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Indian Dancers join the team

Community organisations are queuing up to take part in the performance of the century to mark 100 years of the Thwaites Empire Theatre after an appeal for men, women and children to take part in a historical landmark show.

Written by professional writer and director, Tim Lince, 'If these Bricks Could Talk ...'  is the title of a multi-media work  which includes dancing, drama and song.  It has been funded by the Heritage Lottery as part of a year long programme of outreach encouraging local people to discover the history of entertainment at the former cinema at Ewood.

Visit the production web site for information updates

Mrs Maddhu Pandia runs the Indian Folk Dance Exercise Group in Blackburn.  She has offered the services of her group for the colourful section of the show depicting the venue when it was an asian cinema.

She says she vividly remembers visiting the cinema when it showed Bollywood films.

Indian Dance Exercise Group

'I came along to the cinema with my friend.  It was 1972 and I would have been 21 at the time.  We were the oldest people in the audience and the kids there were really rowdy.  They were making so much noise that we couldn't hear the film and eventually we had to leave.  It was the one and only time we visited.' Mrs Pandia seems to think that there was a man who used to supply the films who was connected with a family who now run the Bharuchi Bazaar on Victoria Street in Blackburn. '

Harriet Roberts is the project co-ordinator.  She was delighted to hear from Mrs Pandia who has offered to run a workshop for other people who may like to learn the style of dance to take part in the show.  Harriet said, 'The Indian Folk Dance Exercise Group have performed at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in the past and we are delighted that they would like to take part in this historical performance.  The whole idea of putting the piece together is about bringing together the different groups and performance traditions that make up our community in a celebration that will give people an insight into the history of our fascinating venue.

A meeting will take place on Tuesday 30th March at 7:30pm at the theatre for anybody who is interested in taking part in the production.

Due to the level of interest the project will now run both sides of the summer.  The schools performances will take place in June.

The complete community versions will run week commencing Monday 6 September and coincide with the national Heritage Open Weekend activities.

For more information contact Harriet Roberts on 07850 959898