Library Theatre's Young Company to Present HANSEL & GRETEL, Aug 9-10

Lucy Kirkwood's adaptation of The Brothers' Grimm's HANSEL & GRETEL, originally presented by The National Theatre, is the next production from the Library Theatre's Young Company, and will be its first collaboration with Cornerhouse's LiveWire.

A brother and sister, a trail of breadcrumbs, and an enticing house made of sweets... This classic story takes a dark twist as Hansel and Gretel try to escape the clutches of a child-eating witch after being abandoned in the woods by their stepmother. Will the pair ever find their way back home or will the witch be triumphant with her terrifying plan?

This imaginative and visually stunning interpretation of the classic fairy-tale will feature props, puppets, and scenery made by members of Cornerhouse's LiveWire Young People's Programme, who, as are all the performers in the production, are aged between 14-19.

Recent members of the Library Theatre's Young Company have been accepted on drama courses at RADA, the Oxford School of Theatre, ALRA, and the Central School of Speech and Drama.

"Our productions give young people an excellent opportunity to display their talent," says Rosie Stuart, the Library Theatre Company's Education and Community Producer. "The company offers the chance for young people interested in the theatre to develop their skills in a professional theatre environment. Some of our recent members have gained places at some of the country's most prestigious drama schools which demonstrates the high standard of the company's activities."

LiveWire is Cornerhouse's award-winning young people's programme which offers exciting hands-on projects for creative young people. It has a strong talent development element which supports talented young people in reaching their potential and securing employment in the Creative Industries. Past participants have gone on to work at the BBC and as freelance arts practitioners.

"We aim to provide young people with the chance to work on creative projects that are run in a way that emulates standard professional practice," says Marisa Draper, Cornerhouse's Producer (Young People's Programme). "This is the best work experience that any young person wanting to go into the creative industries could wish for as it truly prepares them for work."

The show will take place at Capitol Theatre, located in Manchester Metropolitan University on Cavendish Street, Manchester M15 6GB. It will run on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 August 2013 with performances at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will cost £7 (£4 concessions). Book at Cornerhouse box office on 0161 200 1500.

In spring 2015 a new centre for contemporary art, theatre, film and books, will open its doors in Manchester. It will be called HOME, and is the product of the merger of two of Manchester's best-loved arts institutions: Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company.

HOME's new building will include a 500-seat theatre, a 150-seat flexible studio space, a 500m², four metre-high gallery space, five cinema screens, education spaces, digital production and broadcast facilities, a café bar, a restaurant and offices. It will provide new opportunities for artists and audiences to create work in different ways together and serve as a social and cultural hub; in one building visitors will be able to see original new work across the visual arts, theatre and film.

HOME will be located in a lively new development at First Street, just off Whitworth Street, which will include a public square ideal for events, activities and performances. It will anchor the development of a dynamic creative quarter for Manchester, which draws together creative energy emerging from Knott Mill to the west and the Palace Theatre to the east. HOME will change the cultural landscape of the city and the region, and have positive impacts nationally and beyond.

For more information, visit www.librarytheatre.com.

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