Rochdale Youth Arts Festival: M6 Act Now!

M6 Theatre Company

Rochdale’s Youth Arts Festival will be taking place from 7 – 12 April as part of Act Now!, M6 Theatre’s highly successful participatory programme. Young people from across the Borough will be performing in shows, taking part in workshops and attending a number of launches and celebrations as this three year Big Lottery Reaching Communities funded project draws to a close.

The festival will celebrate the talents of young people from all around the district who have shown enthusiasm, hard work and dedication throughout the project. M6’s Youth Theatre groups will present three shows that members of the public are invited to come and see.

• Grimm Up North, presented by the 15 to 18s group, is a uniquely northern take on the famous tales from the Brothers Grimm.
• The 12 to 14s group will present Don’t Feed the Animals, featuring a group of young people as they attempt to save a circus.
• Bard Not Bored, presented by the 8 to 11s group, is a surprising tale about how Shakespeare really can be fun and exciting – even to a group of primary school children.

M6 has also been working with groups of young people from the Falinge Estate and Wardleworth Community Centre on two performances to be shown together in a double-bill at M6 Studio.

M6 Patron Jane Cox, who plays Emmerdale’s Lisa Dingle, said: "M6's Act Now! projects provide safe and creative environments for local young people to develop theatre skills and have their voices heard. It's amazing to think that over 700 young people across the Borough have been involved creatively over the past three years. This festival really celebrates the rich talent and diversity that can be found within our communities."

A number of free workshops will be taking place and are open to all local young people. A Cartwheel Arts monologue writing workshop for 12 to 18 year olds will take place on Tuesday 8 April and Skylight Circus are providing an opportunity for 8 to 11 year olds to learn a variety of circus skills on Wednesday 9 April. Young people aged 12 to 17 are also invited to a number of drop-in music taster sessions at Backdoor Music from Tuesday 8 to Thursday 10 April.

M6 Act Now! will also be launching a new book of monologues during a free event at Rochdale Central Library on Tuesday 8 April. The book will feature A Friend Request, Kate Collins’ winning entry from last year’s monologue writing competition. The piece will also be performed at the event by a former member of M6 Youth Theatre.

Caroline Kennedy, Act Now! Programme Manager, said: “The festival is a way of saying thank you to all of the participants who have made the Act Now! project such a special and rich experience. The week will include an exciting selection of performances and celebrations and we’re also really pleased to be able to offer fun workshops to local young people who aren’t current youth theatre members.”

The festival runs from Monday 7 – Saturday 12 April. To book on the free monologue writing and circus workshops or to reserve tickets for youth theatre performances please email actnow@m6theatre.co.uk or call 01706 355898.