Theatres and concerts

Theatres and concerts

Manchester is one of the North of England’s prime destinations for stage entertainment, with musicals galore, a boisterous mainstream and fringe theatre scene, plus a wealth of ballet, opera and comedy.

If theatres are more your scene then you are spoilt for choice in Manchester. Why not head to the heart of Manchester where the Library Theatre lies? Located at the basement level in the city’s beautiful, circular Central library, timeless classics and modern drama included in the 2009 itinerary are Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n’ Roll and Great Expectations. Likewise the Palace Theatre and Opera House perform touring blockbuster shows such as ‘Mary Poppins’ ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘Lord of the Dance’.

The Royal Exchange

For a unique theatre layout head to The Royal Exchange Theatre which turns out a sensational and varied programme. The circular stage set in a unique seven sided glass-walled capsule within the former centre of the world’s cotton exchange trade, a building worth a look in itself.
www.royalexchangetheatre.org.uk

The Bridgewater Hall

The Bridgewater Hall is Manchester's international concert venue, built to give the best possible space for music. The Hall hosts over 250 performances a year including classical music, rock, pop, jazz, world music and much more. The Hall is home to three resident orchestras: the Hallé, the BBC Philharmonic and Manchester Camerata
www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

The Palace Theatre

The Palace Theatre, on Oxford Street, is one of the best equipped and popular theatres outside London. In its repertoire it hosts major touring musicals often with major celebrities and performances of opera and ballet along with various other comedy acts and one night concerts.
www.manchesterpalace.org.uk

The M.E.N. Arena

Opened in 1995, the M.E.N Arena has staged the biggest names in live entertainment; from U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna and Pavarotti to a record-breaking 27 shows by local band Take That.

Attracting over one million visitors each year, the 21,000 capacity Arena was named 'International Venue of the Year' in 2002 by industry publication Pollstar and has been nominated an unrivalled eight consecutive times.
www.men-arena.com

Opera House

Located on Quay street, The Opera House is a 1,920 seater Grade II listed commercial touring theatre which plays host to touring musicals, ballet, concerts and a spectacular Christmas pantomime.
www.manchesteroperahouse.org.uk

The Lowry

Set in a magnificent waterside location at the heart of the redeveloped Salford Quays, The Lowry is an architectural flagship with a unique and dynamic identity. The Lowry houses two main theatres and studio space for performing arts presenting a full range of drama, opera, ballet, dance, musicals, children's shows, popular music, jazz, folk and comedy and gallery spaces showing the works of LS Lowry alongside contemporary exhibitions.
www.thelowry.com

Chetham’s School of Music

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Keenan

Chetham’s School of Music occupies a unique position in its geographical and historical position in Manchester. For many visitors, Chetham’s is a surprising oasis of creativity in the heart of the city centre; it is where beautiful music, outstanding buildings steeped in English history and talented young musicians meet.

Chetham's is an integral part of the North West's rich cultural heritage, housed in buildings that are nearly 600 years old and boasting a truly unique and magical atmosphere. Its medieval buildings are one of Manchester’s real gems - playing music in the Baronial Hall is undoubtedly an experience in itself!

With 290 or so students, aged 8 - 18, Chetham's is the largest specialist Music School in the UK and the only Music School based in the North of England. Situated in the heart of Manchester, Chetham’s regularly collaborates with the city's leading cultural venues on a range of projects and initiatives, presenting exciting opportunities for students with a dynamic programme of events and performances that are open to the public and are sometimes free to attend. For details of the forthcoming programme, visit www.chethams.com/whats-on.

If you would like to find out more about the history and heritage of Chetham’s, there are guided tours of the buildings on Wednesday afternoons during term time. Call Chetham’s box office for details and availability on 0161 838 7244.