Manchester’s Backyard Cinema is set to open tonight on the rooftop of Depot Mayfield – and it’s absolutely incredible.
It’s not just about the film screening itself here (though that’s pretty luxurious too).
The whole experience will transport you to a theatrical land, using film sets, themed tunnels, and live actors to bring it all to life.
Cinema-goers enter the experience through the 150-year-old former door to Mayfield Railway Station, popping out on what was previously the train station’s platform.
Inside the cinema space itself. Credit: The Manc Group
The old waiting room has been converted into a pizza and pints bar, with dark green tiles around the bar.
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A huge, fairy-tale style shopping street now takes up most of the platform space – think snow-covered shop windows and even a Tavern bar with a castle turret jutting out of it.
Once you’re suitably fed and beered in the courtyard, it’s through the door into Dr Portelli’s Antiques and Curiosities, a mock-shop filled with colourful glass bottles and trinkets.
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Feeling the magic yet? There’s loads more to come.
One of the Backyard Cinema experience rooms. Credit: The Manc GroupYou enter Backyard Cinema through a Narnia-style wardrobe. Credit: The Manc Group
Next, Backyard Cinema’s actors throw up the doors to a wardrobe full of fur coats, and your Narnia-style journey continues.
Squeezing through the racks of clothing, you’ll find yourself in a tree-lined tunnel dotted with ancient lanterns overhead.
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Then it’s choose-your-own-adventure as the maze continues – a rose-lined Beauty tunnel or the much more mysterious Bravery tunnel.
The Waiting Room bar. Credit: The Manc Group
Whichever you choose, you’ll come to a trickling fountain, with more doors leading off to each of the four seasons.
When you’ve had enough of exploring, it’s into the enormous cinema space itself, where rows and rows of plush custom bean bags line up in front of a state-of-the-art cinema screen.
We’re talking waiter service, blockbuster films, and seasonal cocktails.
Choose your own adventure in the Backyard Cinema maze. Credit: The Manc Group
Movie fans should expect a mixture of brand new releases including the acclaimed Elvis biopic starring Tom Hanks, the new Top Gun: Maverick and The Batman, plus cult classics and Christmas hits later in the year.
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The team has just teased out a list of cult classics too, including E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Die Hard, Hocus Pocus, Addams Family Values, Beetlejuice, plus other favourites such as The Greatest Showman, Frozen 2, Beauty and the Beast.
Elsewhere, there’ll be a run of family favourites showing including The Greatest Showman, Frozen 2, Beauty and the Beast, and the brand new Minions: The Rise of Gru.
Then come Christmas time, organisers are planning to go all-out with screenings of festiva favourites like Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually, The Holiday, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Miracle on 34th Street.
Backyard Cinema will open from Wednesday to Sunday, starting from 21 October until 4 December, and from Monday to Sunday, from 5 December until 2 January. Show times are 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm, although these will vary depending on the day.
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Visit the Backyard Cinemawebsite here to check screening times and buy your tickets.
Featured image: The Manc Group
What's On
After All 2026 – the affordable grassroots music festival happening in Northern Quarter
Danny Jones
Grassroots music event After All Festival is returning to Manchester this weekend, with rising local artists and affordable tickets.
Now well over half a decade since it was founded, All All Fest takes place in the heart of the Northern Quarter, and this year they’re proving that their slow and steady approach to backing the best new up-and-coming bands at core intimate venues is more important than ever.
With plenty of previous acts having impressed in recent years, we’re looking forward to seeing how 2026 stacks up in comparison to its predecessors.
Increasingly prolific native group Dirty Laces are set to headline the whole thing, Manilla Times are locked in, and Bolton’s very own James Holt also stands out on the lineup, just to highlight a few.
As the festival continues to grow in size and popularity, they have obviously had to scale things up even further this year.
That being said, beloved live music spot and Manc institution, Band on the Wall, is among the chosen arts spaces for this latest iteration.
BoW will be offering up their 500-capacity main room to the organisers for the very first time, serving as the de facto main stage of After All Fest 2026.
Joining them will be the Rose and Monkey next door, as well as cult favourite pub, Gullivers on Oldham Street, who have a long history of supporting local musicians and the arts in general.
And would you look at that, now you’ve got all the stage splits and set times, too.
Labelled by Dead Records’ Rob Fiddaman as “one of the UK’s most exciting new music festivals”, homegrown DJing legend Dave Sweetmore has also described it as “unique in so many ways”, hailing it as a “brilliant event with a great atmosphere to discover new music.”
Having been ourselves on multiple occasions since its inception in 2019 – both as Audio North off-duty and as punters before then – we can’t recommend it highly enough.
The latest edition takes place at 12 noon onwards this Saturday until 2am on Sunday, 17 May, and while the cheapest early bird tickets (£16.50) are long gone, general admission tickets are still available, with prices starting from just £20. Grab yours HERE before they sell out.
It’s not the only live music event worth being a part of this month…
Review | The Karate Kid at Palace Theatre and Opera House, Manchester – very much wax ON
Lonnie Bowes
The theatrical version of The Karate Kid has arrived at the Palace Theatre and Opera House, bringing a well-known story of discipline, resilience and mentorship to a live audience.
Best known for its iconic cinematic legacy, The Karate Kid translates surprisingly well to the stage. It leans less on spectacle and more on character, movement and emotional growth.
At the production’s heart, the story still revolves around a young outsider trying to find confidence and belonging in an unfamiliar environment, guided by an unexpected mentor.
The narrative follows Daniel, played by Gino Ochello, marking his first professional stage debut, as he struggles to adjust to a new life, facing intimidation and self-doubt before encountering the legendary Mr Miyagi, played by Adrian Pang.
What unfolds is more than just a story of learning karate; it becomes a study of patience, balance and inner strength for Daniel. The central relationship between student and teacher remains the production’s strongest theme, grounding the story in warmth and sincerity.
The bond between student and Sensei is clear to see throughout. Focusing more on the movement side of things, the musical definitely has its fair share of action; the production shines with storytelling through choreography.
The fight sequences are carefully staged. The whole production walks a balanced line between movement and tension that feels immediate without losing theatrical elements.
These scenes are not about aggression alone but about control, reflecting the philosophy at the core of the story: balance. If you’ve seen the movies or the likes of Cobra Kai, you’ll know the vibes.
The cast works cohesively to maintain this balance. Ochello playing Daniel captures a mix of genuine vulnerability and determination as he attempts to settle into his new life in California, a million miles from the streets of Jersey he once knew.
While Adrian Pang portrays Mr Miyagi does this with a quiet authority. Their dynamic evolves on stage flawlessly, allowing the audience to invest in their journey rather than simply anticipating the next fight.
Visually, the production makes effective use of staging and design. The set shifts fluidly between locations, using lighting and more than a few well-timed transitions to keep the pace moving.
Subtle changes in atmosphere mirror the cast’s internal world, moving from insecurity and isolation to confidence and connection as the story progresses. The music throughout further supports this, blending nostalgia from the old flicks we all knew and love, with a new contemporary stage feel.
As the story builds toward its familiar ending, the focus remains less on winning and more on personal growth. The final moments emphasise discipline, self-belief and restraint rather than triumph alone.
A well-deserved standing ovation. (Credit: The Manc)
Reinforcing why the story has endured across generations and how the themes explored remain powerful pillars of life in today’s world.
Ultimately, The Karate Kid on stage at the Palace Theatre succeeds not by trying to replicate the film exactly, but by reinterpreting its themes for a live audience. It’s a production that leans into character, movement, friendship and emotional resilience.
It reminds viewers that its real power lies not in the fights, although sometimes necessary as a last resort, but in what they represent on the inside. We had a much deeper experience than we expected, and loved pretty much every minute of it.
Daisy Jackson -
21st October 2022 
