Quays Life A lifestyle webzine based-in Salford Quays

Rose Galbraith and the ensemble of Spend Spend Spend - photo credit Helen Murray

Reviews Theatre

Spend Spend Spend: Review

The Smiths remain one of Manchester’s most beloved bands. The musical alliance between Morrissey and Marr gifted the world a catalogue of melodic pop songs with lyrics which spoke to those on the...

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Alice in Wonderland (L-R) Kelise Gordon-Harrison, Milton Lopes, Noah Olaoye by Kristian Lawrence

Family Reviews Theatre

Alice in Wonderland: Review

It’s a mad, mad world – and sometimes feels increasingly so as we head towards the festive season – but none more so than in Wonderland, the magical underworld kingdom created by Lewis Caroll more...

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Music Reviews

The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra: The Sound of Gaming – Review

The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra: The Sound of Gaming was an ambitious and innovative classical musical event catering for three separate audiences simultaneously. The first, of which I was a part, was...

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Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake - Photo by Johan Persson of a previous production

Dance Reviews

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake: Review

After 30 years of accolades, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake still has audiences on their feet at the end, enthralled, moved and wanting more. This deconstructed and thematically enhanced version of the...

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Reviews

Sean Jones & Joe Sleight - Blood Brothers UK Tour 2024 - Photo Credit Jack Merriman

min5

Reviews Theatre

Blood Brothers: Review

Martin ThomassonAdd comment

Seven-(almost eight)-year-olds, Mickey and Eddie form an immediate bond when they meet by chance in a Liverpool park in the 1960s. Unruly, foul-mouthed Mickey thrills and appalls Eddie (‘Edward’ to his parents) with his unfettered language and...

A scene from The Magic Flute by Mozart. An Opera North production ©Tristram Kenton

Opera Reviews

Opera North – The Magic Flute: Review

Carmel Thomason

ARK: United States V by Laurie Anderson Credit Duncan Elliot

Reviews

ARK: United States V – Review

Martin Thomasson

To do & see

QUEENS the Exhibition. Photo by Nathan Chandler

Art Salford Quays To do & see

New exhibition Queens begins its reign at The Lowry

Carmel Thomason

What kind of Queen are you?’ That’s the question posed by a new exhibition at The Lowry. The exhibition, which takes inspiration from the hit musical SIX, celebrates ‘everyday’ queens of every description. “With Queens we want to celebrate not only...

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...

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...