Theatre News

24:7 Stages first Family Show Peggy and Spacemen

24:7- Manchester’s Fringe Theatre Festival stages Peggy and the Spacemen which is tied in with the 50th Anniversary of a momentous historical event. The play by Joyce Branagh – marks this
momentous day, when the streets of Manchester were lined with crowds
waving flags as the Russian hero Yuri Gagrin was greeted by the Mayor.

On 12th April 1961 Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space….on 12th July he came to Manchester! Tuesday 12th July 2011 marks the 50th Anniversary of Cosmonaut Gagarin’s historic visit to Manchester.

Peggy has never been into town on her own, let alone outer space, but she and Rover need to escape from Mean Janine, and see… The Spaceman!  Set around the true events of 1961 when Yuri Gagarin visited Manchester, Peggy and the Spaceman is a fun-filled adventure for all the family.

Yuri Gagarin visited Manchester on his world tour, just 3 months after his historic flight into space, 50 years ago this July.  Children lined the streets with flags to watch the famous cosmonaut drive past in an open-topped car waving and smiling.  He met trade union leaders, went to the Metro Vickers factory and was invited for a celebratory lunch with the Mayor at the Town Hall, with a band playing the Russian National Anthem in St Ann’s Square, and the Soviet flag waving alongside the Union Jack…and this right in the midst of the cold war. What if a young girl, who was unhappy at school, were caught up in all that hope and excitement?

Writer and Director Joyce Branagh was invited to attend the Commemorative gathering to mark Yuri Gagarin’s visit, at the Town Hall on Tuesday 12th July with the Lord Mayor of Manchester.

Peggy and the Spaceman is suitable for children from 6 years and their families and runs from 23 -29 July.