Young Explorers: Wallace and Gromit – A Close Shave at RNCM

There’s something wonderfully British about Wallace and Gromit. The cups of tea, the elaborate inventions and, of course, Wallace’s enduring love of cheese. More than 30 years after their first appearance on our screens, Nick Park’s much-loved characters are still entertaining audiences of all ages. And this February, they’re heading to Manchester’s RNCM for a special afternoon of film and live music.

Part of the RNCM’s Young Explorers series, Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave brings the Oscar-winning animated adventure to the big screen, accompanied by a live performance of Julian Nott’s original score from the acclaimed KNDS Fairey Band. It’s the Manchester premiere of this unusual collaboration between Aardman, the band and the RNCM.

First released in 1995, A Close Shave finds Wallace and Gromit embarking on a new window-cleaning business. Things take an unexpected turn when Wallace falls for wool-shop owner Wendolene Ramsbottom, and a rather mischievous sheep, soon named Shaun, turns up at their door.

Before long, the pair find themselves caught up in a sheep-rustling mystery involving Wallace’s latest invention – the Knit-O-Matic – and the decidedly sinister Preston. With plenty of slapstick, ingenious contraptions and feel-good humour along the way, Gromit is once again left to quietly save the day.

What makes this screening different is the music. Rather than hearing the film’s recorded soundtrack, audiences will experience Nott’s score performed live by a brass band, bringing an extra layer of drama and humour to the action on screen.

The RNCM’s Young Explorers concerts are designed with families in mind, offering a relaxed, informal introduction to live music. Children can experience the excitement of a brass band up close, while grown-ups get to revisit one of Britain’s best-loved animated adventures.

A cracking way to spend a Sunday afternoon, particularly for families who appreciate a good bit of Wallace and Gromit nostalgia.