The songs, music, language, dance and folklore of the Isle of Man will be explored at Culture Vannin’s Big Bree Workshop this October half term.
Taking place in St John’s from 10am -4pm, October 27-28, young musicians and dancers, aged 10-18, are being invited to get creative with a well-known fairy tale called The Lazy Wife, while learning about Manx culture through singing, dancing, music-making, storytelling and craft.
Re-dubbed The Clever Wife for this occasion, the two-day workshop will be led by tutors from the traditional music and dance scene.
It will close with a free showcase concert for family and friends.
Bree, which is Manx for ‘vitality’, is a youth education movement aiming to ensure that Manx music and dance remain a living tradition.
Dr Chloë Woolley, Manx Music Development Officer for Culture Vannin, has been running the Bree movement since it began 20 years ago.
She said the key to its success was “making Manx music, song and dance fun, and encouraging students to be creative with it”.
Woolley added: “Bree is an ideal opportunity for young people to get involved in Manx culture, become confident about performing in public, and make new friends.”
Bree members meet monthly for informal traditional music sessions and workshops at Culture Vannin. They perform in public and take part as a band or as soloists in the annual Manx Folk Awards.
Some of its more experienced members have progressed to join Scran – an advanced teenage folk group with a rolling membership.
During the past 12 years, Scran has recorded two albums, performed in the Royal Albert Hall at the Music for Youth Proms, represented the Isle of Man at international festivals and has produced successful bands such as An Corran, and professional soloists such as fiddle player Isla Callister, and harpist Mera Royle.
All young people are welcome to get involved in the Big Bree Workshop.
No experience of Manx music, language or dancing is needed, but students who choose to play are expected to be competent (at least Grade 1 level) and bring their own instrument. The cost for the two-day workshop is £20.
Closing date for applications October 16.
You can find download an application form for the workshop here: