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Bumper programme of Christmas events lined up at Manchester’s beautiful Bridgewater Hall

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 7th December 2022

The Bridgewater Hall has unveiled its series of Christmas events, featuring family-friendly events, Christmas carol sing-alongs, and magical ballet. 

The festive season at the beautiful arts venue will be absolutely packed with seasonal cheer and incredible performances. 

Several of the events are geared towards younger theatre-goers, including Raymond Briggs’ animated classic The Snowman and the Halle’s Family Concert. 

On Christmas Eve, people will be invited to sing along to Christmas classics, with an orchestra and a choir. 

Here’s everything included in The Bridgewater Hall’s Christmas events series.

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A Dickensian Christmas – 11 December

A Dickensian Christmas at Bridgewater Hall
A Dickensian Christmas at Bridgewater Hall. Credit: Publicity picture

This event will feature a selection of Victorian carols, classics, and readings from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. 

Songs will include Joy to the World, Ding Dong Merrily on High, and In the Bleak Midwinter, plus carols like Good King Wenceslas and O Come All Ye Faithful. 

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Find out more and book tickets here. 

Christmas at the Movies – 15 December

The soundtracks from the greatest Christmas films of all time will be brought to life by the Manchester Concert Orchestra at The Bridgewater Hall this month. 

Songs will come from the likes of Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Snowman, Gremlins, White Christmas, The Polar Express, E.T., and Miracle on 34th Street. 

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Book your tickets here.

Christmas Spectacular – 19 December

It’ll be festive overload when the ultimate Christmas party returns to The Bridgewater Hall, with special guest singers Kerry Ellis and Ricardo Afonso. 

They’ll be joined by Jingle Bell dancers for an extravaganza of music, song and dance, including Step Into Christmas, Fairytale of New York, and Let It Snow. 

Find out more and grab tickets here.  

Horrible Histories – Horrible Christmas – 20 December

Hit children’s brand Horrible Histories will be back on the stage with a Christmas tale this year. 

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They say: “When Christmas comes under threat from a jolly man dressed in red, it’s up to one young boy to save the day – but can he save Christmas? 

“From Victorian villains to Medieval monks, Puritan parties to Tudor treats, join us on a hair-raising adventure through the history of Christmas in the company of Charles Dickens, Oliver Cromwell, King Henry VIII and St Nicholas as they all join forces to save the festive season!”

You can get your tickets here.  

Christmas Carol Singalong – 24 December 

Warm up your vocal cords and get ready for the biggest, most festive sing-along of the year. 

Jonathan Cohen will lead audiences through Christmas songs and seasonal classics like Frosty the Snowman, Merry Christmas Everyone, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and a whole host of carols too. 

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Tickets are available now here. 

Last Night of the Christmas Proms – 26 December 

You can extend the Christmas celebrations slightly beyond Christmas, with the Last Night of the Christmas Proms event on Boxing Day.

The Manchester Concert Orchestra will be performing a stellar selection of great classics.

Book your tickets here.

The Music of Zimmer vs Williams – 27 December 

It will be a battle of two musical scores legends on 27 December, as the work of Hans Zimmer and John Williams is performed in an epic concert. 

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Expect soundtracks from Gladiator, Jaws, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Inception, Jurassic Park and more. 

Grab your tickets here. 

Glenn Miller Orchestra – 28 December

The UK’s most renowned big band is returning, swinging back in time playing Glenn Miller’s own arrangements of favourite wartime chart toppers and hits from the forties, directed by legendary band leader Ray McVay.

Expect songs like In the Mood, Little Brown Jug, Moonlight Serenade, American Patrol and The Dam Busters March.

Find your tickets here.

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The Nutcracker – 2-3 January

One of the world’s best-loved ballets will be back at The Bridgewater Hall, sweeping audiences away to a fairytale world where toy dolls spring to life, the Mouse-king and his mouse-army battle with the Nutcracker Prince and we travel through the Land of Snow to an enchanted place where the magic really begins.

It’s the first time the critically acclaimed Varna International Ballet have performed in the UK.

Pick up tickets here.

Featured image: The Bridgewater Hall

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Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week

Students will be able to take part in a build-your-own ramen workshop this week, led by everyone’s favourite pan-Asian restaurant group, Wagamama. 

The workshops will cost just £5 (all of which will go to a brilliant cause), and will include the time spent creating your perfect meal, the actual food, plus drinks and sides.

Wagamama has teamed up with mental health charity SHOUT to host this cosy ramen-making workshop. 

Students will be invited to join Wagamama chefs in the kitchen, selecting their own broth, protein and veggies, with perfectly-cooked noodles, before sitting down at the restaurant’s benches to slurp up their creations with fellow students. 

There’ll also be toppings and garnishes including kimchi, tea-stained eggs, chilli oil, spring onions and more.

With merch to take home too, and steaming bowls of the best-ever autumn dish, this is a one-off event you won’t want to miss. 

Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week
Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week. Credit: Supplied

Each £5 ticket includes your food and two drinks, plus a variety of the new Wagamama winter sides and sharers. 

All money raised will be donated to SHOUT to support the vital services they provide. 

A representative from SHOUT will also be in attendance to talk about student wellbeing and the services available from the charity. 

Wagamama says: “At Wagamama, we believe having a conversation is one of the most powerful ways you can support someone struggling with their mental health. Whether it’s a quick check-in via text or an open conversation over a bowl of steaming ramen. no chat is too big or too small to make an impact.

Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week. Credit: Supplied
Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop with SHOUT this week. Credit: Supplied

“This ethos is one we share with SHOUT, a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in the UK who needs someone to talk to. After huge demand during Covid, SHOUT’s service has become increasingly essential + today SHOUT is more highly in demand than ever before.”

The Japanese and pan-Asian restaurant is donating £40,000 to SHOUT this year, plus providing perks and rewards for their team of volunteers, and hosting events in their spaces. 

The Wagamama ramen-building workshop will take place at the St Peter’s Square restaurant on Thursday 7 November between 2pm and 4pm. You can get your tickets HERE.

Read more: ‘Glittering winter adventure’ set to take over Tatton Park this Christmas

Featured image: Supplied

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‘Glittering winter adventure’ set to take over Tatton Park this Christmas

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The magnificent grounds of Tatton Park will be transformed into a ‘glittering winter adventure’ this festive season.

With spooky season now a thing of the past, and Christmas merely a few weeks away, families will soon be whisked away into a world of folklore, enchantment, and enthralling performances as they enter the gardens of the stunning Tatton Park in Cheshire for an immersive, festival-like experience known as Yuletide.

Organisers say the captivating event promises to be a “truly magical experience” where folklore stories come to life through storytelling and live music.

A ‘glittering winter adventure’ is set to take over Tatton Park this Christmas / Credit: Supplied

All set to transport visitors right into the heart of Yuletide tales, the exciting new event – which opens next weekend, and runs through until late December – is produced by Wild Rumpus, who you may know for other magical local events such as ‘The Lanterns’ at Chester Zoo (2018-2022) and Just So Festival.

The highlight of this new event has to be The Glittering Trail, where beautifully-illuminated puppets and performers bring legendary stories of Yuletide to life as visitors wander through the park’s popular Japanese Gardens and make the most of the stunning winter landscape.

Families can gather around an open fire to toast marshmallows, all while they watch live performances that add even more magic to the evening.

Yuletide will be running at Tatton Park on selected dates from Saturday 16 November through to Monday 23 December, and tickets are on sale now – with adult tickets costing £20, children paying just £12 each, and free personal assistant passes are also available.

Read more:

Find out more and book your tickets here.

Featured Image – Supplied

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