Local schoolchildren enjoy show by award-winning Guangzhou Art Troupe
Fire breathing puppets and a Chinese dragon performance were just some of the highlights at a University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) Chinese New Year celebration.
Schoolchildren from across the region joined local visitors and the Mayor and Mayoress of Preston at Venue 53 for a puppet and music show by the award-winning Guangzhou Art Troupe from China. The troupe has performed around the world and treated the Preston audience to Lingnan puppetry and Cantonese music and songs.
Jack Sim, 12, from St Bede’s Catholic High School in Ormskirk attended the event. He said: “I thought the fire breathing puppets were really cool and something totally different to what I’ve seen before. The Chinese culture seems interesting and it’s a country I’d like to visit.”
"It was a fantastic performance and we were all taken by surprise when the fire breathing puppets came on stage."
Teacher Jackie Burley from Leven Valley C of E Primary School in Ulverston brought her class to the celebration. She said: “In November I went on an exchange trip to China with UCLan and we’re now looking at Chinese language and culture in class. The children were totally enthralled by today’s performance and really enjoyed it.”
The current Mayor of Preston, Councillor John Collins and Mayoress Mary Brade also attended the event. Councillor Collins said: “It was a fantastic performance and we were all taken by surprise when the fire breathing puppets came on stage.
“Through its Confucius Institute, UCLan is able to link Preston with China and involve the local community in cultural events like this. We are delighted to take part in the University’s Chinese New Year celebrations.”
The UCLan Confucius Institute, which organised the event, also held workshops at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery for local people to try a variety of activities including Chinese calligraphy, painting, papercutting and lantern making to mark Chinese New Year.
"Every year we aim to bring world-class Chinese performers to Preston to celebrate Chinese New Year and this one was no exception."
Director of the UCLan Confucius Institute Feixia Yu commented: “Every year we aim to bring world-class Chinese performers to Preston to celebrate Chinese New Year and this one was no exception. People were really amazed by some of the performances and enjoyed this visual spectacle.”
Pupils from Farrington Moss St Paul's C of E Primary School in Leyland, Colne Park High School, St Bede’s Catholic High School in Ormskirk and Leven Valley C of E Primary School in Ulverston attended the celebration.
View images from the event on the UCLan Flickr gallery.