Feature

The fascinating walking tours around Manchester led by people affected by homelessness

Get to know Invisible Cities

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 10th August 2024

Did you know you can go on a walking tour around Manchester, learning fascinating facts about our city’s rich history, where every tour guide has previously experienced homelessness?

Invisible Cities is a brilliant social enterprise that trains former homeless people to become tour guides in their own city, right across the UK.

As well as supporting people into new opportunities and breaking down the stigma around homelessness, these walking tours are just genuinely great fun – even if you already live here and think you know Manchester pretty well.

From past and present pubs to potted histories, each tour is led by someone with first-hand experience of homelessness who has gone on to retrain as a tour guide.

Invisible Cities first started in Edinburgh but has operated walking tours here in Manchester since 2018.

ADVERTISEMENT

Everyone who is taken on by the organisation is supported (and paid a living wage), whether they choose to become a tour guide, take on other projects, or get referred on to other organisations.

Invisible Cities has recently launched a Crowdfunding campaign to continue and step up their work.

ADVERTISEMENT

They hope that the funds will allow them to target groups that are harder to reach, including women, and people who have newly arrived in the UK, with a plan to offer them training and transferable skills.

And there’s never been a better time to donate, with Aviva promising to match donations (up to a max match of £250).

Invisible Cities is a walking tour in Manchester led by people who have experienced homelessness. Credit: Supplied, Invisible Cities
Invisible Cities is a walking tour in Manchester led by people who have experienced homelessness. Credit: Supplied, Invisible Cities

As for the walking tours themselves, there are so many new ways to explore Manchester with Invisible Cities.

ADVERTISEMENT

For example, you could spend an afternoon looping around the city centre learning about Manchester’s brilliant pubs (including the Old Nag’s Head, The Briton’s Protection, and the Peveril of the Peak) and the role they’ve played in shaping the city’s history.

That particular tour is Andy, who retraces his own steps from the 1980s, when he was busy falling in love with the bustling nightlife and rock music scene the area is so famed for.

During Ales & Alleyways: Andy’s Stories of Pubs, you’ll learn about music, the suffragettes, football, Peterloo, Little Ireland and art in Manchester, and reflect back on how different the city used to look.

While the tour is a celebration of the great British pub, there’s no drinking on the tour – instead, it’s a chance to spread awareness about the links between alcoholism and homelessness.

Other Invisible Cities tours in Manchester include Wonderwalk, where Nic will make you fall in love with the music of the city by delving right back in time to the beginnings of the city’s illustrious history of music and art.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wonderwalk will whisk you from venues like Bridgewater Hall and the Royal Northern College of Music to the legendary music venues like Big Hands and The Deaf Institute.

Invisible Cities says: “The tour champions the legacy of Madchester that will never be lost, but also supports and empowers our smaller venues (which is now more important than ever) who play a huge part in the city’s never-ending, unique music scene.

Invisible Cities is a walking tour in Manchester led by people who have experienced homelessness. Credit: Supplied, Invisible Cities
Invisible Cities is a walking tour in Manchester led by people who have experienced homelessness. Credit: Supplied, Invisible Cities

“Nic strongly believes music is for everyone. Within the tour he takes you to corners of the city’s community that inspire and introduce music, art and dance to those who are isolated or anxious.

“Nic lives his life by these words: music is medicine, music lifts your spirit, softens your heart and brings people together.”

Then there’s We Built This City From Depression, which uncovers the less glamorous side of Manchester’s history, from the industrial revolution to the IRA bombing that led to the regeneration of the city centre.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Invisible Cities tour is led by Stephen, who’ll unveil the cobbled streets and working people that made Manchester what it is today, plus all the hurdles the city has overcome to end up such a vibrant place to live and visit.

This tour includes visits to the C.S.W Tobacco Factory, Angel Meadows, the Corn Exchange and more.

Find out more about Invisible Cities and book a tour here, or head here to donate.

Read more: Ye Olde Bell – the spa hotel in with an outdoor pool and an indoor beach

Featured image: Invisible Cities

Feature

A murderously funny and thrilling take on an Agatha Christie classic – Murder on the Orient Express at The Lowry

Danny Jones Danny Jones Murder on the Orient Express play review Lowry Theatre Salford

Let’s start off by making two things clear: nailing a tried and true classic well is no mean feat and, two, fans are very precious when it comes to adaptation – Murder on the Orient Express at The Lowry, rather fittingly, barrelled through those obstacles not like a luxury liner but like a freight train.

Yes, the iconic Agatha Christie tale and quintessential ‘whodunnit’ may have ironically been done to death at this point (most recently resurrected on the big screen by director and Hollywood’s Hercule Poirot, Kenneth Branagh), but this new stage production felt much more refreshing than the blockbuster.

Put simply, merely going where many have gone before and expecting results or similar success isn’t a given. Written and adapted by Ken Ludwig and directed by Lucy Bailey, this latest Murder on the Orient Express now on at the legendary Lowry Theatre is a must-see as far as we’re concerned.

What the creators, along with the whole cast and crew, have done with this treasured text is elevate it not just to a play that will leave any theatre-goer walking away satisfied but also restore the true light and shade to the textbook murder mystery that has more high points than we can squeeze into 1000 words.

murder on the orient express tickets salford
murder on the orient express salford quays lowry theatre
Credit: Manuel Harlan (press images supplied)

A small but stunning and dynamic set

First and foremost, we can’t begin anywhere else other than applauding what they’ve managed to achieve with the set alone.

It was one of our first big questions going into the performance. How are they going to pull this off and create that sense of motion around the actors on stage? Is it going to look any good? Turns out we had nothing to worry about whatsoever.

Combining nothing more than three movable train cars donned in full Edwardian decor, a few tables for breakaway scenes and clever use of an overhead screen to portray elements like snowdrift weather and even wheels chugging along the tracks, much like the plot, it always felt like things were on the move.

Twinned with excellent use of music and sound effects – both ambient and authentic in the case of Christine Kavanagh as the delightfully devilish Mrs Helen Hubbard, whose late-night sing-song felt like genuinely peaking into someone’s cabin after a few tipples – the whole surround just works so well.

They did a great job of creating these little vignettes within each train window, almost like sitting across from an apartment block and peaking into the living rooms of each flat, people-watching as their stories play out, only with the bonus of these strangers being mic’d up so you don’t have to fill in the blanks.

And none of these little snapshots felt throwaway whatsoever. You only have to hear the passion that Ludwig, Bailey and the star of the show, Michael Maloney, spoke of in the lead-up to opening night to hear how much everyone involved had thrown themselves into every inch of the show.

Poirot done to perfection

But let’s not beat around the bush here: even if you’ve seen it a dozen times before, you come for the murder mystery and you stay to see the moustachioed “magician” at work.

The entire supporting cast was wonderful, in truth – we particularly loved the aforementioned Kavanagh and her ‘just the right amount of chaos’; Bob Barrett’s energy as Monsieur Bouc and the permanently frantic Greta Ohlsson, done so well by Rebecca Charles – but Maloney is absolutely masterful as Poirot.

To be honest, besides a couple of accent slips here and there (podody’s nerfect), everyone up on that stage was a joy to watch embody these timeless characters and made for a well-balanced ensemble, but this might be our favourite portrayal of the talented detective since the almighty David Suchet himself.

Whether it be in the expertly delivering lengthy monologues, the many moments of self-deprecation, mourning his youth and always remaining the wittiest player on stage, or breaking up those moments of levity with rare but sudden flashes of frustration that actually catch you off-guard, he was flawless.

Similar to how he keeps every one of the suspects in his pocket from minute one, he had the audience in the palm of his hand for the entire duration and the timbre of that French—sorry, Belgian* dialect barely dips for even a second.

whats on at the lowry theatre september 2024 manchester
Michael Maloney Hercule Poirot
Michael Maloney is the pure embodiment of everything Poirot is and should be. (Credit: Press Image/Manuel Harlan)

The drama is great but where it truly shines is in the laughs

Lastly, speaking of that levity, perhaps the thing we loved most about the whole approach to this version of Murder on the Orient Express is that it isn’t so much a tense tragedy as it is a dramatic comedy.

The chances are that almost everyone in that theatre knows the synopsis of this long-loved tale virtually inside and out, so it was always going to be hard to build really pulse-raising suspense and intrigue, but they manage it by lulling you into those lighter moments and letting the performances shine.

And then BANG: suddenly a big twist, a volta; the crescendo after a period of precisely paced and carefully crafted conversation. It hits you like a gunshot echoing throughout the carriages, a sudden stab to the gut stifled in a quiet train compartment yet still somehow felt from the comfort of your seat.

Everyone gets their handful of one-liners, those comic pauses that dwell just a half-second too long and then some, but it never feels forced or overdone. The full spectrum of emotions is packed into just under two hours and it’s nothing short of a triumph from start to finish.

Without spoiling too much, there is one sound – not even an actual line of dialogue per se – from Maloney when conversing with the Countess (Mila Carter) that we’re still chuckling about now.

We won’t be sold bold as to give this a star rating but let’s just say we wholly recommend visiting what is without a doubt the best thing on at Salford Quays right now.

murder on the orient express lowry theatre
The applause following Murder on the Orient Express was rapturous and we dare say there’ll be a fair few returning customers.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Images/Manuel Harlan (supplied)/The Manc Group

Feature

Inside Sifters Records, the time capsule record shop that inspired Oasis

Harry Quick Harry Quick 'Mr Sifter' himself Pete Howard inside Sifters Records in Burnage. Credit: The Manc Group

The date the world never thought was coming is set. Manchester’s most famous brothers have against all the odds put their differences aside for music’s greater good. Oasis are BACK.

I suppose it is only good news at the moment if you were one of the lucky few who managed to secure a ticket to one of the 17 gigs (actually, now 19 with two new dates added) in the Oasis 25′ Tour. If you didn’t – hard luck – but there is arguably one shop owner who deserves one more than most.

Fans of our most iconic band from all around the world should show their gratitude to a little record store in Burnage for helping to make that happen. Some might say, Sifters Records is the home of the Gallaghers’ love for music. The two brothers were brought up just a stone’s throw away from here on Cranwell Drive and were regular visitors of Sifters throughout their teenage years.

Noel has previously mentioned how he used to stroll around to Sifters on Fog Lane and pick up records by the likes of The Smiths, Joy Division and The Happy Mondays, which would help inspire some of the world-renowned anthems Oasis would later go on to create. The relationship between the Gallaghers and Sifters Records is emblematic of their deep roots in Manchester’s music scene.

If you feel like you’ve heard the name before, you probably have as Liam mentions the store in the song ‘Shakermaker’. In the final verse of the song – before the closing Shake Along with Me / Them interlude – he gets his special mention.

The lyrics “Mr Sifter sold me songs when I was just sixteen, now he stops at traffic lights but only when they’re green” pay homage to its main road location and the lads’ musical upbringing before the international stardom.

Sifters Records inspired Oasis' love of music - and gets a namecheck in Shakermaker. Credit: The Manc Group
Sifters Records inspired Oasis’ love of music – and gets a namecheck in Shakermaker. Credit: The Manc Group
Sifters Records inspired Oasis' love of music - and gets a namecheck in Shakermaker. Credit: The Manc Group
Sifters Records inspired Oasis’ love of music – and gets a namecheck in Shakermaker. Credit: The Manc Group

If the lyrics alone don’t put an image in your head, the official music video for the song pictures Liam stereotypically swaggering towards the shop front in a parka and shades on the hunt for some new music. After flicking through a few 12″ vinyls he shows Red Rose Speedway to the camera by Paul McCartney’s – Wings. I wonder if he bought it that day or could it still be in there?

In a brand new 30-minute interview filmed ahead of the 30th anniversary of Definitely Maybe, Noel revealed how he wrote the infamous lyric in an off-the-cuff moment directly outside the shop.

“I have to say this shop has not changed a bit. I bought a lot of my records in here, it’s where I discovered my love of ‘best of’ albums.

“Every time I hear Shakermaker I remember pulling up in that car and looking over and seeing the song.”

It’s no wonder this was Noel’s favourite place to scope out new tunes growing up. It’s still one of Manchester’s most impressive collections with hundreds, if not thousands of vintage LPs.

Most of these are from the personal collection of ‘Mr Sifter’ himself Pete Howard who has run this musical mecca since 1977. The building itself has an unchanged charm – a time capsule of fading band posters, windows of unrelated local advertisements and well-trodden carpet from the thousands of feet on a pilgrimage from far and wide.

Fans from across the globe have rocked up for a word with Pete and the admiration for his store only keeps growing, which he sometimes struggles to believe how fortunate he got. If you pop in looking for any Oasis discography, good luck, it doesn’t stick around long.

When ‘Definitely Maybe’ dropped in ’94 he said he recognised the members of the band straight just from the album cover.

Now, with a deluxe edition re-release 30 years later, and a reunion tour around the corner, it’s undeniable that the whole world does – let’s just hope they stay mates this time!

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

More Feature

Blossoms Wythenshawe Park gig review

Audio

Blossoms’ wonderful Wythenshawe Park show proved they’re ready to headline the big leagues

The incredible history of Sinclair's Oyster Bar. Credit: The Manc Group

Eats

The incredible history of Sinclair’s Oyster Bar in Manchester

Kendal Calling review 2024

Affiliate

It’s no wonder Kendal Calling sells out every year – it’s one of the most well-rounded festivals in the North

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches