Ballakermeen high school is set to host an annual festival celebrating drama, performing arts and the stage later this year.

Theatrefest is set to run over the first weekend of October, and will feature plays and pieces of musical, film and dance theatre over two days, featuring some of the island’s brightest talents.

Curated and organised by Lisa Kreisky and Kristene Sutcliffe, from Stage Door Entertainment, the festival will see plays and original dance performances featuring a wide range of subject matter, from Manx folklore and culture through to the First world war through a child’s eyes, alongside some bold and exciting new initiatives.

Manx-born theatre director John Young is to return to the island to help create an exciting performance with an unusual twist.

He is to stage a version of his play, a light-hearted look at Manx culture entitled ’Cheese, Chips and Gravy’, and is looking to recruit local performers to act in the play.

He is to spend the week before the festival holding workshops in schools and the community for anyone interested in becoming part of the cast. He stresses that participation in the play is open to all. No experience necessary, and all you need is a passion to perform, learn and create.

Anyone interested in trying their hands in treading the boards should contact the vent organisers [email protected]

Elsewhere, a first world war drama which has only been previously performed at the National Youth Theatre will be staged by a local actors.

’The Battle of Boat’ is an original musical written by Ethan Lewis Maltby and lyricist Jenna Donnelly, and features a cast aged between eight and 18.

It is set during World War One and centres on rival gangs of children who engage in the war effort while defending their home territory from bullies.

Among the cast is Robin-Mae Lawler, the winner of this year’s Young Singer Of Mann competition.

Both plays are on the opening night of the festival, Friday, October 6.

The second day of the festival sees two new exciting directions for the festival.

A new, original piece of dance theatre, created entirely on the Isle of Man by a locally-based choreographer and dance teacher and featuring dancers from both the island and from the UK.

Pippa Salter, who runs the island-based Academy of Dance, has written a piece based on the Manx legend of Lhiannan Shee, who is a beautiful spirit who preys on artistic people. This will feature music composed for TheatreFest 17 by Charlotte Marlow, a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music who has also written music the Manchester Camerata, the Shion Duo and the award-winning A4 Brass.

Dancers from the UK-based Ludus Youth Dance Company will feature during the performance.

Also new this year is an original film, ’Three Mothers’, which was written by Mathilda Valevitch, and entered into the playwriting competition of last year’s festival.

The tale, which focuses on the intertwining lives of three women, was turned into a short film by director Dave Armstrong and stars Stephanie Gray, Lisa Creighton and Jacqui Hawkes in the three roles.

The annual competition to write an original one-act play will also run throughout this year’s Theatrefest.

The winner will have the work performed as part of TheatreFest 18 and the deadline for entries is December 31st 2017. Full details of the competition can be found on www.iomarts.com, and all entries can be submitted to [email protected]

The festival is sponsored by the Isle of Man Arts Council, with help from the Isle of Man Steam Packet, and Chairman of the Arts Council, Geoff Corkish MBE MLC,said:.

’After the success of the inaugural and 2016 TheatreFest, this year’s festival is more varied than ever and offers the theatre going public the chance to see something new.’

Tickets for the 2017 Theatrefest are available online through the Villa Marina box office, from the Isle of Man Government Welcome Centre or by ringing 01624 600555. Tickets are priced £10 for each evening, with concessions £8. Ticket for both evenings are £15.

by Mike Wade

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