Ind-E-Focus

The Library Theatre in Manchester was host to a special exhibition which showed intimate moments behind the scenes at the theatre, as seen by four young care leavers within the local community;

The photographic exhibition at the Library Theatre earlier this year, The Things You Don’t See, now has a 15-minute documentary to accompany it.

The Things You Don’t See is an exhibition of photographs taken behind the scenes at the Library Theatre by four young people run in partnership between the theatre’s Community and Education department and children’s charity Barnardo’s Manchester Leaving Care Service. Currently on display in the Library Theatre’s Horniman Bar, the exhibition has been covered in the local and national press. The project is supported by Manchester City Council’s Working Neighbourhood Fund.

The four participants - George McNicholls, Ryan Shaw, Tarrack Wain-Ferns, and John Wood - were mentored by freelance community photographer Charlotte Barnes as part of a major project working with young people who have just left care. The photos, taken in departments of the Library Theatre not normally open to the public such as wardrobe maintenance, lighting and sound, and the props department, allowed the four budding photographers an insight into the theatre as it prepared for the opening of Great Expectations.

Going behind the scenes at the theatre, the DVD, produced by the theatre’s Community and Education department, and children’s charity Barnardo’s Manchester Leaving Care Service, features interviews with theatre staff, exclusive backstage footage, and much more.

The four film-makers - George McNicholls, Ryan Shaw, Tarrack Wain-Ferns, and Tiffany Connor - worked with leading local film company Seal Films on the project and the DVD will be available to watch via the theatre’s young people’s website from Friday 6 March 2009. (Source: The Library Theatre - Photography Exhibition At The Library Theatre)