Budget for 
ceremony
‘prudent’

Organisers have not revealed the cost of last night’s ceremony but co-artistic director Jenny Sealey said the show had been made on a “prudent budget”.

Some £27m was spent on Danny Boyle’s spectacular Olympic curtain-raiser, while the remaining £53m was divided between the Paralympics opener and the closing ceremonies for both Games.

Ms Sealey said: “We have been incredibly – in our own usual theatre way – resourceful with what we have had. We’ve done a good job with what we have got.”

Stephen Daldry, executive producer of all four shows, said more money had been spent on London’s Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies than at previous Games but the broadcasting infrastructure needed to reach a worldwide audience of a billion people meant the cost was higher for the Olympic opening ceremony.

He added: “If you asked each of the directors that we’ve employed on these shows – do you want more? I’m sure they would all say yes.”