World Book Day 2025: Musical Storyland

Manchester Literature Festival, BBC Musical Storyland LIVE! and Z-arts are pleased to be partnering on a series of free event for schools on 3 March to celebrate World Book Day 2025.

Schools in Greater Manchester have the opportunity to join our FREE in person event with international storyteller Jan Blake, djembe player Yahael Onono and musicians from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for an interactive performance of Ananse and the Monkeys.

Ananse needs some money to buy food so makes some hats to sell but on his way to the market, some monkeys steal them! Can Ananse outwit the monkeys to get his precious hats back? Jan Blake specialises in folktales and myths from the Caribbean, West Africa, North Africa, and the Arab regions.

The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra rehearses at its home in MediaCity, Salford and performs in venues across the North of England, annually at the BBC Proms and internationally.

A highlight of our 2024 Children and Young Peoples’ programme, Musical Storyland is for ages 5-7 year olds and has a run time of 30 minutes. Please note this event is for school groups only and there are three showings at 11am, 12.45pm, 1.45pm available for teachers to book.