It’s that most festive of months, so make the most of the impending celebrations with our selection of the best things to do in December. From alternative Christmas shopping to where to find the best Santa, from seasonal food and drink to winter exhibitions and events, and from new theatre and panto to music concerts, it’s all here. All together now: ho ho ho…
“They should all hate me for what I've done, but everyone loves me for it & it’s driving me crazy”
As the Iraqis mark a grim anniversary, we look at how the Iraq War is represented in books, TV and film. Ten years since the start of the invasion of Iraq. It hardly seems like…
The city was the hive, its mills swarming with workers
Take a tour of Manchester with us and find out why the Manchester bee is everywhere: on buildings, bridges and even bins. I was once sitting in a cafe in Withington, south Manchester, and a…
A remarkable collection of images that reveal nature as it actually is
A new photography exhibition showcases the other-worldly works of David and Angela Unsworth The Materials of Mountains is an exhibition of extraordinary large format photographs that reveal the beauty of the fells, quarries, rocks and ghylls of…
Give the kids something magical this Christmas. Take them to see this.
Carol Ann Duffy doesn’t do light and fluffy, but her new festive play, Rats’ Tales, is all the better for the darkness The progenitors of our fairy tales, German Märchen, were gripping stories grown-ups told…
Creating artwork can be one of the darkest arts
A far-ranging contemporary art exhibition at Castlefield Gallery features an eclectic selection of work Artists who write extensively about their views on life and their creative influences are rare birds. Because so many prefer to…
It's as if we are being told: "You think this is good? You ain’t seen nothing yet!"
Humble drawings, superstar artists: does this Liverpool art exhibition debunk the myth that drawing isn’t ‘real’ art? There’s something very much under the radar about this latest Liverpool art exhibition. Not wishing to be vulgar,…
A classic production - & an invisible steam train
This production of The Railway Children has all the hallmarks of a Christmas classic Let’s face it, no traditional British Christmas is complete without a few tearjerker film classics: White Christmas, The Snowman and It’s…
Festive pantomimes are finally growing up
Forget traditional pantomime – try the Library Theatre Company’s far more exotic Arabian Nights Pantomimes for the festive season are finally showing signs of maturity. No longer are they the sole preserve of half-hearted pantos…
Christmas concerts come but once a year, so make the most of the Hallé Orchestra’s seasonal offerings. You’d have to be a close relative of Scrooge not to enjoy, even a teensy bit, a cracking…
Underground Manchester art space 2022NQ is rapidly becoming one of the city’s best for original art – with an original approach to promoting art, too Manchester art space 2022NQ may only have been open six…
Manchester gallery, Untitled Gallery, shows a playful video work this winter Situated around the corner from the Christmas markets by Manchester Town Hall, Untitled Gallery is easily overlooked. Nestled within the Friends Meeting House and…
Looking for Christmas things to do? Try some seasonal theatre, courtesy of The Lowry’s White Christmas If a dusting of the white-stuff is what it takes to get you in the festive mood, then try…
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