Quays Life A lifestyle webzine based-in Salford Quays

Reviews Theatre

Waitress: Review

‘Sugar, butter, flour’ – these three comforting words become almost a mantra meditation in this story about the life of expert pie maker, Jenna. But don’t let Jenna’s sweet singing, about her mum’s...

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Nya, TPE's Pets as Therapy Dog. Photo courtesy of Transpennine Express

Dog's Life People

The dog taking the stress out of train journeys

One of my dear friends is Chaplain, Reverend Mike Roberts, Rail Industry and British Transport Police Chaplain whom I have featured in QuaysLife in the past. Earlier in the year, Mike included me in...

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Daniel Casey (Barnaby) in The Killings at Badger's Drift, credit Manuel Harlan

People To do & see

Daniel Casey steps up as DCI Barnaby for Midsomer Murders on stage

Daniel Casey has been promoted. After playing DS Gavin Troy on Midsomer Murders for a six-year stint, he’s now back in the UK’s most dangerous county (fictionally speaking, at least) as...

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Community cast in Even These Things at the Royal Exchange Theatre (c) Courtesy of the Royal Exchange Theatre

Reviews Theatre

Even These Things: Review

There’s a lot of talk of ‘Manchesterism’ at the moment and whether the rest of the country can benefit from it if Andy Burnham gets to become Prime Minister. But there is another side to this branch...

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Reviews

The Karate Kid, The Musical. Photo: Manuel Harlan

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Reviews Theatre

The Karate Kid the Musical: Review

Carmel ThomasonAdd comment

Any kid of the 1980s will have a story to tell about their response to ‘The Karate Kid’. It was the ultimate underdog hero movie capturing the same spirit Stallone brought to adults with Rocky. We remember the music too. Joe Esposito’s uplifting...

Bank of Dave The Cast of Bank of Dave. Credit: Mark Brenner

Reviews Theatre

Bank of Dave the Musical: Review

Carmel Thomason

Rowland Hill, Relic, 2026. Photo by Michael Pollard

Art Reviews

Curtain Up – exploring the thrill of the live performance

Leslie James Kerwin

To do & see

NIKOLAI FOSTER, OLLIE KHURSHID_CREDIT MARC BRENNER

People To do & see

Director Nikolai Foster on his Barnum of Burnley Bank of Dave the Musical

Carmel Thomason

Bank of Dave is a real life story that became a best-selling book, then a BAFTA award-winning documentary, and a global Netflix film sensation. Now the feel-good tale of people’s champion Dave Fishwick is taking to the stage as a brand new...

Art Reviews

Curtain Up – exploring the thrill of the live performance

Leslie James Kerwin

‘Curtain Up’, a new exhibition at Lowry, Salford, brings together works from artists Simeon Barclay, Chris Paul Daniels, Denzil Forrester, Rowland Hill, Joy Labinjo, Ryan Mosley, Abigail Reynolds, Bridget Smith, and Ulla von Brandenburg...

To do & see Travel

The only swing bridge aqueduct in the world

Lorraine Worsley-Carter

Lorraine Worsley-Carter stumbles upon a unique wonder of the canal age in Salford After taking a short cut to our favourite Trafford DIY store, our sat-nav suggested a route which took us over an old bridge which we had not traversed before...

Further Afield To do & see

Happy Mondays join line-up as The Brit Fest turns three

Alex Price

Brothers and business partners, Anthony and Edward Prophet have been involved in many projects together over the years. But back in 2024 when Brit Fest first launched, the pair could never have imagined how their ‘crazy little idea’...

People

People To do & see

Claudia Shnier talks toxic relationships and confronting her trauma head on

Holly Critchley

Claudia Shnier’s one-woman show ‘Split Ends’ is an autobiographical tragi-comedy exploring abusive relationships, coercive control, and our tendencies to cling to the things that hurt us most. Since debuting at the 2025 Brighton Fringe, the show has...

People To do & see

“Men are in a difficult phase right now, but we’ve got to support each other” – Les Dennis

Carmel Thomason

Former Coronation Street favourite and comic, Les Dennis returns to Manchester as diner and pie shop owner, Old Joe alongside Carrie Hope Fletcher as his employee Jenna in the 10th anniversary production of musical Waitress. He talks to Quays Life...