From MancMade to A Taste of Honey - fifteen things that should be on your radar
Looking for more great things to do in June? Then check out our Essential Guide to 2018 in Manchester: this month ft Parklife, Manchester Day and more
FAYE WEI WEI| Centre for Contemporary Chinese Arts | 11 May - 8 July
Continuing their Concepts of Gender season, CFFCA present a collection of new works by celebrated artist Faye Wei Wei; whose large-scale figurative artworks draw viewers into an imaginative, painterly world that brings together symbolism, mystery and mythology.
Centre for Contemporary Chinese Arts, Market Buildings, 13 Thomas Street, M4 1EU (10am-5pm Tues-Sun; free)
A TASTE OF HONEY | Oldham Coliseum | 25 May - 9 June
Written by playwright Shelagh Delaney when she was just eighteen, this Salford classic is recognised as the pre-cursor to Coronation Street. One of the finest post-WW2 ‘kitchen sink dramas,’ it follows the life of Jo - a teenager whose life is dominated by her alcoholic mother in a Salford bedsit - and features many Morrissey lyrics. Talking of The Smiths, check the new exhibition at Central Library celebrating the band’s golden age.
Oldham Coliseum, Fairbottom Street, Oldham, OL1 3SW (tickets from £16 at patronbase.com)
REPRESENT! VOICES 100 YEARS ON | People’s History Museum | 2 June 2018 - 3 February 2019
A crowd-sourced exhibition reflecting on those who campaigned for better representation, Represent asks how far we’ve really come a century since the Representation of the People Act. Highlights include the Manchester suffragette banner; which will be displayed for the first time alongside sashes, brooches, photographs and cartoons, helping to paint a picture of what representation meant in 1918.
People’s History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, M3 3ER (10am-5pm; free)
A CAMBODIAN SPRING | Odeon | Monday 4 June
The critically-acclaimed political documentary A Cambodian Spring will be coming to Manchester with a special Q&A screening featuring monk and Human Rights Activist Venerable Luon Sovath and director Chris Kelly; whose intimate portrait of three people caught up in the chaotic (and often violent development) shaping modern-day Cambodia was shot over six years.
Odeon Great Northern, 235 Deansgate, M3 4EN (6pm; tickets £4.99 at ourscreen.com)
CAMDEN TOWN BREWERY POP-UP | Newton Street | 6-10 June
The popular brewers will be hosting riso zine workshops, live music, art gallery, comedy and even a barbershop for at their NQ pop-up. Stop by for a haircut and a beer, a portrait and a beer, a gig and a beer… or even just a beer. All events are free of charge.
16 Newton Street (next to Cottonopolis), M1 1HE (Wed-Thurs 1-10pm, Fri-Sun 12pm-10pm; free sign-up at camdentownbrewery.com)
TELLING TALES FESTIVAL | 70 Oxford Street | 8-10 June
Celebrating the under-represented area of non-fiction documentaries, Telling Tales welcomes documentary professionals, students and aficionados from around the world to Manchester for a three-day feast of films and audio; as well as discussions, panels and good ol’ Northern hospitality.
70 Oxford Street, M1 5NH (various times; tickets from £4.20 at mmu.ac.uk)
CAT CAFÉ BINGO | Cat Café | Saturday 9 June
Raising money for Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary - the largest of its kind in North West England, with over 450 animals - Cat Café’s charity bingo promises a raffle, unlimited hot and soft drinks and of course plenty of time with their furry friends.
Cat Café, 103 High Street, M4 1HQ (7.30pm; tickets £17 at catcafe.co.uk)
CHARGE | MediaCityUK Piazza | Saturday 9 June
This summer, Quays Culture again presents a one-off exclusive performance with world-renowned dance circus company Motionhouse - who blew audiences away last year with Broken. An exhilarating new multimedia show inspired by the role of electricity in the human body, Charge will be an outdoor spectacular that is free for everyone to attend. Also in Salford Quays this month, don’t miss the annual Salford Dragon Boat Festival.
MediaCityUK Piazza, M50 2EQ (9.30pm; free)
MARX IN SOHO | The King’s Arms | 9-10 June
On the bicentenary of Karl Marx’s birth, the UK gets its World Premiere of Marx in Soho - a one-man play dedicated to the revolutionary thinker by renowned historian and activist Howard Zinn. Expect a passionate, funny and moving defence of Marx’s life and political ideas.
The King’s Arms, 1 Bloom Street, Salford, M3 6AN (7pm; tickets £12 at kingsarmssalford.com)
SHORTLIST | Saul Hay Gallery | 9 June - 22 July
A diverse show featuring work from sixteen North West artists currently exhibiting in the 'New Light Prize Exhibition' - whose ‘emerging artist’ prize was judged by Saul Hay owners Catherine and Ian - Shortlist spans the woodcut prints of Anthony Ratcliffe to the brutal mixed media of Mandy Payne.
Saul Hay Gallery, Railway Cottage (behind Bass Warehouse), Castle Street, M3 4LZ (Wed-Sat 10.30am-6pm, Sun 10.30am-5pm)
RACE THE TRAIN| Bolton Street Station | Sunday 10 June
Fancy a running event with a difference while fundraising for Y Club’s community youth projects? Here’s your chance. In partnership with East Lancashire Railway, this unique race allows runners to quite literally ‘race the train’ from Bury to Rawtenstall Station; following railway lines and the Irwell River.
Bolton Street Station, Bury, BL9 0EY (11am; tickets £20, email info@ymcamanchester.org.uk or call 0161 837 3510)
MIDSUMMER PICNIC CONCERT | Victoria Baths | Thursday 21 June
Victoria Baths’ latest fundraiser promises music by Manchester's Vivaldi Ensemble, a gourmet picnic supper by Peter Booth of The Modern Caterer, a bar featuring bevvies curated by Reserve Wines (or bring your own bottle), a raffle and unique evening access to the whole stunning Grade II* listed building. Sounds like a good’un.
Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, M13 0FE (7pm; tickets from £21.79 at eventbrite.co.uk)
GOBEFEST | Albert Square | 22-24 June
After last year’s successful debut - which saw 10,000 revellers try out traditional folk dancing, hear a zither orchestra and taste delicacies like chimney cake and lángos - ‘the UK's only Transylvanian & Szekler Hungarian festival’ is back with even more events; including a pálinka bar, extended European showcase and ‘mititei’ sausage sampling.
Albert Square, M2 4JW (12-11pm; free entry)
CHORLTON COMEDY FESTIVAL | Chorlton Central Church | 29-30 June
MC’d by Evan Desmarais, this debut chortle fest features over twelve comedians. Friday acts include Simon Lomas, Heidi Regan, Hugh Davies and Daniel Muggleton - while Saturday’s line-up features Danny Sutcliffe, Larry Dean, William Stone, Simon Wozniak, Sarah Keyworth, Brennan Reece and Will Hutchby.
Chorlton Central Church, Barlow Moor Road, M21 8BF (various times; tickets from £10 at chorltoncomedyfestival.com)
MANCMADE FESTIVAL | 53Two | Saturday 30 June
Following a successful three-day festival launch earlier this year, MancMade at 53two has re-formatted and is squeezing all of the goodness into one day of brilliance - featuring plays, live music, performance poetry, art and food, all under one ‘quintessentially Manc, brick roof’.
53Two, Lawrence House, 8 Albion Street, M1 5LN (doors open 3pm; tickets £9 or two for £15 at 53two.com/mancmade)
