From Wonder Women to Frankenstein and Tim Peake’s spacecraft - our fifteen top things to go see this month
Looking for more great things to do this month? Then check out our Essential Guide to 2018 in Manchester - featuring Cities of Hope, Manchester Film Fest and more...
BREATHE | Manchester Craft & Design Centre | 8 February - 12 May
What does the shape of breath look like? MCDC’s innovative new exhibition explores just that, as glass blower Jahday Ford and digital designer Joseph Hillary team up to push the boundaries of glassmaking. Manchester Craft & Design Centre, 17 Oak Street, M4 5JD (Mon-Sat, 10am-5.30pm; free)
THIS VIBRANT THING | Various | 3-24 March
Part of a new drive to bring more creative experiences to public libraries, this three-day festival will take over Longsight, Wythenshawe and North City with ‘all sorts’ - from live music, yoga and spoken word to exhibitions, workshops, dancers and food. Various times & venues; free
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY | Citywide | Thursday 8 March
IWD takes place annually but 2018 - 100 years since women were first allowed to vote - is particularly significant. Alongside staples like Wonder Women (featuring She Bangs the Drums, main image), the council will be hosting a calendar of citywide events; headlined by A Walk for Women on Saturday 3 March. Various
FRANKENSTEIN | Royal Exchange | 9 March - 14 April
Marking 200 years since its publication of Mary Shelley’s famous Gothic horror, Royal Exchange will be showing a gripping adaption from celebrated playwright April de Angelis. Expect blood, gore and plenty of dismembered body parts… Royal Exchange, St Ann’s Square, M2 7DH (2.30pm & 7.30pm; tickets from £17 at royalexchange.co.uk)
NORTHERN LIGHTS | Contemporary Six | 10 March - 1 April
For over a decade Chris Cyprus has been documenting scenes of everyday northern life, illuminated by both the setting sun and the distinctive warm glow of sodium street lighting. This nostalgic exhibition showcases a selection of these collectible works, launching with a Northern Lights book signing on 10-11 March. Contemporary Six, 37 Princess Street, M2 4FN (Tues-Fri 10.30am-6pm, Sat until 5pm; free)
TIM PEAKE’S SPACECRAFT | Museum of Science & Industry | 10 March - 13 May
A rare chance to view the historic aircraft that took astronaut Tim Peake to space up close and personal, the Soyuz TMA-19M descent module lands at MSIM this spring. It’ll be accompanied by a special events programme, spanning virtual reality to an adults’ evening on 14 March. Museum of Science & Industry, Liverpool Road, M3 4FP (10am-5pm; free)
HANDLOOMS | Alankar House of Sarees | 12-24 March
It’s not often you get to see a play in one of the UK’s last traditional sari shops. A mixture of live performance and audio storytelling through headphones, Handlooms explores the rich traditions of this historic garment across two generations. Alankar House of Sarees , 46-48 Wilmslow Road, M14 5TQ (7.30pm & 9.15pm; tickets from £10 at contactmcr.com)
GREAT SCI-FI MOVIES | Bridgewater Hall | Saturday 10 March
Beam yourself to the Bridgewater Hall, as the Halle presents a galaxy of classic sci-fi tunes; from Star Wars to Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings to The Hobbit and many more. Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, M2 3WS (7.30pm; tickets from £14.50 at halle.co.uk)
PATRISSE KHAN-CULLORS: BLACK LIVES MATTER | Central Library | Tuesday 13 March
Activist Patrisse Khan-Cullors will be talking to Jackie Kay - MLF Patron, writer and poet - about her memoir, When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir in this illuminating event; part of Manchester Literature Festival’s spring series. Central Library, St Peter's Square, M2 5PD (7pm; tickets from £6 at manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk)
MARK THOMAS | The Lowry | 13-14 March
Dodging cultural and literal bullets, Israeli incursions and religion, Thomas and his team set out to run a comedy club for two nights in the Palestinian city of Jenin. Only to find that it’s not so simple to celebrate freedom of speech in a place with so little freedom… Funny, moving and necessary, Showtime from the Frontline is his story. The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford M50 3AZ (8pm; tickets from £18.50 at thelowry.com)
SET THEM FREE | MadLab | 17-18 March
Following the failed Turkish coup of July 2016, 17,000 women and 668 babies remain behind bars. This exhibition exposes their oft-unheard stories through art, photography and a rousing opening ceremony. MadLab, 36-40 Edge Street, M4 1HN (11am-6pm; free)
MISS SAIGON | Palace Theatre | 21 March - 12 May
Love, war and an epic journey of survival - it’s little wonder Miss Saigon is a theatre classic. When the fall of Saigon tears a young Vietnamese woman from her US soldier sweetheart, she faces a three-year epic journey to find him. Will they be reunited? Palace Theatre, 97 Oxford Street, M1 6FT (2.30pm & 7.30pm; tickets from £27.50 at atgtickets.com)
FUTURE SESSIONS: TRUST IN INVISIBLE AGENTS | Manchester Science Park | Thursday 22 March
After taking a hiatus from its popular festival last year, the Future Everything team are back with a new type of event for 2018: a unique day of art, discussions, performance and workshops based on unseen artificial intelligence. Creepy. Bright Building, Manchester Science Park, Lloyd Street North, M15 6GZ (tickets from £10 at eventbrite.co.uk)
SONGIFY LIVE: THE PIANO WORKS | Victoria Warehouse | Friday 23 March
Popular in London, The Piano Works concept hits Manchester for a one-off Friday night bash in aid of Prevent Breast Cancer. With the audience in charge of the music, write your requests on a napkin and the band will make it so. Victoria Warehouse, Trafford Wharf Road, M17 1AB ( 8pm-1:30am: tickets £35 from preventbreastcancer.org.uk)
SONIA BOYCE | Manchester Art Gallery | 23 March - 2 September
Focusing on work from the mid-1990s to the present, MAG presents the first retrospective exhibition by leading British artist Sonia Boyce ahead of a night-nocturnal gallery takeover with Lasana Shabazz and drag artists from Family Gorgeous. Boyce will also be talking about the art that inspires her on 8 March as part of Objects of Obsession.
