An exhibition exploring Stephen Hawking’s life and work will open in Manchester this summer, with recognisable objects on public display for the first time.
Stephen Hawking at Work is part of the Science and Industry Museum’s packed schedule for 2022.
Objects from Hawking’s office will be on display to the public for the first time, including his spectacles and an invitation to a time travel-themed party he hosted.
The display will show how Hawking used science and technology to aid communication after his diagnosis with motor neurone disease (MND).
The renowned scientist lived with MND for more than 50 years despite an initial prognosis of only two.
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The Revolution Manchester Gallery at the Science and Industry Museum. Credit: Drew Forsyth
He used a voice synthesiser from 1986 following an emergency tracheotomy, and had an analogue cheek sensor attached to his glasses to control the voice software.
Stephen Hawking at Work will also feature the latest generation of wheelchair he used, a Permobil F3 model.
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Visitors will be able to study Hawking’s rare PhD thesis too.
The exhibition will take over the striking new £5m Revolution Gallery, before heading on a national tour over the next two years.
The popular museum will also be running a year of events and exhibitions marking the 100th anniversary of the BBC, and continuing its cancer exhibition.
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Visitors to the Manchester Science Festival in 2019. Credit: Science Museum Group
The Cancer Revolution: Science, Innovation and Hope exhibition, which explored how science is revolutionising cancer care, will remain in the Special Exhibitions Gallery until March 27.
From spring, the Revolution Gallery will host the Celebrating 100 Years of the BBC in Manchester exhibition.
There’ll be a bumper programme of exhibitions, displays, online content and events across the country exploring how trailblazers shaped broadcast technology and look at what the future may hold.
The Science and Industry Museum will host Amazonia, a photography exhibition that celebrates the indigenous peoples and varied landscapes of the Brazilian rainforest this summer.
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Then the Musical Mind exhibition will arrive in October, exploring the science of why humans connect with music.
In 2022, updates to the Experiment Gallery will be revealed, including the additions of a thermal image camera, large-scale shadow box, a buzz wire game and a collaborative ball run wall.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Manchester’s biggest comedy festival returns this week and you can STILL get tickets
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s most popular comedy festival is back this week, and there’s still time to get tickets if you’re up for a laugh.
That’s right – Laughterama is back in Manchester from today (2 September), and will once again be taking over the iconic Castlefield Bowl in the heart of the city centre for five days of fun.
Thousands of comedy lovers attend Laughterama each year to enjoy countless sell-out stand-up sets, and this year will be no different, as festivalgoers are in for an ‘explosive series of shows‘ from some of the hottest names on the comedy circuit.
Jack Dee, Nick Mohammed, Sara Pascoe, Fern Brady, and Chris McCausland are just some of the famous names on this year’s jam-packed lineup.
They’ll be joined by other big names like Michelle De Swarte, Stewart Lee, Nina Conti, Ivo Graham, Ellis James, and Harriett Kemsley when they all take to the Castlefield Bowl stage over the five-day festival from Wednesday 2 – Sunday 6 September.
Some of the other names you can expect are BAFTA nominee Rose Matafeo, stand-up marvel Sarah Keyworth, Plebs and Friday Night Dinner star Tom Rosenthal, and podcast hero John Robbins.
It wouldn’t be Laughterama without some newcomers and breakthrough stars, of course, and on the lineup this year are viral sensation Vittorio Angelone, fast-rising talents Kiran Saggu and Jen Nolan, and BBC New Comedy Award finalist Evaldas Karosas.
Laughterama returns to Manchester later this week, and you still / Credit: Matt Eachus | Supplied
And aside from the comedy, as always, you can expect the very-best eats from Manchester’s street food scene will also be on site to tuck into, as well as an exciting selection of bars serving signature beers, cocktails, and more.
Laughterama 2026 is landing at Castlefield Bowl this week from Wednesday 2 – Sunday 6 September, with tickets now on sale at £29 per person.
Daisy Jackson -
12th January 2022 
