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Former Burnage schoolboy Naveed Choudhry is to star in an international cultural coup for Manchester.
Naveed, aged 21 from Fallowfield, plays a lead character in the film Kapital, one of the world premieres in the Manchester International Festival.
Naveed studied at Burnage High School and auditioned with the Contact Young Actors Company at the Contact Theatre.
Manchester people will also have seen him in 2002 dressed as the alternative Commonwealth Games mascot – Mad Ferret, who performed in front of the Queen at the opening ceremony of Manchester’s XVII Commonwealth Games.
He said: “I love Manchester – it’s a very lively city. The whole experience has been overwhelming and if I told somebody 12 months ago that I’d be in a film, they would have laughed at me. It has built my confidence and I am happy I am doing something I love.
”The Festival will definitely bring a lot of positive vibes around town. It’s a great opportunity for people like me to get involved.”
The Festival, from 28 June to 15 July, is expected in its first year to attract 160,000 visitors, supporting thousands of jobs and investment for Manchester people.
Lin Clifton, 52, auditioned for a part in Kapital – by Greg Hall – at the Zion Arts Centre in Hulme. She was given the part of Anne, a homeless lady in tune with the city and the way it has changed. Lin was born in St Mary’s hospital, lived in Wythenshawe and moved around the city as a child. Lin said: “My grandmother in Wythenshawe lived in a two up, two down with an outside privy. I remember that we lived in the backroom and weren’t allowed to go into the front room, because it was only for special occasions like Christmas.” For more information, see Phil's a Festival volunteer and visit www.manchesterinternationalfestival.com or telephone: 0871 230 1888 for tickets.