Award-winner Grandad Anansi returns to Z-Arts

Jazmine Wilkinson as Abi and Marcus Hercules as Grandad in the previous production of Grandad Anansi.

Winner of Best Performance at the 2023 Manchester Culture Awards, family theatre production Grandad Anansi is back by popular demand at Manchester's Z-Arts centre (October 2-4). The show, co-produced with Half Moon Theatre, toured to more than 30 venues and libraries three years ago.

Local Hulme legend Marcus Hercules, an established reggae artist, returns to play Grandad in a production developed with the African Caribbean Care Group and local schools in Hulme, Manchester, celebrating the stories, culture, and heritage of the community.

Local writer Elayne Ogbeta drew inspiration from her father's experiences as part of the Windrush generation and on the richness of local culture, to make this a community-rooted production.

The story follows Abi and her Grandad as they share games, secrets and Anansi folktales in the garden.

Z-arts is the UK’s only arts centre dedicated to offering best-practice in creative provision for children and families The company aims to inspire young people from Greater Manchester and the region to use creativity to maximise their potential. The centre engages with tens of thousands of people a year through outreach programmes with local communities, schools and college groups, and international touring theatre shows.

Facilities include a 230-seat theatre, a studio theatre, immersive experiences, Children’s Library, the Z-cafe, a family escape room, music space, a dance studio and more.

More info and tickets here