“I’d love to start the crisp sandwich revolution,” extols Matthew Rawcliffe as he lays out the concept behind his new crisp sandwich cafe show, which lands in Manchester next week.
The award-winning contemporary dancer has put together a heart-warming ‘crisp sandwich cafe’ show that will take place at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel next week.
Set inside a crisp butty venue, the show tells a story about the current state of our planet through the lens of crisp sandwiches – and it’s all designed to be autism-friendly.
The ‘crisp sandwich cafe’ show will take place at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Throughout the performance, issues like the climate crisis and Brexit are tackled through the medium of crisps; so guests will hear Boris Johnson talk about what Brexit means for the future of cheese and onion crisps, and learn about the climate crisis through an imaginary ‘crisis crackers’ crisp brand.
Adjacent to the performance there will also be a quiet breakout space for autistic attendees if they need a second away. There’ll be some sensory activities to take part in, too – including the chance to make your very own crisp sandwich.
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Speaking on the idea for the show and the crisp sandwich theme, Matthew explains: “It was just something that feels very nostalgic and northern and also a really unusual setting to stage a contemporary dance show which looks at the climate crisis – and I hope that’s a great thing, I’d love to start the crisp sandwich revolution.”
Matthew Rawcliffe says he would “love to start the crisp sandwich revolution”.
The 22-year-old has worked with autistic people in the creation of The Crisp Sandwich Café, including autistic contemporary dancer Paul Davidson Natt from the National Youth Dance Company – a former student at the National Autistic Society’s Sybil Elgar School.
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Featuring autism-friendly dance performances and costumes made from recycled plastic waste, courtesy of Manchester-based sustainable dancewear brand, Imperfect Pointes, the show is suitable for autistic people aged 14 to 24.
Hosted at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, there will be five shows running from Monday 9 August to Wednesday 11 August.
These will take place on Monday 9 August at 2pm or 4pm, Tuesday 10 August at 2pm or 4pm, and Wednesday 11 August, at 7pm.
Community festival Universally Manchester returns this weekend with a FREE day of fun
Emily Sergeant
A community festival with dozens of free events and activities for all the family is returning to Manchester this weekend.
After what was a successful turnout last summer to celebrate 200 years since the University of Manchester (UoM) first welcomed students through its doors, with more than 150 immersive events on the lineup, Universally Manchester is back this weekend, and the popular festival has a jam-packed day of fun to look forward to.
Oh, and it’s FREE fun, at that.
As part of the university’s civic commitment to ‘enhancing’ its relationship with members of Manchester‘s local communities, the annual university-wide festival will back for its sixth year this Saturday.
Running since 2017, the university’s campus turns into a welcoming space for thousands of visitors from Greater Manchester and beyond, so they can discover all the important work the institution does.
The festival aims to be an ‘inviting and informal space’ for visitors to meet the university’s staff and students, while UoM also gets to play an integral part in conversations that connect people and inspire future generations.
Kicking off from 11am this Saturday (14 June), you can expect there to be something for everyone during this free day jam-packed with fun activities for all the family.
Saturday 14 June
Universally Manchester returns this weekend with a free day of fun / Credit: UoM
Universally Manchester is back for 2025 this weekend, and it’s shaping up to be a proper community day for all.
We’re talking everything from creative sessions with poetry, music, and art, right through to special tours and meets-ups with the university’s inspiring curators, lots of different activities for your wellbeing, and load more.
You can even watch and join in with science experiments, and listen to enthralling stories of local history and experiences.
Pitbull at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, stage times, setlist and more
Danny Jones
People of the world and more specifically Manchester, get ready for the time of your lives because Pitbull is coming to town for his Co-op Live debut, and so is an army of fans in bald caps.
That’s right, ‘Mr Worldwide’ himself is playing his biggest-ever Manc show this Sunday as part of his global ‘Party After Dark’ tour, with European legs starting this month.
His UK and Ireland leg got underway with a double header in Dublin earlier this week, and now Pitbull is coming to Manchester for the first time in seven years.
Safe to say he’s hit on a bit of a renaissance since then, and his fandom – however random it may seem at times – is rampant right now. Exhibit A:
Pitbull gig guide | Manchester – all the important info
As for those of you looking to dress up as the currently viral rapper and singer this weekend, here’s everything you need to know about his 2025 gigs.
Pitbull UK/IE tour dates
5 June – 3 Arena, Dublin
6 June – 3 Arena, Dublin
8 June – Co-op Live, Manchester
9 June – The O2, London
10 June – The O2, London
Are there tickets left for Pitbull in Manchester?
Now, if any of you are looking to score some last-minute tickets for Pitbull in Manchester, we have some good news and some less good news: there are a fair few tickets left, however, they are pretty pricey as verified resale.
The lowest we’ve found clocks in at just under £90 (before fees), and some would set you back even more than VIP packages start from.
Nevertheless, if you’re just thinking, ‘Dale! Let’s make some memories’, then you can see the remaining availability HERE.
Pitbull comes to Co-op Live, Manchester on Sunday, 8 June. (Credit: Press Shot)
Who is supporting Pitbill in Manchester?
Besides already being one of the biggest nights of pop music in Greater Manchester this year, with so many of his shows up and down the country selling out, there’s another big name on the road with him.
If there’s one figure in the genre who has even more Caribbean cache and worldwide status than the Cuban solo star, it’s Jamaican legend, Shaggy.
The now 56-year-old Kingston-born artist is along for the ride on every single one of Pitbull’s EU tour dates, and we can’t wait to welcome him back to Manchester city centre.
For the last time, it wasn’t him…
The two have collaborated on more than one occasion.
What are the stage times for Pitbull at Co-op Live
In terms of when you’ll get to see both of these legends, doors to the venue will open from 6:30pm, and the show is due to get underway an hour later (7:30pm).
Although we don’t know exactly how long Shaggy’s set will be, you can expect at least a 15-minute intermission between the superb support act and your headliner, with Pitbull set to take the stage around 9pm for the main event.
Co-op Live‘s curfew is 11pm, so you can expect approximately two hours of non-stop hits out ‘on the floor’ spanning years of international chart hits.
Pitbull after-party
But don’t worry, the dancing doesn’t have to stop there, as the arena is also hosting one of their increasingly popular after parties for anyone with a valid event ticket.
Pitbull after-party tickets are separate from general admission and are strictly 18+, with tunes kept going until late right after the main show ends, courtesy of multi-genre Manc DJ, Just Yaz. You can secure your spot for the after-party ahead of time.
Now, while we obviously don’t have a fully confirmed setlist for Pitbull’s upcoming Manchester tour date, nor has the running order from his first pair of performances at the 3Arena been published, we can give you an average setlist based on his most recent shows.
Be honest, did you realise he actually had this many bangers!?
A taste of what Co-op Live can expect from a Pitbull concert.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
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Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes via the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.
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There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Georgina Pellant -
4th August 2021 
