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If These Bricks Could Talk - School productions

Nearly 300 young people from schools across Blackburn have been interacting with the history of the Thwaites Empire Theatre in an adaptation of our Heritage Lottery production, If these Bricks Could Talk. 

The play is written by resident professional writer and director Tim Lince of Pendle Productions who has been working with internship theatre practitioner, Adam Nash of Lancaster University.  

The children from six schools have been working on a play about the first fifty years or so of the building up to its closure. 

Eric Nolan of Blackburn Drama Club plays the role of the Harry the projectionist of the Empire Cinema and has been working with each of the schools in their own settings.   Each day the school children arrive in the morning to rehearse for the first time with professional scenery, props and costumes, sound and lighting.  They perform the piece in the afternoon in front of friends, family and class members.

St Aidan's School performing on stage
Listen to pupils of St Aidan's Primary School talking about the play on BBC Radio Lancashire
click play button to listen to the clip
Courtesy of
BBC Radio Lancashire

 

Harriet Roberts, Centenary Project Co-ordinator, said 'This has been a very satisfying project to see come to fruition. The aims of the Your Heritage project are to enable people to interact with history on their doorstep.  I hope the children will understand the significance of this landmark building and the role it played in the lives of people in the past.'


A full scale production charting the full 100 year history of the building will take place in September 2010 as part of a week long History Alive Festival.

See What's On listing for details or click here to book online

 

Release Date: Saturday 19 June 2010