Peaky Blinders writer among team creating opening ceremony at Birmingham 2022

Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight has been named among a six-strong team tasked with producing the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Organisers have confirmed a mass cast of 1,200 volunteers will take part in the ceremony on July 28 next year at the 30,000-capacity Alexander Stadium.

Birmingham-born theatre director Iqbal Khan, novelist Maeve Clarke and rapper Joshua “RTKal” Holness were also named as part of the creative team in a statement released on Thursday.

The team have been bought together by Birmingham 2022’s chief creative officer Martin Green, who also led the Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies at London 2012.

Mr Green said the opening ceremony will be a defining moment for Birmingham, the West Midlands, and the UK, adding: “As we create these ceremonies, it is our intention to utilise the new range of tools at our disposal.

“From CGI to special effects, the UK is a world leader in cutting-edge broadcast technology.

“The core creative team assembled to imagine the opening ceremony is drawn from a diverse range of disciplines, from theatre to literature, TV to stage production; we have had access to the very best UK and West Midlands talent to create this.

“This talent and these tools are nothing without a story, and this city and region are full of rich and diverse narratives to share with the world.

“Ten years, almost to the day, since London 2012’s opening ceremony, these Games in Birmingham present a unique opportunity to create a global advert at a moment of renewal as we emerge from the challenges of the pandemic.”

Tickets will become available for the opening ceremony from September 8 and start at £22 for adults and £8 for under-16s.