Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy collaborates with acclaimed theatre-maker Melly Still to create the world premiere of Rats’ Tales at Manchester’s Royal Exchange this Christmas.
This new show is inspired by folk tales from around the world—including the Pied Piper legend as well as Manchester-based Duffy’s own collection of stories, The Stolen Childhood.
It runs from November 29 to January 12 and aims to get to the heart of childhood to celebrate the spirit of the festive season, charting the painful, often comical journey of growing up.
Ninety schoolchildren from Greater Manchester—in three, 30-strong teams—will appear as the rats.
They will perform alongside a cast which includes Hiran Abeysekera, Meline Danielewicz, Katherine Manners, Dan Milne, Jack Tarlton, Tom Thorp, Rosie Toll, Michael Mears, Emily Wachter and Kelly Williams.
Duffy is Professor and Creative Director of the Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University and for the last five years has hosted regular sell-out poetry evenings in the venue’s Studio.