Filming begins on Blackburn-based screenplay (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Filming begins on Blackburn-based screenplay

9:36am Monday 15th March 2010 in

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BLACKBURN’s streets are to set the scene for a new film about growing up in a multi-cultural society.

Filming starts today at venues including Blackburn railway station, Blackburn Boulevard and Corporation Park for the 20-minute screenplay called Steps to Tread, exploring young people’s perceptions of living in the town.

Coronation Street’s Graham Hawley, who plays John Stape, John Henshaw, who appeared in Early Doors and Born and Bred, and Noreen Kershaw of Life on Mars fame, are giving their time to appear alongside 120 local actors.

The drama tells the tale of a young Asian man, played by local actor Zulf Patel, 19, who returns to Blackburn after living in London for 10 years.

He sees how the town has changed and wants to challenge perceptions of segregation between communities.

Belthorn-based actor and director Paul Simpson said: “The issues of living in a multi-cultural society are massively complex, but hopefully this film will reflect the possibility of hope.

“It is idealistic and some people say it’s a tricky subject, but I don’t agree – these things need to be out in the open and discussed.

"The Cantle Report published last year, which said Blackburn is the second most segregated town in Britain painted a pretty gloomy picture, and I don’t think that many people will have read 126 pages of it.

“Hopefully this film can propagate and provoke some thoughts about how we can live together as a united community in an more digestable way.”

The drama has been commissioned by Blackburn with Darwen Council, which received funding from the Youth Justice Board.

It is hoped that it will be screened in schools and in youth offending sessions across the borough.

Anyone who wishes to be part of the crowd scene at the end of the film is invited to attend filming at the Viewing Platform, Corporation Park on Sunday, March 28 from 1.30pm.