Culture Guides
Destination Guides
Seasonal Guides
Manchester is a theatre city, with a set of excellent venues for both fringe and blockbuster shows. Perhaps the most striking of these is the Royal Exchange, a theatre in-the-round built within the city’s former cotton trading hall (and that rather resembles NASA’s lunar lander). Then there’s HOME, opened in 2015, which has quickly become a hub for the creative community. And, on the fringe side of things, Hope Mill Theatre has added a touch of industrial beauty – not to mention some great musicals – to the scene.
Here are our picks
-
1. HOME Manchester
Paul Karalius HOME Manchester, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 4FN - Visit now
Manchester’s new, £25m arts complex boasts 500 square metres of gallery space and five cinema screens as well as its 500 seat theatre; host to UK premieres, visiting companies and internationally focused work, the offering at HOME is as ambitious as it gets.
-
2. Contact Theatre
Contact Theatre, Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 6JA - Visit now
Contact has always been the place for emerging theatre, dance, spoken word, hip hop and digital performance mash-ups. With a recent £7m refurbishment, the theatre is gearing up for performances to restart in early 2021.
-
3. The Lowry
Image courtesy of Visit Britain The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Salford, Greater Manchester, M50 3AZ - Visit now
In addition to award-winning theatre, the programme for The Lowry’s two theatres also includes touring popular acts, classical music, dance and opera. Just opposite Media City, a decent café (with good kids’ options), a restaurant and ‘terrace bar’, plus a shop all fit under its unusually shaped roof.
-
4. Royal Exchange Theatre
Photo: Joel Fildes. Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 7DH - Visit now
This former trading hall underwent a £32m redevelopment after being severely damaged by the 1996 IRA bomb in Manchester’s city centre – and has been delivering stellar productions from its unusual seven-sided glass and steel theatre-in-the-round (the biggest in the UK), and smaller (but still excellent) studio, ever since. Productions here are renowned – both Vanessa Redgrave and Helen Mirren have graced the Royal Exchange’s stage.
-
5. Palace Theatre
Image courtesy of Palace Theatre Manchester. -
6. Octagon Theatre
Image courtesy Bolton Octagon Octagon Theatre, Visit now
Octagon Theatre in Bolton was the first professional theatre to be built in the North West of England after World War Two. Its flexible main auditorium space is perfect for entertaining and thought-provoking productions alike, including Shakespeare, American drama, great European plays and contemporary classics, alongside brand new work, musicals and plays for families.
-
7. Manchester Opera House
© Phil Tragen
Manchester Visitor Guides
Free family things to do in Manchester
The world’s at your fingertips with free history, art, science and creative capers for all ages in Manchester.
Vegan Food in Manchester
Whether you’re a proud vegan or merely curious, let us guide you towards the best vegan food in Manchester for Veganuary.
Afternoon Tea in Manchester
The finest places in Manchester to sip Darjeeling, eat dainty finger sandwiches and slap extra clotted cream on a freshly baked scone.
Art Galleries in Manchester & Salford
Here’s a list of our favourite art galleries in Manchester and Salford – there are so many to choose from, each with its own unique programme.
Libraries in Manchester
Bibliophiles, rejoice: we have rounded up the best libraries in Manchester for your perusal.
Restaurants in Manchester
The very best restaurants in Manchester’s city centre, including ones you know, and future favourites.
Places to go / stay / shop / eat / drink
Things to do right now
Powered by
