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Hocus Pocus is being screened with a live orchestra in Manchester this Halloween

Oh, spooky season is definitely here now.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 3rd October 2023

One of the best-loved Halloween films is being screened with a live orchestra playing its iconic soundtrack later this month.

It may have only been a couple of weeks since we waved goodbye to summer, but with the nights drawing in, the air starting to feel more autumnal by the day, and the spooky season right around the corner, it won’t be long before Disney fans get all cosy and sit down to watch the 1993 classic that is Hocus Pocus.

Directed by Kenny Ortega, and starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, the film is a brilliant mix of fantasy, comedy, and horror all in one, and follows a villainous comedic trio of witches who are inadvertently resurrected by a virgin teenage boy in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night.

When the film was first released, it actually received mixed reviews from film critics and wasn’t really a success at the box office either, but thanks to people popping it on to watch every October, it’s been rediscovered by audiences.

Halloween has helped make the film a cult classic – and quite rightly so, if you ask us.

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Such a cult classic, in fact, that a sequel, aptly titled Hocus Pocus 2, was finally released on Disney+ last year nearly two decades later, and saw much of the original cast return for the ride, alongside some new faces for a continuation of the story that started in the first movie.

So, if watching Hocus Pocus is already one of your Halloween 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 in just a couple of weeks time.

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As part of a two-stop UK, Hocus Pocus In Concert is coming back to our city by popular demand, and this year, it’s on actual Halloween night.

Hocus Pocus In Concert will be at The Bridgewater Hall on Tuesday 31 October / Credit: Bridgwater Hall

Sounding set to be “the perfect Halloween treat” for the whole family, the one-off event will feature a screening of the complete 1993 film, with Emmy-winning composer John Debney’s musical score performed live to accompany the spooky classic.

Hocus Pocus In Concert will be at The Bridgewater Hall on Tuesday 31 October at 7:30pm, with tickets now on sale and setting you back anywhere from £34-£69.

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Given how much of a success the event was when it was here last, and the fact it’s on the actual night of Halloween itself 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 website here.

Featured Image – Disney

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Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds is coming to Manchester – with a Liam Neeson hologram

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds will be coming to Manchester as part of a monumental new arena tour.

The much-loved musical spectacular, based on the dark Victorian tale by H. G. Wells, will feature a 3D hologram of Liam Neeson.

The virtual Neeson takes the role of The Journalist, who recounts his story of survival from the Martian invasion of 1898.

The Spirit of Man Tour will also see the stage filled with a 35-foot fire-breathing Fighting Machine, alongside the eight-piece Black Smoke Band and 36-piece ULLAdubULLA Strings.

The rest of the new cast and further details will be announced in the coming months.

The War Of The Worlds will be at the new Co-op Live arena in 2025, as part of the 17-date, 19-show tour of the UK and Ireland.

Its arrival in Manchester will coincide with the 130th anniversary of the world-famous production.

And after 19 years of live touring, the enormous musical experience has grown to mind-blowing proportions.

It was already considered a cutting-edge production in 2006 with six trucks filled to the brim – these days, it will be up to 12 trucks to bring the phenomenal special effects to life.

Tickets for The War of the Worlds in Manchester will go on sale at 10am on Friday 8 December via myticket.co.uk/artists/jeff-wayne-s-the-war-of-the-worlds.

Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds tour dates

  • Fri 28 March Hull Connexin Live
  • Sun 30March 3Arena Dublin, Ireland
  • Tue 1 April Aberdeen P&J Live
  • Wed 02 April Glasgow OVO Hydro
  • Thu 03 April Leeds First Direct Arena
  • Sat 05 April Newcastle Utilita Arena
  • Sun 06 April Manchester Co-op Live
  • Tue 08 April Sheffield Utilita Arena
  • Wed 09 April Liverpook M&S Bank Arena
  • Thu 10 April Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
  • Sat 12 April Brighton Centre – matinee & evening
  • Sun 13 April Bournemouth Int Centre
  • Mon 14 April Bournemouth Int Centre
  • Wed 16 April Cardiff Utilitia Arena
  • Thu 17 April Cardiff Utilita Arena
  • Fri 18 April Birmingham Resorts World Arena
  • Sun 20 April London The O2 – matinee & evening

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Peter Hook is hosting a charity gig and Q&A at an iconic Manchester pub to raise money for mental health

Danny Jones Danny Jones Peter Hook and the Light mental health charity gig Star & Garter Manchester tickets

Joy Division and New Order co-founder, Peter Hook, is taking part in a charitable evening of live music and conversation right here in Manchester city centre early next year, and it’s being hosted at one of Manchester’s most beloved pubs, the Star and Garter.

Fresh off the announcement of New Order’s massive homecoming gig at Wythenshawe Park — their first full headline show together since 2021 — the Manc music legend who now tours with his self-titled band, Peter Hook and the Light, will be playing iconic tracks and having a chat with guests in April 2024.

Being held at the legendary city centre pub, which now bears the freshly restored mural of his former bandmate and one of the greatest English musicians of all time, Ian Curtis, the significance of the intimate concert being held at such an iconic music venue is not lost on anyone.

Better still, the special one-off gig, Q&A session and evening as a whole has been set up with the help of local music-driven mental health organisation, Headstock, and will be raising money for their partnered nationwide charity, Shout.

Peter Hook and the Light are merely the latest in a long line of huge names to grace the Star and Garter.

Announcing the gig on Monday, 4 December, the veteran vocalist, bass player and singer-songwriter said of the inspirational fundraising gig, which will also pay tribute to Curtis: “I have campaigned for a long time for Ian and Joy Division to be commemorated anyway and anywhere possible.

“From the statue in Macclesfield, still ongoing, and the mural there as well; to the mural in Manchester and the upcoming one in Stockport. I will only rest when every town in Great Britain has something. 

“I am immensely proud of Ian and our work as Joy Division and to celebrate it in this way is such a pleasure. I am hoping to bring Ian’s best man at his wedding and childhood friend, Kelvin Briggs to join me so fans can get a real insight into this wonderful man and artist.

“To play at such an iconic venue as the Star and Garter just seals the deal perfectly.”

Speaking on the event, Headstock founder Atheer Al-Salim said, “We are so grateful to Peter Hook and his band who are giving up their time and talent to help us raise much-needed funds to support our charity partner, Shout, and their life-saving text-support service.

“The evening promises to be a poignant moment for Manchester, and an event of huge musical and cultural significance for the city.”

As for Shout, their CEO Victoria Hornby added: “We’re incredibly grateful to Peter Hook and The Light and Headstock for putting on this very special event which will raise vital funds for us to keep the Shout text messaging support service running 24/7.

“Our volunteers take up to 2,000 conversations with children, young people and adults in urgent need of mental health support every day, and every £10 raised funds a conversation that could save a life.”

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Set to play a predominantly Joy Divison-based set in the same year that the famous Manc four-piece finally received their inaugural nomination to be entered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there will be just 200 spaces available and the Star and Garter be packed just as it was back in its heyday.

Tickets will be allocated via a ballot on Skiddle, with the first ballot already open and will close on Friday, 2 February 2024. Each successful ballot entrant will be allocated a maximum of two tickets to the event. 

The pricing for ‘An Evening of Music and Conversation with Peter Hook’ on 12 April, 2024 is as follows:

  • 1x ballot entry – £10
  • 3x ballot entries – £15
  • 10x ballot entries – £20

The gig is already selling fast, so secure your spot to see an unforgettable night of music and insight, all for a great cause, HERE.

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

Featured Image — Supplied/The Manc Group

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