Onstage with Natalie Anglesey

  WEDNESDAY 13 th  DECEMBER   HOPE MILL THEATRE’S NEW PRODUCTION OF THE MUSICAL VERSION OF  A CHRISTMAS CAROL  TO RUN AT THE LOWRY, SALFORD FOR A 2024/2025 FESTIVE SEASON   SHOW TO PLAY THE LOWRY’S QUAYS THEATRE FROM FRIDAY 6 th  DECEMBER 2024 to SATURDAY  4 th  JANUARY 2025   TICKETS ON GENERAL SALE FRIDAY 15 th  DECEMBER 2023     Hope Mill Theatre  is to stage a new production of the magical musical version of  A Christmas Carol  at  The Lowry, Salford  for the 2024/25 festive season, it is announced today.   Following their critically acclaimed production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella in 2022, Hope Mill co-founders  Joseph Houston and William Whelton  will reunite to co-direct a new version of A Christmas Carol, with Whelton also choreographing.     As part of Hope Mill Theatre’s future development the venue is expanding their operations to produce its award-winn...

View this email in your browser KEEPING IN CONTACT  13 DECEMBER 23 "Why did the drag queen bring tinsel to the Christmas party? Because they wanted to sleigh!"  Too much? Bah humbug! Well, we know you Natalie, and we bet you might have forgotten to grab a special someone a  festive prezzie . But it's not too late - why not give  the gift of live entertainment  this holiday season? If you're speedy,  Cinderella  runs until the end of this month, and we have incredible events with  award-winning comedian   Sofie Hagen  and  drag superstar   Miz Cracker .  Just call us Santa, because we are  GIVING . All jokes aside, thank you for keeping in touch with Contact this year! It's been a wild ride, and we can't wait to see you in 2024   DON'T MISS CINDERELLA  RUNNING UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 2023   eight-freestyle's wildly  popular panto  returns with a  girl-power spin  on the traditiona...

What do you think of this? The English National Opera has chosen Manchester as its new headquarters, a year after it was told to leave London or lose its Arts Council funding. Arts Council England controversially threatened to axe its annual £12m grant if it did not leave the capital.  After the move in 2029, the ENO will continue to own and perform at its current home, the London Coliseum.  ENO interim chief executive Jenny Mollica said: "As we continue to transition through significant change, today's announcement marks an important and defining moment for our remarkable company.  This future direction will see us continue to expand our role as a national institution - supporting our mission to create work with and for even more audiences across the country, alongside our annual season at the London Coliseum."  Manchester is currently the biggest city in Europe without a resident opera company, going by OECD population statistics. Last November, Arts Council Englan...

Tatton Park's Christmas Mansion attracts thousands of visitors every year with magnificent displays, interactive characters and free festive treats. This year is no different as Tatton Park presents Welcome to Wonderland. The Christmas Mansion opened its doors last week and visitors have been transported to the magical world of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, with a range of interactive characters and immersive displays.  The mansion is beautifully decorated and offers a range of experiences for all ages. From the sparkling rabbit hole to the magical Duchess’s Garden adorned with whimsical florals and the perfect spot for photos on her special bench surrounded in beautiful blooms. Say hello to your favourite characters as visitors can look forward to meeting the Queen of Hearts and her cook who are waiting to greet guests with their delicious and free festive treat in her superbly decorated kitchen. The Mad Hatter’s Hat, Alice’s giant key and more special props can be found th...

      THE BRIT FEST HAS CHRISTMAS GIFTS ALL WRAPPED UP A free branded ‘I’m Going To The Brit Fest’ Christmas jumper to gift when purchasing a VIP or weekend ticket in December   The Brit Fest will be staged at Ashley Hall & Showground  with three days of world class music from 5-7 July 2024    ____________________________ ______________________________ ____________________ ________   Tickets are already on sale and selling fast for the most-anticipated brand-new music festival coming to Cheshire next summer, with three days of best of British music acts.  Now, with Christmas just weeks away, organisers have come up with an extra special free gift when buying tickets for a loved one.    The Brit Fest  are including with any purchase of a general admission Weekend Ticket or any VIP ticket this holiday season, a uniquely branded, limited addition   "I’m going to The Brit Fest"  Christmas jumper, adding an extra gift ...

Actress Brigit Forsyth, best known for appearing in TV sitcoms Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads and Still Open All Hours, has died aged 83. Born in Edinburgh, she began her career in 1971 when she starred in the film The Night Digger, a thriller written by Roald Dahl.  Later that decade, she played Thelma in comedy Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? and a Likely Lads film.  Her other credits included TV dramas Playing the Field and Boon. Image caption, Forsyth's character Thelma was married to Bob, played by Rodney Bewes, in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?  The actress died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, surrounded by family, Her agent Mark Pemberton said that  she had a varied and notable career in stage, screen and radio", including roles in theatres "from the West End to the National Theatres of England & Scotland".  On screen, she appeared in 1980s sitcoms Tom, Dick and Harriet, and Sharon and Elsie, and played a doctor in short-lived IT...