BEYOND THE BARRICADE | Opera House | Fri 20 Mar

Past principal performers from the West End production of Les Miserables present an evening of songs from that show as well as West Side Story, Chess, Miss Saigon, Phantom Of The Opera, and many more.

 

SUPERIOR GOOD & HOUSEHOLD GOODS | Castlefield Gallery | 6 March - 19 April

Part of the Wonder Women festival 2015, Manchester’s feminist festival running from 1-31 March, this 'seductive and unnerving' exhibition of new and existing work - including sculpture, collage, performance and video co-curated with artist Sarah Hardacre - features retro porn, hypnotic censorship and Hugh Hefner in a bunny costume. 

 

COCKTAILS WITH SOCIAL CIRCLE | Artisan | Fri 20 Mar

To celebrate its seventh year (and 5,000 events), this Greater Manchester social group is opening its doors to non-members for one night only and inviting people from across the region to join for a free cocktail party at Artisan from 7.30pm on Friday 20 March (Membership usually costs £20). 

NEW BAILEY PRISON TOURS | 20/21/27 March

Manchester's first major purpose built prison has been exposed as part of redevelopment just over the river from the city centre in Salford. The entrance to the site is from Irwell Street and visitors can view the foundations of the cells - the tiny cramped cells. The tour is fascinating and includes stories of activities such as the treadmill where one individual was recorded as walking the equivalent of almost 20,000ft upwards - two thirds the height of Everest. Top tip: if you can't get on the tour have a gander at the archeology from the top floor of the adjacent multi-storey car park. Booking essential on newbailey@capitalpropertiesltd.com 0161 827 1700

 

JOHN COOPER CLARKE | Apollo | Sat 21 Mar

Salford lad John Cooper Clarke's biting, satirical, political and very funny verse delivered in his rapid-fire performance style resonated with the late-70s punk movement. Three decades on and Cooper-Clarke now draws huge crowds wherever he performs.

 

WOE (Netherlands) : SICK! Festival | Contact Theatre | Sat 21 Mar | £10 

As part of the ongoing SICK! Festival in Manchester, director Edit Kaldor brings her powerful performance to the city. Three teenagers want to talk about something they have no words for. WOE sees them lead the audience through memories of their youth, gradually the usual images of childhood are replaced by images connected to the experience of neglect and abuse. Scientific representations of what happens in the body and the brain during abuse are woven in with subjective experiences, fantasies and dreams.

 

SUN RA ARKESTRA | Gorilla | Sun 22 Mar

Previously lead by Sun Ra, a prolific jazz composer, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his 'cosmic philosophy', the Arkestra does not perform concerts in the conventional sense, nor present a certain style. Expect a lesson in all styles of jazz.

 

LIARS CLUB SUNDAY SERVICE | Liars Club | Sun 22 Mar 

Who says Sunday is a day of rest? Liars Clubs are 'the holy trinity of banging tunes, cocktails and tiki madness'. From Sunday 22nd March they will invite local (and not so local) acts down to 'tear up' the underground rum den once a month. It's funk and reggae with Dub Smugglers this month, hosted by Kuntri Ranks and supported by Liars' resident DJ Stuart Richards.