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Friends to the Finnish

Laura Shannon
2/11/2007

INTERNATIONAL friends from Finland came to visit the M6 Youth Theatre for an exchange project called ‘Crossing International Boundaries.’

The Finnish theatre group, called Teaterbiten, is from Vaasa and hosted 10 M6 Youth Theatre members aged between 15 and 25 in February.

The foreign guests were taken to the Trafford Centre, Urbis and The Royal Exchange and worked with a team of professional arts practitioners during their stay.

Ari Sundberg, youth leader for Teaterbiten said: “The project has had a positive influence on all of us and the group have had an experience of a lifetime.”

The group were introduced to the mayor and mayoress, Councillor Peter Evans and Helen Evans, at Rochdale Town Hall. They then travelled to the M6 studio to see a performance by the company’s professional team, ‘Danny, King of the Basement,’ telling a story of hardships and change for the young character Danny.

The project helped members of the M6 Youth Theatre further towards their Silver Arts Award accreditation.

Rowan Davies, director of M6 Youth Theatre said: “It has been a cultural, educational and social adventure for both the Finnish and English young people involved.

“The opportunity for young people to come together from different countries, spend some real time together and experience how others live are invaluable experiences for young people as citizens of a European community.”

Documentation from the exchanges will form part of an exhibition to be displayed in both Rochdale and Vaasa.

The youth theatre is funded by Rochdale Youth Opportunities Fund and The Tudor Trust.