The O2

BEN HUR LIVE©, the major arena extravaganza coming to The O2 this September is thrilled to announce that Stewart Copeland, founding member of The Police, will be the live narrator of the epic show.

Copeland is also writing the musical score for this unique project. Two extra dates - an evening show on Saturday 19 September and a matinee performance on Sunday 20 September - have also been added due to unprecedented demand.

The production, the vision of German producer Franz Abraham, has been developed over fifteen years and is finally ready for the public, including the famous chariot race. BEN HUR LIVE© coincides with the 50 year anniversary of the film and will dazzle it's audience with a breathtaking combination of light, sound, water, wind and pyrotechnic effects in a show performed in the round, like an ancient arena.

The highlight of the show will be the famous chariot scene where five quadrigas will compete in a neck and neck race around the arena floor. The 'stars' of the show will be the thoroughbred horses, who together with a team of trainers and charioteers, will have undergone 12 months of intensive training.

Behind this project is a top-class creative team: BEN HUR LIVE© is directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, the script by British author Shaun McKenna, and the production is designed by Mark Fisher, famous for the opening and final ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Stewart Copeland, narrator and composer said: "I'm really thrilled to be taking on the role of narrator in this production. Nothing like Ben Hur Live will have been seen before and I'm delighted that I am getting to take an active role in the live production as well as writing the music. This is certainly going to be one of the biggest gigs I've ever done."

BEN HUR LIVE© creator, Franz Abraham, comments: "We are very excited that Stewart has agreed to take on the role as narrator. His dedication to the production has been unprecedented and we are now counting down the weeks until we arrive at The O2 for the première."

The première date for BEN HUR LIVE© has also changed. Originally scheduled for Tuesday 15 September the première will now take place on Thursday 17 September. The change in date is due to the extra dates being added after the end of the original period, allowing all five shows to run in succession.

Tickets can be bought from www.theo2.co.uk or www.benhurlive.com and telephone 0844 856 0202.

After appearing at The O2, BEN HUR LIVE© will tour Europe with multiple shows across the continent.

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