The average Brit has the maximum respect for institutions and traditional values (how else would the Royal Family have survived) yet is suspicious of anything that smacks of ostentation or false display.
In his essay,England Your England, George Orwell asked “Why is the goose-step not used in England?” After all, he pondered, many other countries routinely use this style of marching in military parades.
Orwell concluded, that “it is not used because people in the street would laugh” and the truth of this observation speaks volumes about the national character.
When he accepted the job of directing the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Danny Boyle would have known that he needed to walk the fine line between high spectacle and dry humour. That he managed to pull this off with great panache is a tribute to his common touch and to the skills of his team of helpers. Continue reading
