Manchester has a buzzing arts and culture scene that’s bursting with music, theatre and art. It doesn’t matter if you’re a little bit fancy or love getting down and dirty at a festival, you’ll find the city offers all kinds of incredible events – all summer long. From grassroots theatre productions to immersive cinema and multidisciplinary art, there’s plenty on offer. Not sure where to start? Well, we’ve teamed up with Hendrick’s Gin to curate some of the most exciting arts and culture events in Manchester to try right now.
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You never know what you might find at The Greater Manchester Fringe. A vibrant arts festival that unfolds across the borough for a full month, it brings together a medley of talents from various disciplines to create an exciting programme of emerging acts. Not only will you get your culture fix, but you may well find your new favourite comedian, grassroots theatre show or drag collective.
Jul 1-31
Pride is taking over the streets of Manchester for the UK's biggest Pride celebration, where music, drag, arts and culture for a celebration of the city's LGBTQ history. Headliners for the big gig this year include Jessie J and Loreen, while smaller events take over the city, offering everything from the Gay Party Village to the ‘Buzzin’ to be Queer’ parade. There’s no better way to spend a Bank Holiday weekend, is there?
Aug 23-26
Embracing the unusual? Go ahead and extend that to your social life, why don’t you? Book a spot for you and a few friends to catch this hilarious queer cabaret event celebrating all things Doctor Who. Promising ‘dimension-defying drag, stratospheric stand-up, burlesque to make a Cyberman blush’, this show at HOME is sure to be full of surprises.
Jul 26-27
You don’t need to be a budding Botteceli to take this class. Enjoy getting creative in a relaxed, arty life drawing event, whatever your chosen medium. This particular event focuses on charcoal, with a professional model as your subject. Head on over for a chilled-out experience led by a trained professional to a jazzy soundtrack.
Every second Thursday of the month
Tying in with 40 years of the Castlefield Gallery, ‘40 Years of the Future: Where Should We Be Now?’ encourages visitors to get curious about how we might imagine the future with the recognition that history isn’t the same for everyone. Explore the work of a sculptor, photographer and artist-filmmaker (Jeffrey Knopf, Theo Simpson and Hope Strickland) as you ponder how we pictured the future back then, and how we view it now. Pretty deep stuff, that.
Jul 4- Oct 4
Be transported from Manchester to Verona, where Baz Luhrmann’s acclaimed Romeo + Juliet will come to life all around you. Backyard Cinema’s immersive film experiences are the stuff of legend, and this is no exception. Manchester’s Albert Hall will host a very special screening with a live choir performing iconic songs from the soundtrack, including ‘Young Hearts’, ‘When Doves Cry’, and many more.
Aug 12-17
Keen to find more curious goings-on around the UK? Discover the Hendrick's Gin hub here. Or if you are in more of a stay-at-home kind of mood, discover where to buy Hendrick's Gin here.
