Events
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I get excited everytime I ascend those stairs at Aviva. Not least because they’re sweeping and I enjoy a sweeping staircase. But because without fail I know now I’m going to be stepping into a space that’s going to transform into something exciting, engaging and immersive. With huge state-of-the-art projections and a revolutionary sound system, Bigger
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Diana, Princess of Wales, punctuates my memories on occasion. Sporadically, but meaningfully. Occasion 1 – one of my earliest memories is of a humble plastic flag. A Union Jack plastic little flag on a plastic white stick, provided to me in 1981 to fervently and obediently wave inside my childhood home. 2 and a few
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There was a point where I was attending film preview screenings on the regular. On one occasion, Sony brought out the big guns and took our phones off us until after the screening had finished, lest we use them for nefarious reasons. Last night wasn’t quite that extreme, but we were asked to put our
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This week has been rich. Rich in reminders of what keeps me living in Manchester, nearly 25 years after moving here. And it will be no surprise to regular readers (hi mum) that a mainstay of these reasons is the cultural offerings the city bestows. Over the last week, I’ve been lucky enough to experience
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It’s that time again, the popular PUSH festival has returned to HOME for a biennial celebration of North West creative talent. As HOME reliably (and accurately) tell us, over two weeks (our) stages, screens and spaces will be dedicated to showcasing fantastic works from around the region, as well as offering opportunities for creatives to
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I love a bit of nostalgia – although it ain’t what it used to be (ha ha etc…). I started my comedy televisual watching career in the 80s (technically very, VERY late 70s) which soon progressed into the 90s as a teen (don’t you be doing the sums now). My 80s journey I credit very
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I just spoke to my mum, who asked me, “Are you going out tonight?” “No, I went out last night to see a show at the Kings Arms. You know, the cat pub” “Oh yes. How was it?” .”it was really funny, I haven’t laughed quite like that in a while.” “Ah excellent – what
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Coffee and iPhones and printers and festivals and hammocks and hypothetical letters. The Aldi middle aisle? Maybe, but also just a few of the topics that singer/songwriter, satirist, Chris Tavener treated us to at that glorious little theatre space upstairs at The Kings Arms last night. Thanks to my outrageous decision to spend the first
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A fairly frequent visitor to the Lake District and Cotswolds, each time my plus 1 and I are ambling down a country lane, gingerly (me. him- confidently) crossing a stream, roasting ourselves in front of an open fire in an aggressively cosy english pub, we ponder But why, the hecky peck, don’t we relocate and
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In part 2 of a blog series I’m calling a series of posts on shorts (well I am and it is), we’re looking at another jewel amongst so many, in the crown that was and is Bolton Film Festival. As discussed in part 1 – Bolton Film Festival -presenting a short series of posts on
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I’ve never been to Bolton Film Festival. I shamefully didn’t realise it was a thing but was thrilled to discover it was. And what a thing it is. Film festivals are such an indulgent treat and this one is no exception. I write in the present tense as after the ‘physical’ 5-day portion of the
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Wasteman was. a. riot. And to think I nearly missed it? For some reason I’m terrible with Instagram direct messages. I seem to have a blind spot in even seeing them but thank goodness I finally found Joe Leather’s invitation to check out the show. This morning I signed upto Threads so let’s see how
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Thank goodness I’m getting older. The days, weeks and months fly. And so do the years. Most of the time this freaks me out and delivers me into my latest existential crisis. But sometimes it works to my advantage and it feels like no time at all since the last Manchester International Festival, whereas it
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It’s been a while since I visited Waterside Arts in Sale and my first time inside the Robert Bolt Theatre. What prompted my return trip down the Altrincham tram line? Why, Wednesday saw the opening night of Pride in Trafford, in its 5th year, with two shows, the first being Turtle Key Arts’ The Chosen
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If last night’s party was anything to go by, the Nordoff & Robbins Northern Music Awards in November is going to be top. drawer. But what is this Northern Music Awards? I hear you say. Who are Nordoff & Robbins? And speak more of this launch party! Well, my imaginary friends… Two words, Music Therapy.
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A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the spirited, annual Spanish and Latin American festival that is ¡Viva! at HOME Mcr… Festival season hits Manchester! Not on brand, I recently left the streets paved with gold that is Manchester, for a short period to Rome. But before I flounced off, I attended the opening
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As my previous post will speak to, I love short shorts – and I love the North West. Heck, when I heard there was the chance to see the two concepts brought together as one at Manchester Film Festival, I was up those horrendous (but very pretty) stairs to The Mews as quick as my
honorary manc 