Ref: PR2256
Date: 26/06/2009 

Pontefract Town Hall will be hosting a super sweet day of drama and performance as part of this year’s Liquorice Festival on Sunday 12 July.

Tasty Tales and Yummy Yarns is a collection of short plays, monologues and sonnets written and performed by young people from the district.

Performances will be by pupils at four Pontefract schools who have worked with Wakefield Council’s Cultural Officers and by a local theatre company.

The Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Culture Cllr Denise Jeffery said: “The Pontefract Liquorice Festival is always a popular event and local schools and groups often get involved. It will be a real treat to watch enthusiastic young people showcase their talents and perform their pieces which are inspired by local heritage. The project is an exciting opportunity for the pupils as they will have the chance to make new friends and develop skills while learning about local history.”

The week leading up to the Liquorice Festival coincides with national Shine week - a campaign to encourage young people to honour and develop their talents.

Pupils have taken part in the campaign to produce a number of drama pieces to be performed at the Town Hall for the festival. They will also spend a day re-enacting how life was for 17th century servants at Clarke Hall in Wakefield and a day discovering the history of Pontefract Castle. They will also develop their own pieces which will be based on modern day monologues and soliloquies.

The day will include performances from Yew Tree Youth Theatre. The theatre has about 220 members and works with young people all over Wakefield to build their confidence in performing and self esteem.

The 14th annual Liquorice Festival will also have family workshops to create a piece of art from sweets, run by mosaic artist Julie Hand from BAMM North.

Pontefract’s Liquorice Festival, which takes place on Sunday 12 July, will include a craft market and street entertainment, circus workshops, puppet shows and activities for everyone to take part in.

The schools involved in the performance are St Giles School, St Wilfred’s School, Minsthorpe College and Holy Family and St Michaels. Their performances run throughout the day from 11am until 3.30pm.  For more information visit www.wakefield.gov.uk.

ENDS