Quays Life A lifestyle webzine based-in Salford Quays

Laura Littlewood as Mrs Bradman. Photo by Claire Angel

People To do & see

Laura Littlewood talks Noel Coward, Coronation Street and Ghosts

Actor Laura Littlewood has become a familiar face reporting breaking news from Coronation Street’s many dramatic moments. Now at the other end of the reporter’s notebook, Laura tells us...

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Reviews Theatre

Calamity Jane starring Carrie Hope Fletcher: Review

It is 10 years since theatre audiences last got the chance to see Calamity Jane on stage.Then Watermill Theatre brought us Coronation Street’s Jodie Prenger as the iconic, gun-toting, sarsaparilla...

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Momoko Hirata as Cinderella in BRB's Cinderella. Photo by Roy Smiljanic

People

Designer John Macfarlane tells us what it’s really like to get Cinderella to the ball

Sir David Bintley’s Cinderella remains one of the most popular ballets in BRB’s repertoire. As the company prepares to take this magical production on tour again in 2025, Diane Parkes talks to...

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Reviews Theatre

Mariupol Drama: Review

The staging is simple: four straight-backed chairs, a backdrop for projections and, overhead, two rows of clothing hung on lines (theatre is a place for costumes and dressing-up, but also, we are...

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Reviews

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Family Reviews Theatre

Sleeping Beauty pantomime with Wendi Peters

Nic DowlingAdd comment

Christmas, wouldn’t be Christmas for us without a trip to the Stockport Plaza panto. If you’ve never been to the Plaza, you may well have spotted the gorgeous art deco style neon sign from the A6 as you head through Stockport town centre. It’s a...

Matt Jeans as Mr Cratchit and Joel Tennant as Tiny Tim. Photo by Matt Crockett

Reviews Theatre

A Christmas Carol: The Musical – Review

Nic Dowling

Miracle on 34th Street at Home Photo by Chris Payne.

Family Reviews Theatre

Miracle on 34th Street: Review

Carmel Thomason

To do & see

Games Reviews

Taskmaster – The Board Game: Review

Paul Thomason

Paul Thomason spends a creative, fun and competitive afternoon playing Taskmaster which brings all the silliness of the TV show to your front room. It must have been the ultimate task for board game producers, Ginger Fox but somehow they’ve...

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...

Bigger & Closer (not smaller and further away) at Aviva Studios 2024 - credit Justin Sutcliffe

Art Reviews

David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (Not Smaller & Further Away) – Review

Martin Thomasson

Immersive art shows have a chequered reputation, but Lightroom’s collaboration with David Hockney is something of a triumph. Perhaps it is that Hockney often works in light (quite literally, given his now famous iPad “paintings”). Or perhaps it is...

Further Afield To do & see Travel

Discovering Fleetwood’s heritage with a Fisherman’s Friend

Lorraine Worsley-Carter

One day in June, taking advantage of the ease of lockdown, we decided to have a day out in Thornton Cleveleys. We took a wrong turn and found we were actually heading for Fleetwood and so decided to visit. I would expect that most Northerners...

People

People Salford Quays To do & see

Sooz Kempner talks about her latest show Class of 2000

Carmel Thomason

Following her sell out 2023 Fringe show Y2K Woman, viral sensation Sooz Kempner is taking to the road this autumn with her brand-new show Class of 2000, which arrives at Lowry, Salford on 16 November. Continuing with the theme of growing up in the...

People To do & see

Tricia Paoluccio on writing and starring in new Dolly Parton musical Here You Come Again

Carmel Thomason

Tricia Paoluccio plays Dolly Parton in a new musical Here You Come Again, which she co-wrote with Bruce Vilanch and Gabriel Barre. The show has been fully authorised by the real Dolly herself, with the UK version including some additional scripting...