Youngsters from all over the island got involved in a giant cultural workshop weekend which looked at one of the isle of Man’s biggest historical figures.

The annual Big Bree Weekend took place at the Methodist Hall in St John’s during the half term and saw more than 20 children, aged between 10 and 18 years old, spend two days immersed in a range of activities that celebrated and taught Manx music, dance, language, folklore and culture.

The theme of the weekend was based around the classic Manx songbook, which was first published 125 years ago, and the children, under the supervision of experienced music and dance teachers, composed, scripted, choreographed and performed their own musical sequences, plays and new Manx folk dances.

One figure which stands out, quite literally, in Manx history is the fabled giant Arthur Caley, who was born in Sulby in the mid 1800’s and thanks to his huge proportions went on to become a Victorian vaudeville circus star.

The children composed a song about his life, as well as writing a play based on Illiam Dhone.

The kids also created a new There was also a new jig based on the hymn, ’The Good Old Way’, and performed, sung and reinvented many Manx and English songs, tunes and dances which feature in the 1896 songbook.

The children’s efforts were presented in a concert at the end of the two day workshop, which was concluded with a grand finale performance of the Manx dance staple ’Hunt the Wren’.

The long-running cultural weekend was organised by the Manx Music development officer Chloe Woolley, who said that the weekend featured many new faces in amongst the regular Bree attendees.

’This was our 15th year of running the Big Bree Workshop Weekend and it’s always such good fun,’ said Chloe.

’The youngsters get to be really creative with Manx music and dance, and it’s an opportunity for them to make new friends and build their confidence in performing on stage.

’We welcomed quite a few new young faces this year, but it was also nice to have the older children who have been coming to Bree for years and who are now really familiar with Manx traditional songs, music and dance.’

Founded in 2006, Bree, the Manx word for ’energy’ or ’vitality’, is a youth education movement celebrating Manx music and dance.

Aimed at school years six to 13, the group aims to both introduce and develop Manx culture within the island’s young musicians and dancers.

More information is available from manxmusic.com