2 December 2014

Polly Checkland Harding Posted 2 December 2014

Introducing our Advent Calendar – here’s the second post in a cultural countdown to Christmas. Today: theatre and big hands.

Tonight it’s White Rabbit, Red Rabbit at Contact, a play with no director, no set and a different actor for each performance, written by man trapped in his own country. Denied passage for refusing military service in Iran, Nassim Soleimanpour came up with an original concept that has since been guest performed by Juliet Stevenson, Tamsin Greig and Mark Watson. Tonight, actress Shobna Gulati takes to the stage (and tomorrow it’s the turn of John Thomson). Tonight, 7.30pm, £9/£5 conc.

Do more. If you’re after a pre or post theatre drink, Big Hands is just around the corner. Haunt of Guy Garvey and bands fresh from the Academy 1 stage, Big Hands is dark, noisy and a bit of a dive – which is exactly why we like it.

Destination Guides

Spotlight on

Beer Gardens in Manchester & Salford

Make the most of the sun in one of Manchester's many top-notch beer gardens.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North

Punchy verbatim shows, comedy festivals and rave-fuelled Shakespeare feature in this month’s eclectic pick of live theatre.

Family things to do in Manchester and the North

School may have started, but the arts and cultural fun hasn't stopped! From spooky theatre to arty parties, families are spoilt for choice.

Tours and Activities in Manchester and the North

Develop a new skill with this month's workshop and learning based tours and activities guide.

Literature Events in Manchester and the North

This year's Manchester Literature Festival tickets are being snapped up, and festival fever is also taking hold in the suburbs as well as further afield.

'I bet you haven't even had the surgery'

Exhibitions in Manchester and the North

From intricate textiles to a medieval poem-inspired arts festival, there is lots of new art to see before the autumn rains start for good.

A young man, in the driver's seat of a car, passes a cigarette to the older woman next to him, while anther young man sits behind.

Cinema in Manchester and the North

Look out for Widescreen Weekend, a celebration of Women of the West and a Leeds Cinema Crawl as we head into leafy Autumn.

Classical Music in Manchester and the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.

Music in Manchester and the North

From synth pop and jazz punk to meditative piano and Indian classical, read about the autumn shows that have piqued our interest.

Food and Drink in Manchester and the North

Take some eating-out tips from this month's guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.