6 minute read
The Griffin Report
The man who went to Buckingham Palace on a mission to persuade the Queen to ‘leap’ out of a helicopter on film for the 2012 London Olympics has now turned his attention to Birmingham. Martin Green is chief creative officer of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Chamberlink’s Jon Griffin talked to him about his outstanding record and how he will show the world what a ‘great creative city this is’.
Counting the days: Martin Green with the digital clock in Brindleyplace that is counting down to the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
It’s a glorious image that came to define one of the UK’s most memorable sporting and cultural events – when the Queen ‘jumped’ out of a helicopter to launch the London Olympics.
Nearly nine years later, Martin Green, head of ceremonies at the 2012 global spectacular, recalls one of the truly great Royal moments, the day Her Majesty left an entire nation open-mouthed...
“I got Danny Boyle to be the artistic director for the opening ceremony and it was his idea that
the Queen should arrive by being collected by James Bond (Daniel Craig) at Buckingham Palace, jump out of a helicopter and release a great big Union Jack parachute.
“I went to the Palace with Danny – she was the one who was going to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’... no-one said yes or no for her. We went to her staff, they took it to her and she said she would do it. The film was in the can before the opening ceremony and my jaw dropped to the floor when I saw it.
“I met her on the night just before the ceremony was due to start and said: “Thank you for doing this”... she was very pleased with it. It endeared her to the nation. A lot of young people said: “She is really cool, how cool is that?”
Today the man who, with the help of the director of ‘Trainspotting’, managed to land a truly authentic Royal world exclusive, has turned his attention away from the capital and is concentrating on Birmingham – as chief creative officer of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
It’s a role to which he seems perfectly suited after a distinguished career as producer of a string of high-profile international events, from the London Olympics to the opening of the O2 in London as well as a stint as head of events in London during Ken Livingstone’s Mayoral tenure.
An Essex-born graduate in Theatre Studies, Martin says he is happiest pulling the strings backstage. “I have always been much more confident behind the scenes as a producer. I have no discerning artistic or musical talents. I am permanently in awe of artistic or creative people.
“Back in my schooldays I found myself sitting behind the lighting desk at a school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The drama teacher said: “It looks like you have got nothing to do – go and do that... I was 13 or 14 at the time.” Shining the spotlight on Bottom, Puck and Titania was just the start for Martin.
“I found myself working in the events industry, bringing people together, working with creative types. I ended up working with Ken Livingstone and by the time I left I was head of events for London.
“Ken was very passionate about London, using events to promote the city internationally. We would do things like the St Patrick’s Day Parade, Gay Pride, Diwali, the New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display... I learnt my trade there.”
After the extraordinary success of the 2012 Olympics, Martin found himself at a crossroads in his career. “You think, what do you do now? You have just done the biggest event on earth. One of the options is to join the travelling circus going around the world from Games to Games but I didn’t want to do that.”
Martin landed the job as director of the UK City of Culture in Hull for 2017 – “it was amazing and exhausting, the hardest thing I have ever done” – but now his strategic creative talents are firmly focused on Birmingham – and next year’s Commonwealth Games. It’s a role he is clearly relishing. You do not have to be directly involved in the Games to benefit from it. In my mind, Birmingham is just about to go through this extraordinary period in its history, bookended by the Games and HS2 in 10 years' time. It will go through a similar process to Manchester and Liverpool.
“Next year the world will be watching and taking in this city. Because of its geography it has lived in the shadow of London for too long in a way that Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool have not. I think this is Birmingham’s time.”
Martin foresees ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ legacies from a global event he describes as ‘the biggest thing in Birmingham’s recent history’.
“There is the hard legacy of bricks and mortar, the magnificent new stand at the Alexander Stadium, the swimming pool is nearly finished. The Government has put £700 million into the Games, and a lot of money comes into the area.
“The softer legacy is pride in the place, of inspiration and the effect on people of seeing their city in the spotlight – we have already recruited 12,000 volunteers.”
Martin is also optimistic that the Games can help symbolise the world’s long-awaited recovery from Covid-19 – and herald a brighter future after the nightmare of a global pandemic without precedence in modern times.
“In 12 months’ time the world will be a different place and we can celebrate that. It looks increasingly likely that this will be the first globally-managed event to happen normally post-pandemic, with people in venues, demonstrating that the world is finally coming out of the pandemic. This can be a flagship event for the world.”
Meanwhile, he is hopeful that Birmingham can use the Games to bang the drum for the city and the wider West Midlands region. “Birmingham can be a bit selfdeprecating – it is in its character –and mega-events like this are a good chance to show off. We want to show the world what a great, creative city this is.
“There is a real, positive energy about this place and I think the Games will provide more confidence and energy to go forward. This is about telling the story of this place to the world.”
The man who went to Buckingham Palace on a mission to persuade the Queen to leap out of a helicopter on film is not revealing who will open next year’s Commonwealth spectacular – but his track record and CV would suggest Birmingham could well have plenty of surprises in store for the world next summer.
Or as he puts it – with just a touch of Brummie-style self-deprecation –“I get paid to do what I love. It is not bad for a gay kid from a comprehensive school in Essex.”
