M6 Theatre bring their best friends to town

Rochdale's M6 Theatre Company, one of the country’s leading specialists in Theatre for Young Audiences, has joined forces with Lancaster’s Ludus Dance, Britain's leading Dance-in-Education Company, to create a very special show, Best Friends, for young audiences aged 4 to 7 years.

The show is all about Billy, who is just starting school and finds it is a bit scary. It's time for Billy to call on Mudge, his imaginary friend, for a bit of help. With a pinch of fun, a scoop of friendship and a little drop of bravery, Billy rises to the challenge. What comes as a very unexpected surprise is the special new friend he meets when he gets there.

There will be a special preview of the play at the M6 Studio Theatre in Rochdale on 15 October.

The play will then tour the country from 18 October and will visit seven venues in the North West as well as four high-profile London theatres, the Birmingham Rep and other venues as far afield as Inverness and Canterbury.

A spokesman for M6 Theatre said: "The calibre of the artistic team will insure that this imaginative fusion of theatre, dance and original music will be a winner with both children and their families. This is a show not to be missed!"

The play was devised by award-winning writer Mary Cooper (Short-listed Richard Imison Award and Canada’s DORA award) and Artistic Producer Dot Wood MBE, directed by acclaimed Early Years Theatre specialist Andy Manley, with choreography by Gil Graystone of Ludus and original music composed by Mark Melville (Action Transport).

After the show has previewed in Rochdale, it will be shown at the following North West venues:

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale - Saturday 18 October

Mid Pennine Arts, Burnley - Tuesday 21 October

Buxton Opera House - Thursday 30 October

Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal - Sunday 2 November

The Met, Bury - Saturday 8 November

The Octagon, Bolton - Saturday 29 November