both the English National Ballet and the Shanghai Ballet.
The programme will also reflect the theme of the UK Pavilion“Building on the Past and Shaping our Future”combining both the UK’s cultural history with it’s modern dynamism. As Pavilion Lorna Miles said:
“The UK has such a long cultural history, but has never stopped innovating - our National Day blends this rich heritage with the cutting edge, and shows just how closely the UK and China work together”.
Heritage and tradition will be reflected by the London Symphony Orchestra and a moving closing ceremony by the Royal Marines Band. Meanwhile the Irish folk band, Duke Special, street theatre, and an innovative art installation, Congregation will show the UK’s modern edge.
Mirroring the diversity of the programme and partnership between the UK and China, the UK’s delegation will be similarly broad. Led by the Duke of York family, the delegation includes the head of UKTI, British Council, our Ambassador to China, a senior military officer and leaders from across British business.
By National Day the UK Pavilion will have received over 5.5 million visitors, well above expectations. The Pavilion has also recently won the prestigious RIBA Lubetkin award for an international architecture project. The UK’s unique approach to Expo, which has delivered much of the content of Expo through a programme of 300 business and cultural events, is expected to bring a legacy of even closer partnership between the UK and China people across a huge cross section of society and the economy.
By Fang Pei
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