• Photo: Koen Broos

  • Photo: Koen Broos

  • Photo: Koen Broos

Once Upon A Story

Once Upon A Story, created within Manchester Town Hall, housed a treasure trove of stories of and about childhood, where anything is possible and audiences find themselves at the heart of the action. Inne Goris presented four pieces of work for the 2013 Manchester International Festival.

Daydream (aged 3 to adult) Come in. Settle down. Close your eyes and listen. Are there bees living in your ears? Has the sea stopped crying? Is the house sighing? Let the music caress you – inside a 40′ shipping container (15 minutes).

Long Grass (15 to adult) A challenging and thought provoking full-length installation performance, inspired by the dreams and memories of child soldiers. Long Grass encourages us to ask questions and draw parallels between the soldiers’ experiences and our own lives (60 minutes).

Once Upon A Time (four to adult) A sparkling, wordless performance using material from classic fairytales, taking the whole family on an adventure into the dark heart of the fairytale… and out again! (60 minutes).

ZigZag ZigZag (nine to adult) A story about adventurous friendship, unfortunate circumstances and the pain of letting go (60 minutes).

Press

  • 'Daydream [part of Once Upon A Story] makes you dream, thanks to the intimate setting and the music specially composed by Dominique Pauwels. This is the ideal way to start fantasising and playing with children.'

    Knack

Audience Comments

  • ‘It was a real privilege to host ZigZag ZigZag [part of Once Upon A Story] in our school. The majority of our children come from significantly disadvantaged backgrounds. It is really important for their cultural development for them to be made aware of the opportunities that the arts can offer to them.’

    Teacher, Crab Lane Community Primary School

  • Co-Producers

    Once Upon A Story (previously Dregs) toured Belgium in Winter/Spring 2008. In cooperation with CC Genk, Crying Out Loud, Moose Foundation, Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie.

    With the support of Cultuurcentrum Berchem, De Pianofabriek, Bronks.