12 Day of Manxmass
PLATFORM THEATRE: The children practise for Onchan Torchlight Procession
FORGET partridges in pear trees and leaping lords, a Manx twist on a festive classic has been released.
Twelve Days of Manxmass features queenies prancing, choughs a flying, kippers smoking, TT riders, bonnag cakes and a Manx cat stuck up a tree.
The CD is being launched on Saturday, at 10.30am, at Shoprite in Victoria Road, Douglas, with all proceeds being donated to Manx Cancer Help.
Leandra Lawler, aged 42, who runs The Platform theatre school, in Onchan, explained: ‘The idea for the CD came about Christmas 2011 when we were performing Twelve Days of Manxmass at Manx Cancer Help’s Christmas Fair.
‘The song, having been created the year before, always proved popular with audiences and someone mentioned we should record it.’
She said her husband Anthony, a police officer, has cancer, and one of her students had cancer as a baby. In addition some of her students have been affected by cancer directly.
‘Manx Cancer Help has been such a huge support to us both that we felt we would like to give something back,’ she said.
A total of 100 copies have being produced. If anyone would like to sponsor more copies being produced they are asked to contact Leandra. She hopes the song will also be sold digitally.
She thanked Manxmove.co.im directors Graham Wilson and Ian Lloyd for sponsoring the CDs, photographer Steve Babb for the CD cover, David Kilgallon for playing the piano, and Duke Marketing for producing the CDs.
There are two chances to hear the students, aged four to 16, singing the song live this month. They will be singing a number of Christmas songs at Onchan Community Centre following the Onchan Torchlight Procession, which starts at 7pm tonight (Thursday).
They are also performing at Manx Cancer Help’s Night Before Christmas event at Bradda Glen on December 23.
Platform was set up in 2010, and the ethos is to provide each student experiences in combined performing art disciplines from both on-site staff and visiting guests.
Students enjoy a varied syllabus with emphasis on building confidence.
They are given opportunities to take part in auditions for local theatre productions, compete at the Manx Music Festival and perform at various charity events. They can also gain experience as supporting actors for both television and films through Ex-Isle Casting Agency.
And ten students have been students have been involved with the new CBBC programme Rockets Island, shown on CBBC this week.
The school runs during term-time. Anyone interested in joining should email theplatform@manx.net or call 255076.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Isle of Man
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: North west
