Wonderstruck

People United collaborated with Manchester Museum to commission Daniel Bye, Sarah Punshon and Boff Whalley to explore the theme of ‘wonder’.

Theatre maker and writer Daniel Bye led the project, working with director Sarah Punshon and playwright, songwriter, musician Boff Whalley (of Chumbawamba). Joshua Coates later joined the project as associate artist and performer.

Their vision was to collaborate with the museum staff, visitor and local community groups to reflect and magnify the museum’s extraordinary collection.

Four choirs – the Manchester schools Network Choir, Golden Voices Community Choir for older people, the all-female SHE Choir and the Ordsall A cappella Singers – worked with the artistic team to reflect and magnify the museum’s extraordinary collections  and bring to life their stories, culminating in a weekend of surprise performances, including a celebratory large scale collaborative performance that combined text, movement and song.