Festival shows variety is the spice of life

21 Mar 2011

A theatre festival which celebrates the languages taught and spoken at The University of Manchester is entering it’s fifth year with a week of performances in March.

The Palaver Theatre Festival, jointly organised by the University’s School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures and the young people's arts organisation Contact takes place this week between 21 and 26 March.

University students will stage the plays in Hebrew and Arabic, French and German, showcasing three foreign language plays.

Middle Eastern Studies Arabic and Hebrew students present “The Stalker” by Ruti Worrall in Arabic, Hebrew and English, a play about Jewish-Arab differences produced by lecturer Sophie Garside.

German Studies will perform the darkly comic “King Kongs Töchter” by Theresia Walser.

And French Studies will devote their talents to Eugène Labiche’s classic farce “Edgar et sa bonne”.

Throughout the festival week, an exciting programme of music and performance will run alongside the plays with events ranging from music concerts to a Hispanic Flash Mob.

Thomas Despositos, language tutor in the University’s German Department and organizer of Palaver, said: “Palaver is going from strength to strength and we are delighted to be entering our fifth year.

“Who would have thought five years ago that Palaver would turn out to be such a success.

“Palaver offers a unique opportunity to see fresh new productions of foreign language plays and catch some great tunes – do not miss it.

“If variety is the spice of life, then we think the University with students from over 180 countries - is the place to be – and this is a wonderful illustration of that.”