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Open Air Theatre in Manchester and the North

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Balmy summer evenings and pre-show picnics; the popping of corks and the clinking of glasses; high-quality performance, good company and nature’s very own top tier ventilation system, make open air theatre one of our favourite things.

We’re pleased that theatre companies and venues across the UK are currently gearing up for an exciting summer of outdoor performance.

Veterans of outdoor performance, Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre always brings the goods, alongside Lancaster’s Williamson Park, which will provide the perfect backdrop for an Alice in Wonderland adventure this summer.

Here’s our round-up of outdoor theatre happening in Manchester and the North over this summer. Check back soon – we’ll be updating this list with more shows as we find them.

Seasonal Guides

SFTOC 2024
May Bank Holiday 2025: Things to Do

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Manchester International Festival 2025
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Easter Bank Holiday Weekend in Manchester and the North

Read our top ideas for things to do over Easter Bank Holiday weekend in Manchester and the North, with or without chocolate…
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Explore the best Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite collections in the North, a region rich in work from this period.
Easter Holidays in Manchester and the North
Things to do over the Easter Holidays

Looking for things to do with the family over the Easter school holidays? We’ve got you covered.

Destinations

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Spotlight on

Walking Tours in Manchester by Jonathan Schofield

Presenting the best walking tours in Manchester for history buffs, culture enthusiasts, and those looking to scratch beneath the surface of the city.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Sextile
Music in the North

Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring. 

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Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

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Literature Events in the North

If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.