Thanks to everyone who came to see “A Little Voice A Long Way From Here”, the latest show by our young actors company.

Lots of people requested the list of tracks that we played in the show so here they are:

“It’s Not Happening” – Be Good Tanyas

“Game Of Life” – Joan As Policewoman

“Good Fortune” – PJ Harvey

“My Manic and I” – Laura Marling

“Dogsong 2″ – Be Good Tanyas

“Where Do I Begin”  – The Chemical Brothers

“You Said Something” – PJ Harvey

“Underneath The Stars” – Kate Rusby

“Spaceman” – Belly

There is one change this term. Due to the closure of Central Library sessions will take place at The Friend’s Meeting House on Mount Street just behind the Library, and will run from 1.30pm-3.30pm instead of the normal morning session. This will only be for the summer though… When we come back in Autumn we will be based at the new temporary library in Elliott House on Deansgate and sessions will return to their normal morning slot of 10.45am – 12.45pm.

Want to keep in touch with this group? Why not join our email list? Just send a message to l.postlethwaite@manchester.gov.uk with Mailing List in the subject box and we’ll add you.

9th April

The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde

7th May

The Dolls House Henrik Ibsen

4th June

Salt Fiona Peek

2nd July

Disconnect Anupama Chandreskhar

Here’s a taster of the film that we created to celebrate this year’s Book Award with a group of young people at Clayton Library.  And just in case you don’t know what the Manchester Book Award is – have a look here to find out more.

We’ll be there tomorrow and can’t wait to find out who wins!

Great short film made by pupils at St Chad’s Primary School in Cheetham Hill inspired by “The Straw, The Bean and The Coal” written by Brothers Grimm. St Chads are a partner school who worked with us during the autumn term on a storytelling project inspired by the stories of the Brothers Grimm.

The pupils took place in ten storytelling workshops and used drama and creativity to develop their own self confidence and communication skills.

Tomorrow we continue our programme of “Page To Stage” workshops with a session looking at the work of Bertolt Brecht. The workshop will take place at the Library Theatre and will offer the chance to look at Brecht’s text from the perspective of a theatre director and think about how you may begin to put it on its feet for performance. For those of you who can’t make it to the workshop here are some great quotes from Brecht’s plays:

• Society cannot share a common communication system as long as it is split into warring factions.
• Don’t be afraid of death so much as inadequate life.
• No one will improve your lot if you do not yourself.
• War is like love, it always finds a way.
• Mixing one’s wines may be a mistake, but old and new wisdom mix admirably.
• Whenever there are great virtues, it’s a sure sign that things are wrong.

The next “Page to Stage” workshop takes place in March and will be based around the work of Brian Friel. For more information or to book tickets please ring the theatre box office on 0161 236 7110.

Today in our playreading group we read the wonderful play “The Pitmen Painters” by Lee Hall.  The picture above is a painting by Oliver Kilbourn who was one of the characters in the play and who was also one of the miners from Ashington who became known as the Pitmen Painters in the 1930s and 1940s.

Here are some things that the group felt about the play:

• They really enjoyed the truthful and generous interpretations of all the different characters.
• They like the themes that the play investigated around art and culture and the part that it plays in society.
• They really admired the way that the play felt very accessible and easy to read but that it still investigated very complex themes and ideas.

Our playreading group takes place on the first Friday of each month and is for anyone aged 18 and upwards, who is interested in reading plays and sharing their responses and ideas with other people. For more information on this group please contact the Box Office on 0161 236 7110. The next session takes place on Friday 5th March and we will be reading “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” by Tennessee Williams.

St Peter’s RC Primary, Wythenshawe

Baguley Hall Primary, Wythenshawe

St Patrick’s RC Primary, Collyhurst

Abbot Community Primary, Collyhurst

Each school has been writing to an actor from the Grimm Tales cast, taking part in weekly workshops in their school and learning all about the Grimm Tales as part of the project. This week they came to the Library Theatre to watch a performance of Grimm Tales and meet their actor for a question and answer session.

It’s been a really brilliant project that wouldn’t have been possible without the continued support of World Duty Free at Manchester Airport.

We’d also love to hear what you think of the show so put your comments up here once you’ve seen it. Are you a teacher? We’d love to hear what activities you are developing to support your visit to the theatre!