The Ocean at the End of the Lane, the theatre show currently running at The Lowry, is captivating audiences with its haunting production and unnerving plot.
And while it will stay with you long after you leave your seat, the theatre adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s 2013 novel is the must-see show this winter.
Picture Stranger Things meets The Dark Crystal with a peppering of Goosebumps – all of your worst fears and nightmares bound together on stage with absolutely nowhere to hide.
With a 12+ age rating, the story itself is one of memory and grief, and of how we distort our recollections of childhood to hide dark thoughts or times of abuse and replace them with whimsy and adventure.
As soon as you sit down, you are immersed in a dark and empty wood, a backdrop for the mind and somewhere to get lost in.
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The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Credit: Manuel HarlanThe Ocean at the End of the Lane. Credit: Manuel Harlan
The whole set is that of a 12-year-old’s imagination – doors and windows are portals to fantasy worlds, wounds and plugholes lead to the strange and unknown, the outside world is frightening while Dad’s house is cold, chaotic and empty now that Mum is gone.
We first meet Trevor Fox (Dad, Adult Boy) as he returns home as an adult and finds himself in a familiar location, the old farm of his forgotten friend Lettie (Millie Hikasa), where he bumps into Old Mrs Hempstock (Finty Williams) and begins his journey through his memories of his childhood, kicked off with a traumatic event.
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The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Credit: Manuel HarlanThe Ocean at the End of the Lane. Credit: Manuel Harlan
We follow the young boy (Keir Ogilivy) as he traverses his childhood whilst also dealing with life altering changes and a new woman (Charlie Brooks) in his father’s life.
Enter stage consuming puppets that would give your sleep paralysis demon a run for its money, a music score that makes the hair on your neck stand on end and a sense of danger to rival any modern horror film with jump scares to boot.
To go into too much detail would ultimately surrender the magic of this stunning and poignant adaptation, directed by Katy Rudd, which addresses love, loss and hope through the eyes of a child.
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First shown at The National Theatre before moving to the West End, Ocean at the End of the Lane makes its first stop on its UK and Ireland tour at The Lowry Theatre in Manchester.
Sexy Fish Manchester forced to temporarily close after huge Damien Hirst fish sculpture falls from wall
Daisy Jackson
Sexy Fish Manchester is temporarily closed after one of its impressive Damien Hirst sculptures fell from the wall of the luxury space – while diners were inside.
Videos shared online of the aftermath show the huge glittering sculpture smashed on the floor of the restaurant space, with chunks of concrete scattered.
The restaurant has a sign in the window confirming it is closed today due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’.
A statement from Sexy Fish Manchester confirmed that the dazzling artwork, which was part of the Spinningfields restaurant’s multi-million-pound fit-out, fell during lunch service yesterday.
Sexy Fish Manchester opened in 2023 in a huge space in Spinningfields, filling it with opulent details like a sparkling octopus sculpture, mermaids, a waterfall, and a huge fish tank.
It was one of the city’s most impressive openings of that year and has drawn in crowds with its premium sushi and seafood menu.
The statue that fell is one of the 3D Damien Hirst pieces, this one featuring intertwined swordfish.
Today, scaffolding can be seen inside the restaurant as repairs take place, with plans to reopen soon.
Sexy Fish said: “Yesterday, a piece of art fell off the wall at Sexy Fish Manchester.
“Our team responded immediately, and is in close contact with guests who were dining at the time.
Weather warnings issued with parts of Greater Manchester set to be battered by torrential rain
Emily Sergeant
Large parts of Greater Manchester are set to be battered with heavy rain and strong winds this weekend.
Summer couldn’t be a thing of the past more if it tried, at least not for the North anyway, as the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for a parts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland – with Greater Manchester very much included in the mix, and set to see some pretty grim conditions over the coming days.
According to the Met Office‘, unsettled conditions ‘will prevail’ for many with heavy rain and strong winds over the weekend, and even a risk of thunderstorms too.
The yellow weather warning – which covers most of Greater Manchester, primarily the more northern boroughs – comes into place from 9am on Saturday (20 September) and will officially end at 6am on Sunday (21 September).
Weather forecasters are warning local residents to take care when the rough conditions hit.
“20-40 mm of rain is expected to fall widely, with some locations perhaps seeing 60-100 mm, with much of this total falling in just a few hours,” explained Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Tom Crabtree.
“From mid-Saturday onwards, increasingly strong gusty winds and perhaps some thunder will also accompany the rainfall, further increasing the risk of disruption.”
He also added that strong winds are ‘likely’.
“These may potentially exceed 55 miles per hour, however the exact location and timing remain uncertain at this time [so] we’re closely monitoring developments and may issue more warnings as the situation evolves.”
The Manc -
1st January 2023 
