One of the best-loved Christmas films is being screened with a live orchestra playing its iconic soundtrack later this December.
It may have only been a couple of weeks since autumn officially started, but with the nights drawing in, the air starting to feel more wintery by the day, and the spooky season soon to be over and done with, it won’t be long before Disney fans get all cosy and sit down to watch the classic that is The Muppet Christmas Carol.
The festive film has become an undeniable family favourite after it was originally released all the way back in 1992, and is now watched by millions of households right across the globe every time December rolls around.
Starring the Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge, and of course, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and co as the supporting cast of characters, The Muppet Christmas Carol is exactly what it says on the tin – it’s Charles Dickens’ legendary Christmas story… but with The Muppets.
The Muppet Christmas Carol is being screened with a live orchestra in Manchester this December / Credit: Disney
It tells the story of Scrooge, an old miserable man that dislikes Christmas, who is visited by spirits who foretell his future and share secrets from his past and present, which eventually help to change his outlook on life.
ADVERTISEMENT
But, if popping on the Christmas classic is already one of your festive traditions, then how do you fancy watching it live in concert as well?
Well, that’s exactly what’s happening at The Bridgewater Hall here in Manchester this December.
ADVERTISEMENT
Back by popular demand, The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert is heading out on a tour of the UK starting late next month, and our city’s the lucky one as it’s stopping-off here on the date closest to Christmas Day itself.
It’s sounding set to be the perfect festive treat for the whole family / Credit: Kian Zhang (via Unsplash)
Sounding set to be the perfect festive treat for the whole family, the one-off event will feature a screening of the complete 1992 film, with award-winning composer duo Miles Goodman and Paul Williams’ magical musical score performed live to accompany the Christmas classic.
The Muppet Christmas Carol In Concert will be at The Bridgewater Hall on Wednesday 20 December at 3pm, with tickets now on sale and setting you back anywhere from £34-£70.
Given how much of a success the event was when it last toured, and the fact it’s really close to Christmas this year, tickets are already being snapped up fast, so you’ll need to be quick if you want to get your hands of them.
Grab your tickets on the Bridgewater Hall’s website here.
Featured Image – Disney
What's On
Victoria Baths is ‘resurrecting’ its popular spooky silent disco this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Halloween is on its way, and Silence of the Baths is being ‘resurrected’ for another year.
Returning for a ‘fright night of thrills’ after a sell-out debut in 2023, and then for a smash-hit revival of three of Manchester’s most iconic fallen nightclubs in 2024, Victoria Baths has announced that Silence of the Baths will be returning for its third year, transforming the stunning Grade II-listed building into one of the spookiest settings this Halloween.
For the popular one-off event, Victoria Baths is set to ‘show its darker side’, as the pool halls, Turkish Baths, and labyrinth of spaces undergo an epic Halloween makeover.
Victoria Baths is teaming up with Girls on Film for one of the best nights in the city this Halloween, as the historic space becomes a ‘haunted haven’ of glamour and ghosts.
Partygoers are encouraged to dress the part and wander through the empty pools and haunted corridors as each space is transformed into spooky playground filled with ghouls, spiders, bats, and coffins – but most importantly, good times.
From the balcony above the former pool, the Girls on Film crew will take over the silent disco with a trio of DJs on three different channels.
Hattie Pearson will be on Channel 1, Meme Gold on Channel 2, and the Channel 3 will have DJ MXw0rld.
Victoria Baths is ‘resurrecting’ its popular spooky silent disco this Halloween / Credit: Chris Payne (via Supplied)
As mentioned, ticketholders are being encouraged to ‘dress to distress’ on the night, not only because it’s Halloween, but also because the person with the most haunting look has the chance to win a Halloween Swag Bag.
There’ll be plenty of elixirs and spirits to sip on all night long, and don’t forget to strike a pose against the Baths’ iconic backdrop.
The Silence of the Baths III: The Return will take over Victoria Baths on Saturday 25 October, with doors creaking open from 7:30pm, and tickets are now on sale here and setting you back £20 each (plus a booking fee).
The event sold out last year, so early ticket purchase is recommended
All ticket purchases support the work of The Victoria Baths Trust to preserve Victoria Baths, so that communities can continue to enjoy this inspiring building.
Featured Image – Chris Payne (via Supplied)
What's On
Legendary musical CATS is coming to Manchester on its UK tour next year
Emily Sergeant
Legendary musical CATS will be taking to the stage here in Manchester next year.
A brand-new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s global sensation, CATS, will embark on a major UK tour from summer 2026 following an open-air residency at Regent Park in London – including dates at Manchester’s prestigious Palace Theatre in November.
Based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS is one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history.
The show originally premiered at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances.
Since its world premiere, the musical has been presented in more than 54 countries, translated into 23 languages, and has been seen by more than 77 million people worldwide – collecting a number of awards along the way.
Legendary musical CATS is coming to Manchester on its UK tour next year / Credit: Feast Creative
This new production of CATS is produced by Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, with Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, as part of Drew McOnie’s second season as Artistic Director, and it marks the third Andrew Lloyd Webber title produced by the venue in the last decade.
Unfamiliar with the show? CATS tells the story of the Jellicle cats.
From Euston station to Victoria Grove, the strays and rebels of London gather under the Jellicle moon in the hope they’ll be the chosen one.
With a legendary score featuring well-known songs like Old Deuteronomy, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, TheJellicle Ball, and, of course, the chart-topping hit Memory, this brand-new production of CATS is gearing up to be one of the best theatrical events of 2026.
“I am very excited to see a totally new production of CATS back on the stage where it belongs,” creator Andrew Lloyd Webber said on the show’s return. “I can think of no-one better than Drew McOnie to bring a new vision to the world of the Jellicles.”
Casting and the full creative team is set to be announced in due course, as is the on-sale date and link for tickets, so keep your eyes peeled.
Emily Sergeant -
13th October 2023 
