Closer, riskier, more immediate. Focusing on smaller stages, our latest theatre picks stretch from unsettling fables about nationhood to the inner workings of a mind trying to hold itself together.

Across Manchester and Salford, exhibitions are thinking hard about how things are made – and how materials carry stories.

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.

Step away from the usual. Tours and activities that spark curiosity, inspire creativity and offer something refreshingly different.

This month’s live music picks move between ambitious new work, grassroots celebrations and a few memorable settings.

Spring has arrived, bringing with it al fresco dining and a rush of high-profile food and drink-related events in Manchester.

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.