Lowry theatre opens its doors for dance, drawing and decor
THE Lowry goes from strength to strength; not only can it do free open days to a superb standard but it puts on super touring productions including the Royal Shakespeare Company with As you like it, Taming of the Shrew and Measure for Measure.
The open day is a model of how to do it.
Once a year the theatre puts on a range of samplers for kids and adults of all ages.
This year I learned that I can’t do modern dance for the over 55s.
Hosted by a Ballet Rambert instructor, we were put through our paces to show how the troupe did their work.
I left with a further respect for them. Not only are they physically deft they have an enhanced brain experience.
The message is, go dancing for a healthy mind and body.
But I discovered that I can draw (almost) like LS Lowry.
A brilliant art teacher gave a masterclass for complete beginners in drawing.
By the end not only could I draw a terrace of Salford houses but I could also draw a Lowry dog with a collar.
A wondrous experience that was followed by 20 minutes of opera singing by a principal with Opera North: a song from La Boheme sung within two paces is a knockout experience. Look out for the Opera North visit, 12-16 November.
I missed out on the cupcake production and decoration class.
And the (mostly) children seemed reluctant to share the cake when they had produced it.
Fortunately, the yoga sampler allowed me to get rid of my hunger.
But seeing that Toast, Nigel Slater’s account of his childhood with tastes and smells, was coming to the theatre from 11-16 November gave me a fresh appetite.
As the Mail says: ‘the show rises like a good souffle’.
It was wonderful to see that both Ballet Rambert (October 30 - November 1) and Matthew Bourne’s
The Red Shoes (November 26-30) were coming to the Lowry.
Every little potential dancer should make sure their parents take them to The Red Shoes.
Just as Billy Elliot demonstrated that a young, northern lad could become a major star, The Red Shoes shows that it only takes dedication and immense hard work coupled to talent and determination to become a smash hit dancer.
Sadly, despite the Lowry’s best efforts, not me.