A three-week outdoor theatre festival will bring a jam-packed programme of arts and cultural events to Ancoats this summer.
Created by Manchester’s iconic Hope Mill Theatre in association with Electric Park, HOPE FEST will see musicals, comedy, live music, family shows, film screenings, one-off special community events and even a dog festival all arrive in the city’s sought-after suburb this July.
The festival – which has been made possible through a collaboration to champion post-COVID cultural arts in Manchester – has an ambition to bring a unique programme of community-centric events, and will take place inside a large sheltered tent that’s set to accommodate 250 people based beside New Islington Tram Station, just a stone’s throw away from the theatre itself.
To offer a wide range of local beers, spirits and good grub, the new pop-up summer venue will also include an onsite bar and an eating area with a BBQ.
So, what are some of the highlights on the lineup for this year’s event?
Appearing in the festival will be comedians such as Jason Manford, Boothby Graffoe, Elf Lyons, Mike Newall and Vince Atta, with Kirk Jameson also directing a celebration of the history of musical theatre.
Touring stage shows include a revival of Stiles and Drewe’s Three Little Pigs The Musical, as well as Judy and Liza.
There will also be film screenings of some classics, plus a tribute to Dolly Parton, and more.
HOPE FEST / Hope Mill Theatre / DaveDraws
That’s not all either, as Hope Mill Theatre is also launching a special ‘FANCOATS’ scheme, which offers ticket discounts to locals and will also invite them to a one-off residents gathering designed to bring the local community together.
Speaking ahead of the festival, William Whelton – Executive Director at Hope Mill Theatre – said: “After a year of closure and uncertainty, we have been working hard to bring together a festival of outdoor work in our local area [and] this is an opportunity for us to bring together our audiences in a new and exciting way, as well as engaging with a whole new audience.
“The New Islington area and surrounding community has been our home for over five years now and has many diverse and creative residents.
— Hope Mill Theatre (@hopemilltheatr1) May 19, 2021
“With HOPE FEST, we also have a varied and diverse line up of arts and culture available, which offers a special opportunity for us to bring together the local community under one roof, or tent. It is important to us that HOPE FEST has something for everyone, whether it be a Sing A Long Frozen for families, music from Matt & Phreds a celebration of musical theatre, or a dog friendly event, this is an incredible opportunity for our organisation, in a very exciting phase for the New Islington and Electric Park area”.
“The pandemic had an immediate and substantial impact on the arts and cultural sector and is, unfortunately, likely to be the slowest in its recovery,” added Ben Cross, from Electric Park.
“And so, in that context, we’re immensely privileged and proud to play our part in supporting this incredible grassroots organisation at a time when it is needed most”.
HOPE FEST
HOPE FEST will take place from 16th July – 8th August 2021, and you can find more here.
Featured Image – HOPE FEST
Art & Culture
The Manchester charity that’s championing the community one step at a time
Thomas Melia
There’s a Manchester-based charity which is helping uplift and champion communities throughout the city centre and wider Greater Manchester region.
Us Mancs certainly know a thing or two about community, whether it’s our influential music scene, football clubs, our hospitality scene and so on, but Forever Manchester takes this to the next level.
This charity has been consistently funding and supporting community initiatives throughout Greater Manchester by helping people achieve the extraordinary, all while maintaining plenty of local pride.
Forever Manchester was born from a mission to support the people and places that make Greater Manchester magic, and is all about making sure the community is at the forefront of everything they do.
Credit: Forever Manchester
The community-first charity has invested over £65 million into local communities and awarded £517,968 to over 100 different community groups.
This isn’t a new charity either, Forever Manchester has been deep in our city’s culture for quite some time since launching in 1989, most notably commissioning local poet Tony Walsh’s ‘This is the Place’.
The piece was originally published in 2012 before finding a very special place in our hearts back in 2017 when Walsh performed the poem at a vigil for the Manchester Arena attack.
This love letter to Manchester has not only gone on to become a part of the city’s history but also reaffirmed this organisation’s place throughout communities in the region.
Credit: Supplied
Now, the community-minded charity is ready to make a mark in 2025 with a whole host of initiatives, including a Forever Manchester lottery, pub quizzes, comedy nights and disco bingo.
Anyone looking to find out more information about this community-first charity and see some examples of the work it does can visit Forever Manchester’s official website.
Remember, this is a city that looks after its own – that’s the kind of energy we want to see you keeping up all year long.
And, if you have a soft spot for a tote bag or wall art prints, look no further than Forever Manchester’s shop, where every purchase directly contributes to community activities in Greater Manchester HERE.
A candlelit concert and drone show is visiting Manchester later this year
Thomas Melia
A drone show that doubles as a candlelit concert is stopping off in Manchester this autumn after visiting countries across the globe.
What’s better than a candlelit concert, I hear you ask? Well, how about a candlelit concert that also doubles as a drone show?
The masterminds at DroneArt Show have figured out a way to combine the two mesmerising experiences into one unforgettable night, and we are definitely not complaining.
You can expect to see visual displays in the sky of swans, parrots and even a ballerina, all of which will be synchronised to some of the greatest classical arrangements.
The DroneArt Show is visiting Manchester on 19 and 20 September.You can watch a candlelit concert and a drone show all in one night.Credit: DroneArtShow
While you sit back and gaze at these majestic illuminations, your ears will be delighted with the wonderful tunes and melodies of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’ and more.
As you watch this 65-minute-long show, your whole night will be soundtracked by a live string quartet as you’re surrounded by a 20,000 candlelit display and a synchronised team of 500 drones up above.
With this show expected to start at 8pm and run for just over an hour, families attending this event don’t have to worry about their child staying up past their usual bedtime.
And, you might not have to worry about the cost of an extra ticket, because if your little one is three or under, they get access to the candlelit concert and drone show for free.
Expect a live string quartet paired with synchronised drones.The DroneArt Show has travelled the world now stopping off in Manchester.Just a few examples of what the Manchester drone show will look like. (Credit: Supplied)
The organisers are encouraging anyone attending to get there early in order to secure the best seats for the night and sample some of the delicacies that the on-site food vendors have to offer.
Anyone looking to start their music enrichment early can do so too, as the full DroneArt Show programme is readily available to view, as well as all the information you need to know before you go.
The DroneArt Show is coming to Barton Aerodrome in Manchester across two dates: Friday, 19 and 20 September, with doors expected to open at 6pm and a kick-off time of 8pm.
Emily Sergeant -
19th May 2021 
