Literary classics, a sitcom festival and Ada.Ada.Ada – an interactive show featuring an LED dress and half a kilometre of string – are just some of the highlights as live@thelibrary returns for its eighth season.
The spring programme begins with a novel writing workshop led by local author, Phaedra Patrick, whose debut novel was published in 20 countries worldwide. Phaedra will be on hand to give tips, advice and exercises on how to develop ideas, characters and plot as well as how to get published.
A travelling suitcase will be visiting libraries across Oldham where family audiences are invited to journey around the world enjoying tales of fishermen, fairies, feasts and beasts. Suitcase Stories is an interactive storytelling show which will unleash the imaginations of children aged three years and above.
The great family entertainment doesn’t end there. Enjoy classic favourites such as The Walrus and the Carpenter filled with hilarity, song and slapstick or join The Owl and the Pussycat on a sea voyage to a curious land. Young magicians can fight the Dark Lord with magical illusions, pop songs and things that go bump in the night in a parody panto: Harry Potter and the Chamber Pot of Secrets.
New for this season is the Sitcom Festival which showcases some of Britain’s popular comedies. Favourites include ‘Allo ‘Allo, Steptoe and Son and Hancock’s Half Hour and we celebrate one of our most loved comic actors, Sid James, through the funny and poignant play Wot Sid Did.
Other comedy events include Chip Shop Chips which proved so popular in 2016 that it’s making a welcome return – join in the celebration of the reopening of Booth and Son’s Fish and Chip Shop, complete with fish and chip supper.
The library’s new drama offering transports audiences back to the 1800s –100 years before a computer existed – to the story of Ada Lovelace, a mathematical genius who developed the world’s first computer. This interactive show aims to inspire people to get creative with science, technology, engineering and maths. There’s also gothic favourite, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde newly adapted by Russell Kennedy. The one man adaptation will immerse you into the chilling world of 19th century London and keep you hooked with its twists and turns.
Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives, said: “The fact that live@thelibrary is now in its eighth season is testament to the quality and diversity of the programme.
“One of its main aims is to make live performance accessible to all and I’m pleased to say that for the fourth time we are taking a show on tour as part of live@thelibrarylocal. Live@thelibrary is just one of the many events offered by our library service and I would urge residents to visit their local library and find out about the many services and events they can enjoy.”
For full details of what’s on offer this season visit www.oldham.gov.uk/liveatthelibrary
