manchester

entertainment

Arts and Theatre

The Lowry

Pier 8, Salford Quays

Salford Quays are worthy of a visit if only to glimpse this metallic structure, but this place is also the gem of Manchester and Salford's arts scene. Inside, the two pristine theatres play host to various dance, theatre, comedy and music events. In the ample gallery space, the Lowry exhibits a range of art, including the largest collection of work by the building's namesake.

Contact Theatre

Oxford Road, Manchester City Centre

The wacky, space-age fortress on Oxford Road is actually a theatre exposing cutting-edge drama and art. Showing mostly youth orientated touring shows and work created by the in-house theatre company, this place provides exposure for up-and-coming writers and performers and hosts regular dance, acting and MC-ing workshops.

Library Theatre

St Peter's Square, Manchester City Centre

Beneath the pale pillars of the Central Library rests this character-filled basement theatre that, despite having hit middle age a few years back still has a solid reputation for new work and packed programmes each season. The theatre also has it's own company and arranges workshops and talks by theatre directors to accompany performances.

Royal Exchange Theatre

St Ann's Square, Manchester City Centre

What was the hub of cotton trading in the Victorian period is now the darling of theatre land. Slap in the middle of town, the Exchange's theatre in the round provides a space to expose work from the city's largest theatre production company. The studio theatre airs work by young writers and smaller scale productions to equally high standards.

Green Room

Whitworth Street West, Manchester City Centre

Hidden in two railways arches beneath Oxford Road Station, the Green Room is one of Europe's leading centres for contemporary performance arts. It's associated with numerous events and festivals in the city and holds events nurturing and presenting emerging creative talent in visual performance, live art, contemporary dance and children's theatre.

The Opera House

Quay Street, City Centre

The Opera House is one of the first stops for West End Shows once they have left London.

The Palace Theatre

Oxford Street, Manchester City Centre

The Palace Theatre hosts big names and musical extravaganzas.

The Bridgewater Hall

Lower Mosley Street, Manchester City Centre

The Bridgewater Hall is Manchester's state-of-the-art concert hall and home to the mighty Halle Orchestra.

Music

MEN Arena

Victoria Station, Hunts Bank, Manchester City Centre.

For International names, the Manchester Evening News Arena is the place to play. The near 20,000-capacity venue regularly allows the worlds biggest artists to put on the most extravagant of shows, - expect props, lasers and beach balls. You're bound to have a good night should you get ticket for "the hottest show in town."

Night and Day

Nestled away down Oldham Street is the infamous Night and Day cafe, a venue that has built up a solid reputation for staging up and coming acts. Elbow's Guy Garvey, Doves and Badly Drawn Boy can often be found at the bar, tapping their collective feet to the sound of the new breed. Barely holding 200 people the word "intimate" springs to mind, and this is bettered by the quality of the sound system and the significant number of attractive young indie poseurs.

Carling Apollo

Stockport Road, Ardwick Green

The 3,500-capacity Apollo is the stuff of legends. You name them, they've played here: Queen, Bowie, Dylan even Rooster. The venue was fashioned from the remains of a 1930's cinema, and the sloping floor ensures that everyone gets a good view.

Academy

Oxford Road, Manchester City Centre

Voted as the North West's top venue by the NME, the Academy is Manchester's venue-du-jour, with signed bands from the UK and abroad filling up the schedules. From indie big hitters selling out the 1,500-capacity Academy 1 to the understated next big things in the intimate Academy 3, there is always an extensive list of quality acts. The Academy is Student Union owned so the drinks prices are cheap as are the tickets.

Roadhouse

Newton Street, Manchester City Centre

For straightforward rock and roll, there is no better place to go than the Roadhouse, a venue as much a part of Manchester as any other. Whilst the walls might not look so pretty, there is an awful lot of history contained within them. Indeed local heroes Oasis and The Verve launched their fledgling careers inside this 200-capacity sweatbox. The Roadhouse is the place to catch Manchester's next big things, and perhaps the place to catch a vial of sweat in the process.

Late Room

Below Life Cafe, Peter Street, Manchester City Centre

The swanky Late Room naturally plays host to everything acoustic, roots and folk. Amongst the glistening handrails, polished floorboards and general cocktail bar trimmings, you'll find an array of eclectic talent that none of your friends will have heard of. The Life Cafe is another venue that has begun to establish a firm reputation for hosting the best in undiscovered talent, and regularly throws its doors open to the region's unsigned artists at the HMV Showcase.

Comedy

Beginning at the furthest reaches of Deansgate, the arches of the Locks provide an unlikely location for what is arguably Manchester's most treasured live comedy venue, the Comedy Store (Deansgate Locks, Whitworth Street, Manchester City Centre). It can accommodate up to 500 chuckling bodies, plus the bar and brassiere encourages you to make a night of things. Past acts read like a who's who of comedy greats. The Comedy Store is generous to students with bargain entry at £3, and an added bonus is that when you leave you can smirk at the over dressed young things at the bars down the way.

If things are a little too commercial for you here, a trip away from the bustle of Deansgate is in order. The Frog and Bucket (Oldham Street, Manchester City Centre), is nestled on the edge of the Northern Quarter and although it's not classy, it's certainly fun. And surely that is the point of a comedy venue. Beat the Frog on a Monday is free to get in, while you can expect to pay £10 and up over the weekend for "A Barrel of Laughs". This place plays host to both rising stars and well-known jokers alike.

For £12 and a walk up to the Gay Village you will find Jongleurs, (Bar Risa, Chorlton Street, Manchester City Centre). This place has a good reputation. Shelling out a little more to see established regulars as well as up and coming talent pays dividends at this place.