One of Manchester’s leading independent theatres has been left devastated after missing out on ‘much-needed’ funding.
53two, a theatre and arts hub beneath the railway arches in the city centre, had applied for Arts Council funding, but its bid was rejected.
The government-funded body said that it had to make ‘tough decisions’ after receiving a huge number of applications.
53two had hoped to use the fund to build a disabled access facility known as a Changing Places toilet – something that no theatre in Manchester currently has.
Creative director Simon Naylor said it’s ‘heartbreaking’ to see theatre-goers with complex access needs having to go home due to a lack of accessible facilities in the city.
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Credit: Fiona Finchett
The Watson Street venue is now planning a party to drum up some support and some investment so that it continue to build its fully accessible creative space.
Theatre patron Tony Walsh (better known to many as Longfella), will be working with the venue to find a local business to invest in the project.
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The theatre only opened in its new home last year, in the Grade II*-listed railway arches and tunnels beneath Manchester Central.
They have already opened a bustling bar and cafe space and secured the planning permission to upgrade the theatre to a 150-seat facility, and install the toilet facilities.
Simon Naylor, creative director of 53two, said that it was ‘terrible’ to miss out on the Arts Council funding – but that the team are now rallying and taking matters into their own hands.
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The vision for 53two’s new 150-seat theatre. Credit: Supplied
He said: “Obviously it was a terrible email to read, but, we sat on it, re-grouped and it was clear that we had to press on regardless of the bid outcome.
“We have already helped produce quality theatre in our small venue, and are continuing to support those artists who need a platform. We have a season of brand new writing lined up including the return of a much loved Manchester institution, loved by many but yet to be announced.
“We have no choice but to take matters into our own hands and are now looking to Manchester’s business community to help us raise the funds needed.”
Speaking of the importance of a specialist Changing Places toilet, Simon continued: “Many of our guests, artists and visitors have complex access needs and can only stay at the venue if we have fully accessible toilet facilities.
“The Changing Places toilet would provide a changing bed, a hoist and lots of space and privacy for carers to help people with using the toilet. Without it many have to leave the venue and go home which is heart breaking to see happen time and time again.
“So, to celebrate our first year anniversary on 27 May, we are inviting people from across Manchester, including those visionaries and giants who we are hoping can provide the financial support we need to grow the venue and create the facilities our patrons require.
“We are offering companies the naming rights for the auditorium for up to the next five years, in return for the investment required to get the theatre space up to spec.”
Coronation Street star, BAFTA winner and TripleC founder Cherylee Houston added her support to the fund-raising drive, saying: “53two is an incredibly important venture for creatives across Manchester.
“Not only did they design their building so far to be entirely step free they actively ensure they include disabled creatives across their work. They are an accessible venue that is warm and welcoming and ensure that all disabled creatives continually feel part of their phenomena programme of work.”
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The party on 27 May will feature live music from The Villanelles, a DJ set and hosting from Tom Finkill, a routine from International Wheelchair Dance Champion Monique Jarrett, and a reading from Tony Walsh himself.
Alexandra Maxwell, venue manager, said: “It’s been a rollercoaster of a year dealing with the challenges of a new business and the ever-changing climate in hospitality. That said, our community was well established at our old venue and their support has been incredible.
“By January 2022 we felt positive that we could start the next chapter of our journey and open up the second arch in its entirety, however the Arts Council’s surprising response and has driven us to try to raise the funds in a different way.”
A spokesperson for Arts Council England said: “Demand for the Capital Investment Programme was extremely high and we received a large number of both Expressions of Interest and applications.
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“We had to make tough decisions, but we awarded funding to applications that most closely meet the criteria and made the strongest contribution to the aims of the programme.
“In 2020 53Two was awarded £61,116 through the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund which supported cultural organisations through the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and we would welcome applications from the organisation to other Arts Council funding programmes in the future.”
If you’re interested in attending the evening or for more information on the Sponsorship Package, please contact Simon on [email protected]
Dirty Dancing at Palace Theatre, Manchester – at least one audience member had the time of her life…
Daisy Jackson
For anyone who has watched Dirty Dancing so many times they can practically recite the dialogue, taking on the Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey roles is no small feat – and turning that lakeside romance into a live musical comes with even bigger expectations.
The stage production at the Palace Theatre in Manchester has all the familiar ingredients: the dancing, the music, the forbidden romance and, of course, that lift. But while there are moments when the theatre version captures the exuberance of the original, it doesn’t always manage to recreate its magic.
Charlie Varlet as Baby does a great job of embracing the knock-kneed awkwardness of the teenage star, slowly blossoming into a beautiful dancer who is almost eerily similar to the film’s Jennifer Grey.
And Joel Benjamin plays a striking Johnny, moving lightly for such an enormously muscular actor.
But there are moments where their chemistry fizzles out, too much of the script that focuses on their bickerings and misunderstandings to make you buy into their love story.
At points, it feels almost slapstick, and the result is a restless audience that keeps hooting and hollering at a topless Benjamin when he’s trying to deliver a serious monologue about Johnny’s upbringing. One woman shouts ‘LUCKY YOU’ and cackles as Baby sits in bed with him. It’s not a Magic Mike show, guys.
Where Dirty Dancing the musical shines is when it really makes the most of its full ensemble, with huge dance numbers that see limbs and skirts flying right across the stage.
Ellie Ferguson as Penny in Dirty Dancing. Credit: Danny Kaan
And it’s hard to take your eyes off Penny (Ellie Fergusson), even when she’s lurking in the crowd, so impressive is her stage presence and the execution of her dance routines.
Having a lot of the musicians on the stage is a fantastic touch too – you spot people playing saxophones and clarinets and guitars in a lot of the scenes and it adds a real party atmosphere.
The set design does its best to replicate the iconic moments of the film, but the cast shaking themselves dry under a blue light can’t come close to the magic of the lake scene.
If you’ve watched the film so often you can recite it word for word (guilty), you won’t find a lot of surprises up on the stage – the theatre adaptation sticks pretty tightly to the original plot and script.
Baby (Charlie Varlet) and Johnny (Joel Benjamin)Dirty Dancing is at the Palace Theatre in ManchesterCredit: Danny Kaan
It means that a lot of the moments that would translate best to stage – the underground dance party in the staff quarters, the montage of Baby learning to dance, the Hungry Eyes scene – are condensed into the first half of the musical.
The second half feels a little flat in comparison, just a lot of bickering and storming around the stage… up until that grand finale, when Johnny bursts from the back of the theatre and storms the stage to complete that iconic lift.
It’s worth all the trundle just for that final euphoric moment.
Dirty Dancing is at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 3 October, then will return next summer. You can grab tickets HERE.
Greater Manchester announces £15m investment in grassroots culture
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Greater Manchester is investing more than £15 million in grassroots and community culture over the next three years, with funding set to support organisations across all 10 boroughs.
The funding will support a range of cultural activity, including disability arts, youth engagement, community music-making, theatre, live music, dance, and documentary filmmaking.
Investment will be prioritised in neighbourhoods that are viewed as facing greater barriers to cultural engagement, addressing inequalities in access, meaning these community theatres, grassroots music venues and local production companies are set to be given an additional £407,540 per year.
This investment is a fantastic opportunity for Mancunians to come together and celebrate the beautiful place that we are lucky enough to call home.
Culture is absolutely essential for unity and reinforcing our sense of civic pride, in addition to bringing valuable skills, expertise and new opportunities to our region. Not to mention the benefits co-creation can have on wellbeing and positive growth.
Recognising the transformational impact culture can have, Greater Manchester has pledged continual support to existing leading regional institutions which will ensure culture remains central to local regeneration, as well as committing funds and support to new grassroot talent.
What’s more is that funding has been secured for enrichment across all ten boroughs, meaning nobody has to miss out.
This boost in funding will also help deliver on the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s commitment to putting ‘things to do’ at the heart of town centres, with nine new organisations to receive funding for the first time. Included in this are OT Creative Space, String of Hearts, Manchester’s Reform Radio, Venture Arts, and Stand and Be Counted Theatre.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig said: “Shared cultural experiences are powerful opportunities to bring people together, create opportunities and build pride. We are investing more than £15 million for culture over the next three years, funding organisations of all shapes and sizes, in all 10 boroughs, so that everyone in Greater Manchester has access to an experience that speaks to them.
“Doorstep access to everything from theatre to live music, dance to documentary filmmaking, has the power to transform lives and shape communities. The Culture Fund is a key part of my commitment to putting things to do at the heart of our towns.”
This exciting £15m investment is to be divided into just over £5m each year, for cultural organisations in the region, across a three year period. This funding is designed to increase reach to more people within our communities and to ensure that the cultural sector remains thriving and strong.
Greater Manchester has also vowed to give the well-known Inspire Fund a £20,000 annual boost, to provide small grants to more local artists, small cultural organisations, creatives and freelancers.
In Rochdale, Breaking Barriers, known for amplifying unheard voices by co-creating work with local communities, have received an annual award of £40,000, as well as Skylight Circus Arts securing an annual award of £27,540 for its inclusive circus workshops for communities and schools.
Doc North, a not-for-profit organisation supporting working-class documentary makers and storytellers in the North of England, has been given £42,000 and popular grassroots music venue, The Snug, has been awarded £70,000.
In response to the challenges faced by the sector, a new Structural Fund of £100,000 has also been implemented to help to solidify stronger cultural networks and partnerships across the region. This will aid organisations to take risks and experiment in the delivery of new ideas.
In a city region so rich with culture and history, it’s about time we start engaging within our communities and celebrating what we have on offer here in Greater Manchester.
Daisy Jackson -
17th May 2022 
