Rochdale Observer

Take a seat for tales from jungle and city

- PREVIEW BY STEVE COOKE

THIS Spring Factory Internatio­nal is offering lots for all tastes with an adaptation of Jungle Book by Robert Wilson with Cocorosie, best-selling author Armistead Maupin and the Paraorches­tra with Brett Anderson and Charles Hazlewood.

●●JUNGLE BOOK, 27 TO 31 MARCH

Jungle Book swings into town in a spellbindi­ng stage production from visionary director Robert Wilson with original live music from Cocorosie

Step into the enchanting world of the Jungle Book.

The timeless tale of man cub Mowgli and his friends comes to Manchester in a stage adaptation directed by Robert Wilson with original music from Cocorosie.

Perfect for all ages, this retelling of the classic story shines a light on tolerance, friendship and humanity – celebratin­g childhood and all things wild and wonderful.

See Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera and pals come to life through stunning set designs, dazzling costumes and a dreamy original soundtrack.

Co-produced by Factory Internatio­nal, Jungle Book has already wowed audiences in Paris, Florence and Antwerp, before arriving in Manchester for its very first shows in English.

Soundtrack­ed live by

original music from Cocorosie, director Robert Wilson has crafted a magical show set to delight children and adults alike.

Ready to roar with laughter and let your imaginatio­n run wild? Welcome to the Jungle Book.

This show is suitable for all ages. Please note some scenes feature loud and sudden noises that may not be suitable for some younger children.

Under 16s must be accompanie­d by an adult aged over 18.

»●The Hall, Aviva

Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ »●Standard tickets £30, »●Affordable tickets £15, £10 tickets

»●Running time: 1 hour 15 minutes (no interval) »●Accessibil­ity features available for this event: Captioning Audio

Descriptio­n BSL Interpreti­ng Wheelchair Access

●●AN EVENING WITH ARMISTEAD MAUPIN, 4 APRIL

Following several successful UK tours, bestsellin­g, much-loved author and LGBT activist Armistead Maupin is heading back out on the road to celebrate the longawaite­d tenth novel in the Tales of the City series Mona of the Manor.

Maupin has been blazing a trail through US popular culture since the 1970s, when his iconic and ground-breaking series Tales of the City was first published as a column in the San Francisco Chronicle.

The novel series has been taking the literary world by storm ever since and was recently adapted

by Netflix into a critically acclaimed series, starring Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis and Elliot Page.

Don’t miss the chance to join America’s ultimate storytelle­r in conversati­on with a special guest host, as he recounts his favourite tales from the past four decades, offering his own engaging observatio­ns on society and the world we inhabit.

»●The Hall, Aviva

Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ »●Tickets: £25, £35, £40

●●DEATH SONGBOOK, 26 APRIL

An exquisite reimaginin­g of iconic songs exploring love, loss and transcende­nce.

Paraorches­tra, Brett Anderson and Charles Hazlewood come together for Death Songbook – an anthology of music by

icons such as Echo and the Bunnymen, Skeeter Davis, Japan, David Bowie/jacques Brel and Suede.

Journey through the melancholy and euphoria of loss with new takes on famous songs about death.

Amplified by the diversity of Paraorches­tra musicians and with new arrangemen­ts by composer Charlotte Harding, Death Songbook is a reminder that music is our greatest friend in the darkest of times.

Contrary to Paraorches­tra’s bold and electronic­ally influenced output, Death Songbook embraces a predominan­tly acoustic sound.

Celebrate a multiplici­ty of styles, moods, and textures through an unusual combinatio­n of instrument­s – from the hammered

dulcimer to the Wurlitzer piano.

Charles Hazlewood is the Artistic Director of Paraorches­tra – a Bristol based ensemble of disabled and non-disabled profession­als.

They are joined by the lead singer of Suede, Brett Anderson.

»●The Hall, Aviva

Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ »●Tickets

»●Standard tickets £30 »●Affordable tickets £15 and £10

»●A maximum of 4 tickets per person applies.

»●Age Guideline: Under 14’s must be accompanie­d by an adult aged 18+ »●Running time: 70 mins approx.

»●Accessibil­ity features available for this event: Wheelchair Acces

 ?? Lucie Jansch ?? ●●Jungle Book at Factory Internatio­nal Credit: Lucie Jansch
Lucie Jansch ●●Jungle Book at Factory Internatio­nal Credit: Lucie Jansch
 ?? ?? ●●Best-selling author Armistead Maupin
●●Best-selling author Armistead Maupin

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