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Dance to
Neverland in an exciting new project from the Liverpool Empire's
Creative Learning team
THE Liverpool Empire's
Creative Learning Department is delighted to announce its latest
project – A full scale dance production of the classic fantasy story
Peter Pan!
The project will be choreographed by Liverpool Empire's newest
member of the Creative Learning Department Lauren Taylor. A Laban
trained dancer and choreographer, and fully qualified ballet
teacher, Lauren said:- "As the Stage Experience productions
have been so successful in the past I wanted to create something of
the same calibre solely for dance. We want to introduce new people
to the dance experience and to showcase all the talent we have in
the North West".
On 5 May 2013, 100 young people between the ages of 11-21 years will
be chosen from an open audition to take part in the project.
"There really is something for everybody from Principal roles of
Peter and Wendy, the fearsome Pirates and boisterous lost boys, to
exquisite fairies and beautiful mermaids."
Laura Meeson, Co-choreographer and dance teacher at Merseyside Dance
and Drama Centre, said:- "Peter Pan youth ballet will
introduce young people and their friends and family to dance at the
Empire Theatre, while simultaneously offering serious ballet
students the professional performance experience to develop their
skills".
Natalie Flynn, Creative Learning Manager for the Empire, said:-
"We're absolutely delighted to be presenting this unique
interpretation of Peter Pan through the Empire's Creative Learning
department. It's another exciting development for the department
which continues to go from strength to strength and will once again
provide a fantastic platform for the talented young performers from
the region."
Through dance we are going to create a magical tale of swordplay and
swashbuckling adventure where Wendy and her brothers help Peter Pan,
Tinkerbelle and the lost boys fight against Captain Hook in a land
where children are heroes!
If you are interested in taking part in this production of Peter Pan
please contact Lauren Taylor at Liverpool Empire's Creative Learning
Department on:- 0151 702 7339 or via
email.
Auditions are free to anyone who completes and returns an
application form by 29 April 2013.
The Empire Performing Arts Group provide opportunities for young
people to work with professionals in a professional environment,
preparing them for the world of work within the theatre industry and
many of those involved go on to pursue professional careers in
performing arts. Some of those who are involved in the Youth Theatre
Group have secured places at some of the best drama schools in the
country. |
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Merseyside MPs
Reluctant to Act on Palestinian Children
ONLY 3 Merseyside MPs have
supported a Government-funded report which condemned human rights
abuses against Palestinian children. In September 2011 a
delegation of 9 senior UK lawyers, funded by the Foreign Office,
visited Palestine and investigated the treatment of Palestinian
children detained under Israeli military law.. Their report Children
in Military Custody was published in June 2012.
The report highlights the fact that Palestinian children are subject
to Israeli military law while Israeli children are subject to
Israeli civil law. It lists violations of both the Fourth Geneva
Convention and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child -
failure to advise children of their legal rights on arrest:-
►
Shackling of children.
► Transfer of child detainees to Israel.
► Solitary confinement of children.
► Administrative detention of children, without trial.
Similar issues have also been
raised by Defence for Children International (Palestine) and the UN
Commission for Human Rights.
At the beginning of this year, a House of Commons Early Day Motion (EDM
280) welcomed the Report and asked for action from the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office. The EDM was initially signed by 72 MPs but none
of these were from Merseyside.
Members of Liverpool Friends of Palestine contacted ten Merseyside
MPs to ask them for their response but only three have taken any
real action. Frank Field (Birkenhead) and Bill Esterson (Sefton
Central) have both now signed the Early Day Motion. George Howarth (Knowsley
North) has this week asked Parliamentary Questions on night-time
arrests of Palestinian children, on recording Israeli police
interviews with Palestinian children; and on the blindfolding or
hooding of Palestinian children on arrest.
Stephen Twigg (Liverpool West Derby) and Maria Eagle (Garston and
Halewood) replied that as members of the Shadow Front Bench they
were unable to sign EDM 280 or raise the issue on the floor of the
House. Mr Twigg has previously raised concerns of his constituents
about Palestinian human rights. Ms Eagle expressed her concern about
the detention of Palestinian prisoners without trial for long
periods.
Luciana Berger (Liverpool Wavertree), Louise Ellman (Liverpool
Riverside), Alison McGovern (Wirral South), Esther McVey (Wirral
West) and Shaun Woodward (St Helens South and Whiston) have taken no
positive action. Ms Ellman and Ms Berger passed their constituents'
concerns to the Israeli Embassy, while Ms McGovern passed them to
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for reply. Ms McVey simply
replied that Alistair Burt, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had referred the matter to
the Israeli Embassy. The constituent who wrote to Mr Woodward has
received no reply at all.
It is extremely regrettable that so few Merseyside MPs have signed
the EDM or asked questions in Parliament. We have released this
statement to coincide with Palestinian Prisoners Day. |
