KEY 103 CHRISTMAS LIVE | Phones 4U Arena | Thu 4 Dec
Key 103 have called in Olly Murs, Ella Eyre, Labrinth, Nicole 'shamazeballs' Scherzingher and other pop singers you may or may not have heard of for its Christmas Live concert. They're calling it the 'biggest pop party in Manchester'.
Key 103 Christmas Live tickets
Nicole Scherzinger
SHREK THE MUSICAL | The Palace Theatre | Tues 2 Dec - Thu 11 Jan
Based on the award-winning DreamWorks animation film, Shrek The Musical, has arrived in Manchester. The story of the unlikely hero and Eddy Murphy voiced Donkey will take place at The Apollo. Featuring all new songs as well as cult Shrek anthem I'm a Believer, Shrek the Musical brings all the much-loved DreamWorks characters to life, live on stage, in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza.
Shrek Musical
LEGOLAND | INTU Trafford Centre | Now - Tues 2 Jan | £9.95
There's just something about lego that puts smiles on both kids and adults faces, right? Especially during the Christmas period. From now until 2 January 2015, Legoland Discovery Centre at INTU Trafford Centre is offering a haven for those wanting to give the kids a treat and burn off some energy over the festive period. There's a range of family activities from rides, to scavenger hunts and a giant LEGO advent calendar giving away prizes every two hours. There's also the opportunity to win prizes on Christmas Eve.
Legoland
CHRISTMAS CAROL | The Great Northern Playhouse | Mon 1 - Fri 19 Dec | £35
Pop-up Deansgate theatre space, Great Northern Playhouse, are hosting an interactive 'Christmas knees-up' and two course feast in the parlour of Mr bah-humbug himself, Ebenezer Scrooge. From the critically acclaimed team behind Beulah and Sherlock Holmes: A Working Hypothesis, The Flanagan Collective are inviting guests to join tthem around the dinner table and 'take a journey packed with ghosts, ghouls and spirits galore, right into the heart of Christmas'. Together with Marley and through parlour games, Christmas songs and a little spirited trickery, try to warm the heart of everyone's favourite misanthrope, Scrooge.
Great Northern Playhouse
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS | The Palace Theatre | Fri 5 Dec - Sun 4 Jan
Priscilla Presley will be starring as the Wicked Queen in Snow White, while joining her as Prof the Dwarf is one of the UK's ‘biggest exports' (really?), Hollywood superstar Warwick Davis (Harry Potter, Star Wars, Idiot Abroad). As far as pantomines go, this one's 'star studded'. Priscilla, who is probably best known for co-starring with Leslie Nielsen in the Naked Gun Series and being married to The King, will be making you boo and hiss as she tries to become the fairest of them all.
Priscilla Presley as the Wicked Queen
DAWN FRENCH 30 MILLION MINUTES | The Lowry | Thu 4 - Fri 5 Dec
Dawn French, the Queen of British comedy, has announced her first ever solo tour. The award-winning actor, best-selling novelist and all-round very funny lady has written a new show, based on her life and career, called 30 Million Minutes. 30 Million Minutes will consist of 'various delights and riches, with the odd irksome tribulation thrown in, as Dawn takes audiences through the various lessons life has taught her'.
Dawn French
GREGORY PORTER | The Lowry | Sat 6 Dec | From £34
Los Angeles born, Brooklyn based jazz/soul vocalist Gregory Porter has been described as 'on a mission to revive old-school musical values'. The singer and songwriter began to draw buzz in early 2010 and his sound draws inspiration from early 70s and 80s jazz. Porter says his objective as a songwriter is “to create a sincere message about my feelings on love, culture, family and our human joys and pain.”
PAUL FOOT | The Lowry | Fri 5 Dec | £16
Heralded by critics, Paul’s previous tours have been showered with five star reviews and nominations, credited as “masterful” (Scotsman) and “ingenious” (The Australian Herald Sun). His subversive, insightful absurdity constantly challenges and delights his faithful connoisseurs, leaving “your sides sore and your face wet with tears” (Edinburgh Evening News). His most recent TV credits include BBC1’s Would I Lie To You, BBC2’s Never Mind The Buzzcocks, C4’s 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Comedy Central’s The Alternative Comedy Experience. Don’t miss your chance to see “a cult classic, a relic from the past, a rare exotic bird, he’s special” (The Daily Express).
Paul Foot
BOWLING AND BURGERS | All Star Lanes | Now - Weds 24 Dec
All Star Lanes like Christmas turkeys, but they love a good burger. And since they don’t like to pick sides (unless they're bowling), they've decided the two should be friends. The All Star Lanes turkey Burger is made up of breaded fried turkey, sage & onion pork stuffing, Monterey jack cheese and porter cured bacon all topped with cranberry sauce (£10.50). This festive burger will be kick starting the holiday season in all venues and is sticking around until Christmas Eve.
Turkey Burger
BASEMENT JAXX | 02 Apollo | Sat 6 Dec | From £27.50
Basement Jaxx, British electronic dance music duo from London, England are to play Manchester's 02 Apollo after a bit of a chart hiatus. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s and are responsible for that song that was played throughout most of the early noughties - you know the one - Where's Your Head At? - the one with the talking monkeys?
Basement Jaxx
