Middleton youth theatre group to perform at the Lowry

Tracing Steps Theatre and Dance Company

A Middleton youth theatre group will perform at the Lowry next month.

Tracing Steps Theatre and Dance Company, which includes 20 young people aged between 11-20, is currently involved with the National Theatres Connections Festival, which challenges theatres across the country to perform new plays which are commissioned especially for young people.

After performing recently at Hopwood Theatre, the group, alongside Demesne Community Centre in Langley and Crimble Croft Community Centre in Heywood, will feature at the Lowry in Manchester on 27 April, with their rendition of The Ramayana Reset written by Annesha Menon.

The play tells the story of a young woman’s decision to like or not like an Instagram post, while also exploring a traditional South Asian story of Sita and Ram, which is fundamental to the Hindu faith and dates back to 2,500 years ago.

Project leader Martina Coggins said: “This is a fabulous opportunity for a grassroots group and we are really proud of how are they have come and are excited to see them progress further in this project.

“We were grateful to receive some funding from Heywood Charities Fete which helped us towards our costumes.

“Myself and Clare Riley are leading the project however Jade Kilduff, another member of our team, stepped in one evening as a cast member dropped out last minute, and she learnt a full script in 72 hours! That’s what you call teamwork.”

More details about the event can be found on the Lowry website.