Three of Manchester’s libraries will swing open after hours to welcome audiences and dancers as Company Chameleon’s Illuminate goes on a tour of Longsight Library, North City Library and Wythenshawe Forum Library.  The dance shows follow the huge success of the run packed performances at Manchester’s Central Library.

The original full scale performances premiered in November 2017 at Central Library, where four evening performances of Illuminate were quickly booked up, with 450 people take a journey around Central Library to experience the dance production.

Each performance is free, bringing cutting-edge, contemporary dance to the heart of local communities, providing an extraordinary experience between the bookshelves and showcasing just what exciting and creative spaces libraries can be.

Commissioned by Library Live, the performances are supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, to promote great arts experiences within easy reach at Manchester’s libraries.       The performances by six of the company’s professional dancers are to be specially adapted to each of the three local libraries, with four scenes being performed in four different spaces at each library.

Each dance performance will be followed by a free question and answer session, where audiences can quiz Company Chameleon and the dancers, to find out how Illuminate was created and performed.

Illuminate’s choreography aims to bring to life the stories and characters which live in the pages of library books, inspired by classic story-telling and the themes which underpin literature.

Speaking about Illuminate, Co-Director of Company Chameleon, Kevin Edward Turner, commented, “Our biggest commission to date, Illuminate at Manchester Central Library was without a doubt one of the most exciting projects we’ve undertaken.  We’re delighted to be given the opportunity to take extracts from the production in to different communities in Manchester through local libraries.  We hope to give people a new and exciting experience of dance to remember.

Where and when is Illuminate performed in Manchester?

Illuminate is performed at:
Longsight Library – Wednesday 31 January, 7pm
North City Library – Thursday 1 February, 7pm
Wythenshawe Forum Library – Friday 2 February, 7pm

Tickets may be booked at library counters or www.companychameleon.com