A Night To Remember: Jaw-Dropping Great North Run Million Opening Ceremony Wows The Region

The stage was set, Ant and Dec had arrived, the crowds were ready and last night organisers of the Bupa Great North Run hosted one of the largest and most epic events the North East has ever witnessed. Over 15,000 people packed tight on the banks of Newcastle and Gateshead could only look on in wonder as the audio visual spectacular rocked the Tyne with over two hours of live music and awe-inspiring pyrotechnics with a firework display that will be remembered forever. With record numbers of revellers travelling from far and wide to see the Great North Run Million Opening Ceremony, few could have anticipated the spectacle that it presented. The NewcastleGateshead Quayside and the River Tyne were transformed into a huge outdoor arena, marking the start of the official countdown to the one millionth finish of the Bupa Great North Run on Sunday. David Almond’s story relating the history of the North East and narrated by Jill Halfpenny and Tim Healy set the scene whilst hundreds of volunteers lined both sides of the river in a mass choreographed dance.  Live music was provided by Sting and Jimmy Nail, Local Hero Mark Knopfler, Kathryn Tickell and the Unthanks as well as Chase & Status.  With a giant floating sculpture, video mapping onto the Sage Gateshead, pyrotechnics and more, the Great North Run Million Opening Ceremony told the incredible story of the North East - a story of innovators in industry, sport and technology, of ordinary people working together to achieve extraordinary things - inspired by the energy of a million runners powering Tyneside's past and future. Says Beth Bate, Director of Great North Culture: “After months of preparation and meticulous planning, we're delighted the Great North Run Million Opening Ceremony excelled and was played out beautifully without a hitch. The looks of amazement on the crowds faces was a joy to see and it proves that Tyneside and the North East can pull off events on this grand scale. “Ticket sales went through the roof and sold out the day before the event and the on-going global interest in the Bupa Great North and the Opening Ceremony has been nothing short of amazing. “The Great North Run Million Opening Ceremony was one of the most adventurous and entertaining events the NewcastleGateshead Quayside has ever seen and it's a perfect way to kick start the party before Sunday's Bupa Great North Run.”