What's On
A free Gruffalo and Julia Donaldson exhibition is coming to Greater Manchester
Right in time for the school holidays!
A free Gruffalo exhibition is coming to Greater Manchester this summer.
The new attraction will open at The Lowry arts centre, Salford, right in time for the school holidays in July — and will run for the rest of the year.
It will celebrate the popular children’s books including the Gruffalo, Zog, Stick Man and Room on the Broom created by author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler.
Visitors will get the chance to have a peek into the original workings of their award-winning partnership — which has spawned some of the best-loved characters in fiction.
Entitled Julia and Axel – Thirty Years of Favourite Stories, the creative showcase will feature a special ‘storybook room’, snippets from the animated versions of the likes of The Gruffalo, Zog and Snail and the Whale — as well as an exploration of how Julia and Axel have worked together to create their iconic works.
From Saturday July 22nd, this free family-friendly exhibition will feature several of Julia Donaldson’s personal writing notebooks; containing the very first ideas and creative thinking behind her picture book stories.
These will be shown alongside Axel Scheffler’s artwork, showing the process of his illustrations from sketches and works in progress, to full page final illustrations that readers are familiar with seeing in the finished books.
Throughout the exhibition there will be lots of fun opportunities for children to be creative as they are guided to write their own stories, draw pictures, dress up, and play fun games inspired by the books.
Julia Donaldson says: “I am delighted that we are working in partnership with The Lowry on this exhibition and that they are celebrating 30 years of Axel and me working together.
“It is exciting to be able to share some ‘behind the scenes’ secrets with our young readers and to show what happens before a finished book is in their hands.
“I hope that it will help them to feel creative and to start writing and illustrating their own stories, so that we have new picture-book creators in the future.”
Axel Scheffler says: “I find it hard to believe that it is 30 years since Julia Donaldson and I did our first picture book together with A Squash and a Squeeze. So much has happened since then and many children have now enjoyed our stories over the years.
“I am very pleased that The Lowry is hosting this special celebratory exhibition and that it will give families the chance to discover more about my illustrations and Julia’s writing.”
Michael Simpson, Director of Visual Arts at The Lowry, says: “This is a unique celebration of the creative partnership of Julia and Axel, whose stories and pictures are loved by children and grown-ups alike.
“We want every family to think of The Lowry as the place to go for a great day out.”
Julia and Axel – Thirty Years of Favourite Stories will be on at The Lowry from Saturday July 22nd 2023 to Monday January 1st 2024.
What's On
The Champions League final is being shown at Manchester’s biggest fan park
A Sky Sports presenter plus a genuine footballing legend will be there to give their match analysis
A Champion’s League Final festival is coming to The Love Factory in Manchester for the big game next month.
Sporting events company, 4TheFans has announced its UEFA Champions League Final Festival FanPark at Love Factory in central Manchester on Saturday, June 10th.
Man City secured their place at the Istanbul final when they beat Real Madrid at the Etihad.
As the Blues march into the final for what could be a historic treble, families are welcome to watch them at this the huge indoor and outdoor event — opening its doors from 3pm. The match will kick-off at 8pm GMT.
Only 10 minutes walk from Manchester Victoria, it will be the ultimate place for all the family to watch Manchester City take on Inter Milan.
Fans will get to enjoy the big game on huge anti-glare screens and soak up entertainment including a Sky Sports presenter, football legend, DJs, competitions, and fun footy activities — the atmosphere will be immense!
Hosting the event will be a Sky Sports presenter plus a Man City legend to give their match analysis and have bags of banter as part of an interactive show for the fans.
The real festival atmosphere will continue as fans enjoy a variety of food and drink (including award-winning pies), and more.
All ages are welcome making this the most family-friendly fan park available. Kids can take on their parents in footy activations including penalty shootouts, and a precision wall to test their accuracy.
And when Manchester City score, get ready for big celebrations with awesome special effects such as pyrotechnics and cO2 cannons!
Tickets are expected to sell out fast so fans should move quickly to secure their spot and avoid disappointment! General admission tickets start at £8 per person for a group of six, and £10 for individual tickets with a VIP box starting from £75 per person.
To book tickets and find out more CLICK HERE.
What's On
DJ Fat Tony coming to Selfridges for Q&A about new ‘outrageous’ memoir
He hung out with Leigh Bowery and Andy Warhol, and created his drag persona, before becoming DJ to the stars
DJ Fat Tony is coming to Selfridges, Manchester this week to do a Q&A about his new ‘outrageous’ memoir, I Don’t Take Requests.
Join one of the most controversial DJs to ever grace the UK party scene along with his co-author Michael Hennegan in conversation, as they celebrate the paperback release of I Don’t Take Requests.
The live discussion with the DJ, about his life and memoir, will take place on Friday, May 26th 6-8pm. Tickets cost £10 and guests will receive a free paperback copy of his new release as well as the chance to enjoy a live DJ set.
Throughout his life and career, the DJ has grappled with addiction, a HIV diagnosis and various career challenges.
Harrowing, honest, and funny, I Don’t Take Requests is the ‘candid and outrageous memoir of a life of extremes’.
It’s a story of ‘getting it all and losing it all’. Addiction, recovery, and starting again. Drawing a vivid portrait of Britain’s street culture from the 1980s to the noughties.
DJ Fat Tony describes his childhood on a London estate where he honed his petty criminality, was abused by an older man, and became best friends with Boy George.
He spent his teenage years parading the Kings Road in his latest (mostly stolen) clobber, worked as a receptionist at a brothel, hung out with Leigh Bowery and Andy Warhol, and created his drag persona, before becoming DJ to the stars (including Prince and Madonna) and spiralling into a life threatening drug addiction.
Now 16 years sober he has enjoyed a renaissance in life, becoming one of fashion’s favourite DJs. He does this whilst being a leading voice on the sobriety scene and an LGBTQ activist.
Tickets cost £10 and include a copy of I Don’t Take Requests, a Q&A panel discussion, as well as a live DJ set.
For tickets to the event click HERE.
Fri 26th May, 2023 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Men’s Level 1, Selfridges, 1 Exchange Sq, Central, Manchester M3 1BD.
What's On
Cabaret with sword-swallower and aerial acts coming to a Manchester rooftop
A sword-swallower, contortionists, unicyclists and a woman who likes to be suspended by her hair are some of the creme del la creme cast featuring at La Clique
An internationally acclaimed, award-winning circus and cabaret is coming to a Manchester rooftop next week.
La Clique will wow audiences with its stunning performances for a limited six-week run as it takes over the rooftop of Manchester Depot Mayfield.
Presented by live entertainment company Underbelly, La Clique will blow audiences away with its genre-defining cabaret — set to take off Thursday May 25th.
The show has chosen Manchester for its very first North of England residency, after several years of success in London and Edinburgh.
Born in the UK’s comedy capital of Edinburgh, Underbelly Festival launched in London’s Southbank in 2009 and ran for 10 years on the banks of the Thames. It has also run pop up events in Leicester Square, Cavendish Square and Earls Court.
A beautiful 1920s Spiegeltent — much like a traditional circus — will deck the roof of Depot Mayfield ready for the launch of this trailblazing show.
Inside, there’s a central circular stage with multiple seating options, including private booths for up to eight adults, each table coming with a bottle of prosecco.
The internationally acclaimed cabaret will bring a full cast featuring the world’s finest circus and cabaret acts including, straps aerial performer Oscar Kaufman, creative powerhouse Tara Boom, world-renowned sword swallower Heather Holliday — joining the previously announced Lj Marles, Miranda Mezieas and Chastity Belt.
This spectacular show promises a night of laughs, gasps, naughtiness and the best in circus and cabaret.
Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood, Co-Directors of Underbelly, said: “We’re beyond thrilled to finally bring Underbelly to Manchester this Summer, and we can’t think of a show more perfect than La Clique.
“La Clique is all about audiences having the most incredible time in the majestic Spiegeltent, being entertained by the world’s best circus, cabaret and comedy performers – your jaw will be on the floor one minute, and your stomach in pains from laughing the next.”
David Bates, Creative Director and Originating Producer of La Clique, said: “La Clique has been described as: ‘Over the Head, Under the Skin and Below the Belt…’ – it is the original circus cabaret that has taken the world by storm from Paris to New York, and everywhere in between.
“It’s sexy, it’s funny, it’s dangerous… Manchester, strap yourself in, it’s your turn now to feel the thrill and we couldn’t be more excited!”
Laura Percy, Development Director for Depot Mayfield, said: “Manchester’s cultural credentials are second to none and we are thrilled and excited to welcome the pioneering and eclectic brilliance of La Clique to Mayfield this summer….
“We’ve re-imagined the iconic Depot as an ever-evolving and atmospheric cultural space fit for world-class artists like La Clique. Huge credit to our partners at Broadwick for their passion and creativity in bringing outstanding new shows like this here.”
La Clique Manchester runs every evening from Tuesday to Sunday (from Thursday May 25th) with starting times varying between 7pm and 9.45pm.
To celebrate its opening, La Clique Manchester is offering limited early bird tickets for the first two weeks where stalls tickets are reduced to £25 per person. Tickets are automatically discounted via the website. Hurry, limited tickets available!
Tickets available now from £19.50 for a limited 6-week from Thursday 25th May, click HERE. For a private booth for up to eight adults including a bottle of prosecco, click HERE.
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