Six


Our top tips for making the most of the week ahead, with brilliant things to do across the whole of Greater Manchester… For even more ideas, visit our What’s On page. 
 

1. See a new take on a much-loved classic at Waterside arts centre 
 

A wolf in granny's clothing knows all about what fun dressing-up can be, and in this version of Little Red Riding Hood the magical wardrobe will open its doors to a fantastic display of gorgeous garments. The show at Waterside Arts will take kids down the path into the snowy wild wood where they’ll hear catchy songs on the wind and spot hilarious puppets between the trees. Showing this week from Monday 13 December until Friday 17 December. 
 

2. Learn how to make the best Christmas lunch 
 

Food Sorcery is running two special Cooking Together – Festive Lunch events on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 December where participants can enjoy a fun evening blending a meal out and a cookery class – sociable foodie fun. One ticket per couple will include capapes and fizz on arrival before Chef guides you through creating your meal, sharing their knowledge and love of food with cooking and presentation tips throughout. You will then sit down to eat your meal in the company of others in our dining room. 
 

3. Watch one of your favourite Christmas films with a live concert 
 

Love Actually, the seasonal romcom that has become synonymous for so many with the festive period, returns to The Bridgewater Hall on Monday 13 December and will be shown in full alongside an orchestra performing its soundtrack live to picture. In what is now becoming an annual highlight of the holiday calendar, tickets for this one are expected to sell out so book now
 

4. Catch panto at a local theatre 
 

Panto season is well and truly upon us and there are some brilliant shows taking place right across Greater Manchester’s boroughs over the coming weeks. There’s Aladdin featuring Alexandra Burke at Manchester’s Opera House, Dick Whittington at Wigan Little Theatre, Treasure Island at Middleton Arena, Peter Pan at Bolton Octagon, Sleeping Beauty at Salford Arts Centre, Cinderella at Wigan’s The Old Courts, another version of Aladdin at Oldham Coliseum, and many more.  

And it’s not quite panto, but Six is also opening this week at The Lowry, offering a high-camp musical retelling of Henry VIII’s six wives. 
 

5. Enjoy one of more of the new Saturday Walkabout tours series 
 

Local guides Jonathan Schofield, Emma Fox and John Ryan have clubbed together to offer a weekly series of walks taking place around Manchester city-centre every Saturday. The Saturday Walkabout Series will commence each week with a music focused tour at 1pm that sweeps through the popular music scene of the city from the 1960s to the present day. At 3pm a pub tour will offer an absurd yet factual roller-coaster, staggering across three hundred years of Manchester's drinking history. Then at 5pm there will be thrills and laughs on an underground ghost tour packed with Manchester myths. 
 

Book now – Queer Contact 2022 
 

February 2022 sees Queer Contact return to Manchester’s Contact theatre for the first time in the newly transformed venue. Having recently undergone a £6.75 million transformation of its iconic building on Oxford Road, Contact has expanded to create enhanced performance and event space to support queer communities from across the region. Queer Contact began over a decade ago and has since become the beating heart of Manchester’s queer arts scene with highlights of the 2022 programme including drag kings, comedy, variety, ground-breaking performance and the annual Vogue Ball, a riotous head-to-head display of skills from Vogue houses across the North West. 
 

Opening of the week: Moxy Manchester City Centre 
 

New hotel on the block, Moxy Manchester City Centre, has opened its doors this week, aiming to bring more style and socialising to Manchester’s Spinningfields district. The brand-new 146-modern bedroom hotel has a cool living room lobby and hip bar to hang out in even if you’re not staying the night. But if you are, the hotel aims to ensure all guests have a fantastic time from the minute they arrive.