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Spotty showersMagazine
Days out: Places to, things to do
by Riazat Butt19/ 5/2005
Keep on drumming
It's keep on drumming rather than keep on running as the
Great Manchester Run starts in the city.
Groups from all over the world and with many different musical
styles will entertain the spectators before, during and after the
big race.
Highlights include the world's largest Dhol drum, complete with
strolling musicians, and a wandering mechanical cow (complete with
Alpine cowherds) that eventually performs the first bovine
striptease.
So, as 20,000 runners prepare for the big day on Sunday, the lazier
among us will be looking for entertainment intended for those who
prefer to relax at the weekend.
There will be a carnival of street musicians including steel pan
musicians, samba and skiffle bands and music from the Balkans to
New Orleans.
There will also be junk percussion and a classical trio amid a
wealth of styles and instruments.
And the
Concert de Public - with
Allegro
Barbaro from France - will easily satisfy the needs of
those seeking relaxation but also provide some exercise.
Spectators who intend to cheer on those braving the 10k route will
be entertained by the renowned musicians but also expected to join
in. Allegro Barbaro will lead them in playing pans, whistles,
cardboard, gazoos, woo-tubes as well as encouraging whooping,
yelling and sneezing.
Based in Marseilles, Allegro Barbaro have made similar symphonies
drawing in crowds of 25,000 and urging them to share the sounds of
their city in the form of sounds and chants.
Their visit to the Great Manchester Run is the British premiere for
the musicians and the
concert begins at 6pm in Exchange
Square.
If the sunshine gets your creative juices flowing then be
prepared for a downpour.
Tomorrow (Saturday) young and old can go to
Etherow
Park from 11am to enjoy a stroll and sketch, an event that
does exactly what it says on the tin. You stroll - and you
sketch.
Wear sturdy footwear for the strolling bit and then, once you've
built up an appetite, take out your packed lunch and enjoy
it.
Of course budding artists won't be left to their own devices.
Participants will enjoy guidance and tuition from a qualified
artist.
Booking is, we're told, essential and numbers are limited.
Etherow Country Park, George Street, Stockport. Call 0161
427 6937 for more information.
Out of the Box presents The Strawberry the
Clown Show at the Cinnamon Club, Bowdon, on Saturday morning.
Strawberry has a show to do but the set won't stay up, his hat
won't stay on and his coat has got a life of his own.
Children can go and watch Strawberry as he tries the impossible,
achieves the improbable and makes himself incapable. Your kids
won't know what these long words mean but the show has laughs,
mayhem and, of course, a little audience participation.
One broadsheet newspaper described the play as "consummate
clowning", so it must be good.
The production is suitable for children aged 3 years and up.
Tickets are £5.50 for children and £7.50 for adults. Call
0161 941 7277 or 0161 928 4102 for more information.
Learn the ancient art of belly dancing this weekend in that
hotbed of exoticism - Hale.
Professional dancer
Jenny Bent is holding free
lessons between 2 and 3pm on Saturday at Hale Library, Leigh Road,
Hale Village.
Jenny has been a professional Egyptian belly dancer for more than
eight years and her first major gig was with psychedelic rock band
Hawkwind in 1997.
She has toured all over the region and says: "Belly dancing is good
fun, and for me, great music to dance to, a little different from
traditional North African music."
All ages are welcome and there's no need to book.
For more information call 0161 912 5966
(or visit
www.parsleypie.com).
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