If You Fall – at HOME Mcr

I’ve said before, love me a bit of Theatre 2 at HOME Mcr. The smaller the stage, the greater the magic for me. Wednesday night offered another hey presto moment with Ad Infinitum’s If You Fall. Margaret is a pillar of her local community. Norson is a brilliant cook. He loves cricket and fishing. SheContinue reading “If You Fall – at HOME Mcr”

¡Viva! at HOME – Llenos de Gracia

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 openingContinue reading “¡Viva! at HOME – Llenos de Gracia”

Manchester Film Festival – Day 2 – ‘Shorts 1’

I love short shorts, we love short shorts. What’s Manchester Film Festival?! I hear a lone voice in my head cry. Well it’s this. So Saturday morning comes, there are works on the tram line, because of course, but the inconvenience is admittedly minimal. Those pesky steps up to The Mews negotiated, again the actualContinue reading “Manchester Film Festival – Day 2 – ‘Shorts 1’”

Poet Harry Baker at The Edge, Chorlton

I’ve lived in or near most places in Greater Manchester during my 22 year career of being an honorary Manc. My 8 month tenure as a Whalley Range resident led me like a magnet to enjoying the bright lights of Chorlton. And for me, the brightest light of them all was the Chinese takeaway, ‘TheContinue reading “Poet Harry Baker at The Edge, Chorlton”

Opera North’s La Traviata at The Lowry

As Opera North say, La Traviata is perfect for opera newbies as well as diehard opera fans. And I would wholly support this. I guess I would be placed in the middle lane in that I really do enjoy opera, have seen a respectable number of different productions but have yet to reach double figures.Continue reading “Opera North’s La Traviata at The Lowry”

Girl From the North Country at The Lowry

It’s 1934 in the heartland of America and we meet a group of wayward souls who cross paths in a time-weathered guesthouse. Standing at a turning point in their lives, they realize nothing is what it seems. But as they search for a future, and hide from the past, they find themselves facing unspoken truthsContinue reading “Girl From the North Country at The Lowry”

Preview: Manchester Open Exhibition returns HOME this week

Can it be two years since the inaugural exhibition? And what a two years it’s been. Well let’s not go into that, but the first Manchester Open Exhibition was so super, I even walked away with a purchased piece. A piece that soon began to take on layered and multiple meetings in the 12 monthsContinue reading “Preview: Manchester Open Exhibition returns HOME this week”

Review: The Play That Goes Wrong at The Lowry

I like to think that I have a fairly good grip on the entertainment zeitgeist. ‘Think’ and ‘fairly’ being the key words. As although I am aware of the theatre production The Play That Goes Wrong, I wasn’t aware of the television show ‘The Goes Wrong Show’, until asked by a friend whether it translatedContinue reading “Review: The Play That Goes Wrong at The Lowry”

Review: The Patience of Trees at MiF – now available to stream

Only a few days earlier, I’d enjoyed the wonder that was the Damon Albarn gig, as part of the very special Manchester International Festival. Friday it was back to GMEX (am I being tedious refusing to get upto date with this? Such a mouthful) and the space had been transformed into a very different place.Continue reading “Review: The Patience of Trees at MiF – now available to stream”

Review: Opera North’s Fidelio – Lowry Theatre (yes the theatre!)

It’s been so long. So long since I’ve got lost trying to find which door I need to enter to take my seat even though I’ve been a hundred times before. So long since I’ve gone up and down rows trying to find my seat number even though I’ve been a hundred times before. SoContinue reading “Review: Opera North’s Fidelio – Lowry Theatre (yes the theatre!)”

New album from Mcr’s The Electric Stars drops December 21

What do you mean there’s nothing to look forward to, we have no future, 2020 has nothing to offer us mancunians actuary, honorary or passing through (controversial – stick to your own tiered up towns, we’ve got enough problems). Retro rock and roll band, The Electric Stars, are bringing their brand new album, Velvet Elvis:Continue reading “New album from Mcr’s The Electric Stars drops December 21”

A welcome HOME on 4 September?

There’s light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel, my friends. We all know the worries and concerns for the theatre, and indeed arts and entertainment industry as a collective. But as 4 July becomes some sort of D-day, a heralding of freedom, venues who have been left out of the loopContinue reading “A welcome HOME on 4 September?”

Review: Shangri-la at Hope Mill Theatre

The press release promised a run-down B&B which doubled as a swinger’s club, a gambling man, a fortune teller and an elderly deviant. My immediate thoughts turned to Benidorm. It’ll be leopard print, ‘bosoms’, nudge nudge wink winks, Carry On Abroad (at home), that glorious feature length film that took the cast of Are YouContinue reading “Review: Shangri-la at Hope Mill Theatre”

Review: The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel – HOME Mcr

Charlie Chaplin. He was instrumental in my phonics education. He was. And clearly on my cultural radar, and thus important to me, at a very young age (thank you mum and dad). 5 years old and engaged in a word game with my parents. The rules being thus – say the initials of a famousContinue reading “Review: The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel – HOME Mcr”

News: The Lowry offers 20 Salfordians chance to headline WEEK 53 Festival

It’s something we’ve known for a long time – there’s a lot of talent in our region but it’s not just the household names I’m talking about. Thanks to a project called The Twenty, people who dwell in the city of Salford will be provided with the exciting opportunity to turn their creativity into aContinue reading “News: The Lowry offers 20 Salfordians chance to headline WEEK 53 Festival”