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Salford star in special TV appearance
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Salford-born actor Christopher Eccleston gives an exclusive television interview around his work with the learning-disabled theatre company Celebrity Pig.
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The actor presents this very personal film about his role as patron to the Wythenshawe-based theatre company for 91Èȱ¬ One's Inside Out North West programme to be broadcast on Friday 22 February.
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In it he describes how he became involved with the group after starring in Flesh And Blood, Peter Bowker's exceptional 2001 drama about a man adopted at birth who discovers as an adult that his natural parents were learning-disabled.
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His mother in the film was played by Dorothy Cockin and it was through Dorothy, a member of Celebrity Pig, that he got involved with the group.
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The actor reveals why he felt compelled to become an active part of the group. He says: "You are accepted for exactly who you are. It's about positivity and acceptance. I just feel very welcome."
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In the programme, Eccleston is seen working with the group, who inevitably ask him about his Doctor Who days "fighting monsters", but who also give what he sees as vital performances.
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He first saw them perform at the Green Room in Manchester in a production called Hidden Voices, a show based around the experiences of the group and people surrounding the group who had suffered abuse and neglect in care throughout the Sixties and Seventies.
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He says: "It's the best piece of theatre I've ever seen. It was volcanic really because there was a tremendous amount of anger in certain people who'd been abused and mistreated and it reminded me of what theatre's for really ... that really is the thing that drew me into the group – because they make vital theatre.
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"Celebrity Pig and groups like Celebrity Pig are using theatre for the right reasons – to give a voice to people who don't necessarily have a voice."
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Eccleston also feels that the potential of the actors in Celebrity Pig should be recognised, not just within theatre and drama, but across society.
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"I don't think we should just think about television and film and theatre, I think we should think right the way across society that these people have huge potential and a huge amount to contribute to our understandings of ourselves.
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"Inclusiveness was basically what Flesh And Blood was about and is what Celebrity Pig is about. It's about demonstrating that there is a depth of talent which is untapped."
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The full interview with Christopher Eccleston can be seen on Inside Out which returns for a new series on 91Èȱ¬ One North West on Friday 22 February 2008 at 7.30pm.
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It can also be viewed on bbc.co.uk/insideout.
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