Carmel ThomasonThe wonder of play is seeing a child take a set of building blocks and visualise anything from a barn to an elephant. But sometimes it can be good to add some inspiration to get the spark of creativity flowing. Kid’s view The new set from...
From a multi-coloured fox to a cathedral, our young reviewer’s imagination explores the world of Connetix magnetic tiles. Kid’s review Connetix Tiles are a range of colourful magnetic shapes that can be used to create both flat and 3-D...
Martin ThomassonAccording to dramaturg, Lolita Chakrabarti’s programme note, Message in a Bottle, (the Sadler’s Wells dance show, based on the music of Sting) tells the story of one family, living in ‘a village in a country far away’ whose lives are torn apart by...
Simon A. MorrisonIf you spent any significant time in your youth raving on any of this planet’s finest dancefloors, then this collection of psychedelic inflatables might … just might… already make some time of sense. You might also be in with a shout if your name...
Message in a Bottle is a new show set to the music of Sting which promises gravity-defying lyrical dance and breath-taking music alongside a moving story of humanity and hope. Ahead of its run at The Lowry, we talk to director and choreographer...
If asked to name last year’s overall bestselling author in the UK, who would you pick? Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling? Horror writer Stephen King? Master of mystery, Richard Osman? You’d be wrong on all three counts. In fact, Julia Donaldson took...
“Are you a fan of Ben UFO?” a friendly young woman asks as we walk into New Century Hall. I confess I’m not and make it worse by adding, “I have heard of him.” This is true (I think) but makes me about as cool as my dad would have been if he’d told...
Georgina WellsManchester Academy was packed out with a noticeably diverse audience on Thursday night for Find Your Eyes, a piece produced by Factory International for MIF and centred on creative powerhouse Benji Reid. Reid defines himself as a ‘choreo-photolist,’...
In many ways Romeo and Juliet, bursting with the passion and energy of youth, feels like the perfect ballet for an innovative company like Sir Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures to stage. And if you think there are no new ideas to be mined from...
Dave PorterJohn Grant singing the songs of Patsy Cline with Richard Hawley and his band was always going to be a great opening act for Manchester’s newest venue, Aviva Studios. Heralded as part of Manchester International Festival, the musical pairing is not...