Things To Do

An award-winning interactive stage play is coming to Manchester’s new neighbourhood

'Mates' will celebrate the culture and lifestyle of both Manchester and Salford.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 4th November 2021

Get Living and Hope Mill Theatre are teaming up to bring an award-winning interactive stage play celebrating Mancunian friendship and community to New Maker Yards.

Normally you’d find the actors of Ancoats’ very-own Hope Mill Theatre company appearing in packed-out productions of an all-female Shakespeare, or even starring in an acclaimed musical such as RENT or the upcoming revival of The Wiz – but their newest immersive play has a very different setting.

The play is taking place across three apartments at New Maker Yards, in Middlewood Locks – a neighbourhood that’s between Salford and Manchester city centres.

To celebrate the launch of a further 500 homes for rent at New Maker Yards, Get Living – the neighbourhood operator – is inviting Mancunians and Salfordians to experience its newest living spaces like never before, where audience members will begin their interactive theatre experience at apartment 114, and will be welcomed into the lives of three friends to explore the bonds of friendship.

Titled ‘Mates’, the play will celebrate the cities’ culture and lifestyle, and feature immersive mediations, spoken word recitals, and a house party complete with live music and a photo booth.

ADVERTISEMENT

After the performance, audiences will also be able to enjoy a free pint or burger at Seven Bro7thers beerhouse in the neighbourhood. 

The play is celebrating the launch of a further 500 homes for rent at New Maker Yards / Credit: Get Living

Speaking ahead of the play’s arrival next week, Eoin Thomas – Community and Events Lead at Get Living – said: “New Maker Yards’ has such a distinctive, vibrant community, and with 500 more new homes available to rent this autumn, we wanted to showcase what living at New Maker Yards is all about.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We’re delighted to be working with the incredible Hope Mill Theatre to take this immersive play out of the theatre and into our living rooms.”

Joseph Houston – Co-Founder and Artistic Director at Hope Mill Theatre – added: “We love creating art, and specifically, art that resonates so strongly with the local community [so] this immersive theatre show at Get Living’s New Maker Yards neighbourhood is so special as we get to celebrate Manchester and the people who live here in a way that lets us connect with both residents and those living nearby.”

‘Mates’ is running between 13 – 21 November 2021, and you can grab tickets for free here.

ADVERTISEMENT

For more information on the new, fully-furnished homes available to rent with Get Living – with no deposits, no fees, and WiFi included – the New Maker Yards website here, or call 0161 826 5961 to speak to a member of the team. 

Featured Image – Get Living

Things To Do

The viral factory in Oldham that sells £2 Colin the Caterpillar cakes

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

A factory in Oldham has gone viral online after sweet fiends discover they sell ‘Colin the Caterpillar’ cakes for less than half price.

There are some things that just go hand in hand: a brew and a biscuit, peanut butter and jelly and Brits and their crazy obsession with a character chocolate cake from M&S called Colin the Caterpillar.

Since hitting the shelves in 1990, more than 15 million Colin the Caterpillars have made their way from supermarket shop floor to our sweet-treat-awaiting plates.

Who would’ve ever guessed that the home to this cheeky chappy, who M&S have made their unofficial mascot (after Percy Pig, of course), has been crafted and created right here in Oldham?

park cakes oldham greater manchester
The utterly delicious Colin the Caterpillar cake which you can get for £2 at Park Cakes.
The shelves at Park Cakes will also be stacked with Colin and Connie The Caterpillar delights.
The shelves at Park Cakes are stacked with Colins and Connies.
Credit: The Manc Eats

Established in 1937, The Park Cake Bakeries – or just Park Cakes, colloquially – has been serving up this critter-inspired cake for over 30 years, and savvy shoppers have flocked to their factory shop to get their hands on some very sweet savings.

There’s a whole range of cakes on offer at this Oldham dessert factory shop, including slabs, sponges, loaves and even sweet pies too.

Whether you’re a firm believer that the birthday person deserves all of Colin’s white-choc face or you precisely cut it up so everyone gets some, Park Cakes has the solution, selling bags of the character’s chocolatey face so you can have one all to yourself.

The cake isn’t the only thing that leaves a sweet taste in your mouth, as the prices will too. Colin the Caterpillar, who normally retails for just under a tenner, is sold for around £2 at this Oldham factory shop.

It’s always the ones that look unassuming, isn’t it?

where is park cake bakeries cheap colin caterpillars m&s outlet
Credit: Google Earth/The Park Cake Bakeries (via Facebook)

Alongside producing one of the most adored cakes in the UK, they’re also responsible for lots more of your favourite supermarket sweet treats, and we’re definitely not complaining.

You can let your sweet tooth go wild in this factory shop as they sell everything from rainbow birthday cakes to sticky toffee puddings.

There’s so much on offer too, how about a giant bag packed to the brim with misshapen golden flapjacks that’ll last you over a week and cost you less than a fiver? Sounds like a plan to me.

If you haven’t had enough of your Easter chocolate fix, why not trek over to Oldham and stock up on even more chocolate and sweet treats? Trust us, there’s plenty to choose from.

Park Cakes factory shop can be found on Ashton Road in Oldham and is open from 10am-4pm, so go and grab yourself a seriously sweet deal before everyone else beats you to it.

Mini Colins, small in size but still packed with all that chocolatey goodness.
Mini Colins, small in size but still packed with all that chocolatey goodness.
Flapjacks and cookie dough bites are just some of the wonderful treats you might be able to get hold of.
Flapjacks and cookie dough bites are just some of the wonderful treats you might be able to get hold of.
Credit: The Manc

Read more:

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Adam Higgin (via Facebook)

Things To Do

A charity auction is selling memorabilia from the ACTUAL Peaky Blinders set

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Peaky Blinders super-fans get ready, because there’s a charity auction is currently open and items worn by the stars of the iconic TV series are up for grabs.

This exclusive event gives bidders the chance to own a piece of modern-day TV history in the form of not just merchandise but authentic memorabilia.

Let’s be honest, we’ve all wanted to pull on a flat cap and pretend we were a gangster at one point in our lives, and what better way to do so and relive your Peaky Blinders fantasy than by doing so with one from the show? Especially since you know your money is going towards a good cause.

Whether you want to look as dapper as Tommy Shelby, or you just want to add a culture-soaked collector’s item to your, well, collection, you might want to check this one if you’re a big Peaky fan.

Maybe you could own something from this very picture at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Maybe you could own something from this very picture at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Walk away feeling dapper as ever with exclusive merchandise up for grabs at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Walk away feeling dapper as ever with exclusive merchandise up for grabs at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Credit: BBC

Anyone planning on going to the Peaky Blinders charity auction event can bid in person or even register to bid online now if you won’t be free during the proceedings.

As for what is on the table, you could raise your virtual paddle for everything from a full suit worn by Cillian Murphy himself to Sam Claflin’s homburg hat, a pair of Michael Gray (Finn Cole) shiny shoes and much more.

You can find a full list of the items available for auction online, as the bidding commenced this month and will officially close on 20 May with a special tie-in event.

And where else to hold said event and than Manchester’s very own Peaky Blinders bar on Peter Street just off the main Deansgate strip, where the action will culminate in a flamboyant and free-to-all event.

Those attending in person will be greeted with a welcome drink before being encouraged to join in with the final day of the auction – guests are encouraged to turn up in ‘true Shelby style’ of course.

All the funds raised will go towards the much-loved NHS foundation and specialist hospital, The Christie, Europe’s largest cancer centre, right here in Manchester.

Peaky Blinders bar on Peter St in Manchester city centre.
Everyone knows the Peaky Blinders like a drink.

Tickets for this event cost nothing, but there is an option to add an additional donation if you wish, and bidding on items taken from the cult favourite TV show is open to everyone.

This isn’t the only claim to fame this Manchester-based centre has as just last month a breast cancer study at The Christie set up by Girls Aloud star and Stockport-born, Sarah Harding, helped save 80 women. Now that’s leaving a legacy.

Once again, the final day of the Peaky Blinders charity auction event is taking place on Tuesday, 20 May from 6-10pm, and tickets are completely free.

Sign up for yours below HERE.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — GoodFon/BBC

More Things To Do

Audio

Scouting For Girls announce stacked UK tour with Manchester date

Audio

You can get FREE tickets to watch The Voice UK in Manchester

New ice cream dessert and donut shop Manchester

City Centre

A brand-new dessert, ice-cream and doughnut shop in a former Manc food spot

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches