PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Z-arts voted best family theatre in North West and announce more children's shows for 2014
Z-arts
335 Stretford Road, Manchester, M15 5ZA
Z-arts have swatted away the competition to be crowned Netmums best local theatre in the North West region 2013, as voted by the website's members. The venue was the central hub of last year’s Big Imaginations Children’s Theatre Festival and recently picked up a Manchester Theatre Award nomination for its Christmas show Duck!
The former church on Stretford Road in Hulme has long been a creative space for young people, and in the last two years Z-arts’ ambition has expanded to include programming theatre experiences for children and families. ‘We have a wonderful theatre space which many people were not aware of" says Z-arts CEO Liz O’Neill“It is our ambition to be Manchester’s venue for children and families so it made sense to use the space to bring in quality children’s shows.’
Z-arts have managed to attract some of Britain’s, even Europe’s, best touring companies by teaming up with 14 other North West venues to form Big Imaginations. The consortium which formed in 2012 has made it viable to attract the best children’s theatre to the region, and Z-arts play host to a Big Imaginations performance at least once each month. ‘It’s amazing how our audience has grown since we first started, we love seeing the theatre full of happy faces and watching families sharing an experience’ says Liz‘Winning the Netmums award and having our own show recognised by the Manchester Theatre Awards is testament to all the hard work we’ve put in, and shows that there is a real appetite for quality children’s theatre in Manchester.’’
Netmums regional editor Karen Duttonsays 'Congratulations to Z-arts on being voted favourite theatre in the North West by Netmums members. A well-deserved award, I was lucky enough to see Duck! before Christmas and I was very impressed with the quality of the acting by the talented cast and by the clever staging. Z-arts offer a fantastic range of family shows at affordable prices, performed in a very family friendly venue.'
Z-arts will hope to attract more families in 2014 with children's theatre taking centre stage in their new season programming. Starting with an adaptation of Nadia Shireen's cherished book Hey Presto!, the season includes another chance to see Z-arts own Pinocchio, an interactive performance for babies called Circles In The Sand and an adaptation of the classic children's book Not Now Bernard. Netmums will be at Z-arts on the 22nd of February to present their award before a performance of the Nordic fairy-tale Tomten. With more shows soon to be announced, it's a great time for Manchester's next generation of theatre-goers.
ends/
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Press Enquiries Contact: Ben Williams, Z-arts: 0161 226 1912,
Attached Images: Hey Presto! By Peaceful Lion Productions and Tomten by Old Saw
Z-arts (formerly Zion Arts Centre) is Manchester’s venue for children and families. Z-arts’ mission is to inspire and enable generations of young people from Manchester and beyond to use creativity to maximise their potential.
Big Imaginations is a consortium of North West venues and promoters dedicated to brining brilliant theatre to the North West.
Netmums was founded in 2000 and is the UK's fastest-growing online parenting organisation with over 1.6 million members and 6.2 million visits.
Children’s Theatre–Spring Listings Information
Hey Presto
By: Peaceful Lion Productions
Date: Sat 25 Jan, 13:00
Age: 3+
Tickets: £7/£5
Box Office: 0161 232 6089
Tomten
By: Old Saw
Date: Sat 22 Feb, 11:00 & 13:00
Age: 3+
Tickets: £7/£5
Box Office: 0161 232 6089
Pinocchio
By: Breaking Cycles & Z-arts
Date: Sat 8 Mar, 13:30 & 19:30
Age: 6+
Tickets: £8/£5
Box Office: 0161 232 6089
Circles In The Sand
By: Half Moon
Date: Sun 30 Mar, 11:00, 13:00 & 15:00
Age:Under 3
Tickets: £7/£5
Box Office: 0161 232 6089
Not Now, Bernard
By: Unicorn Theatre
Date: Fri 4 April, 10:30
Age: Under 3
Tickets: £7/£5
Box Office: 0161 232 6089