Manchester’s Backyard Cinema is set to open tonight on the rooftop of Depot Mayfield – and it’s absolutely incredible.
It’s not just about the film screening itself here (though that’s pretty luxurious too).
The whole experience will transport you to a theatrical land, using film sets, themed tunnels, and live actors to bring it all to life.
Cinema-goers enter the experience through the 150-year-old former door to Mayfield Railway Station, popping out on what was previously the train station’s platform.
Inside the cinema space itself. Credit: The Manc Group
The old waiting room has been converted into a pizza and pints bar, with dark green tiles around the bar.
ADVERTISEMENT
A huge, fairy-tale style shopping street now takes up most of the platform space – think snow-covered shop windows and even a Tavern bar with a castle turret jutting out of it.
Once you’re suitably fed and beered in the courtyard, it’s through the door into Dr Portelli’s Antiques and Curiosities, a mock-shop filled with colourful glass bottles and trinkets.
ADVERTISEMENT
Feeling the magic yet? There’s loads more to come.
One of the Backyard Cinema experience rooms. Credit: The Manc GroupYou enter Backyard Cinema through a Narnia-style wardrobe. Credit: The Manc Group
Next, Backyard Cinema’s actors throw up the doors to a wardrobe full of fur coats, and your Narnia-style journey continues.
Squeezing through the racks of clothing, you’ll find yourself in a tree-lined tunnel dotted with ancient lanterns overhead.
ADVERTISEMENT
Then it’s choose-your-own-adventure as the maze continues – a rose-lined Beauty tunnel or the much more mysterious Bravery tunnel.
The Waiting Room bar. Credit: The Manc Group
Whichever you choose, you’ll come to a trickling fountain, with more doors leading off to each of the four seasons.
When you’ve had enough of exploring, it’s into the enormous cinema space itself, where rows and rows of plush custom bean bags line up in front of a state-of-the-art cinema screen.
We’re talking waiter service, blockbuster films, and seasonal cocktails.
Choose your own adventure in the Backyard Cinema maze. Credit: The Manc Group
Movie fans should expect a mixture of brand new releases including the acclaimed Elvis biopic starring Tom Hanks, the new Top Gun: Maverick and The Batman, plus cult classics and Christmas hits later in the year.
ADVERTISEMENT
The team has just teased out a list of cult classics too, including E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Die Hard, Hocus Pocus, Addams Family Values, Beetlejuice, plus other favourites such as The Greatest Showman, Frozen 2, Beauty and the Beast.
Elsewhere, there’ll be a run of family favourites showing including The Greatest Showman, Frozen 2, Beauty and the Beast, and the brand new Minions: The Rise of Gru.
Then come Christmas time, organisers are planning to go all-out with screenings of festiva favourites like Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually, The Holiday, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Miracle on 34th Street.
Backyard Cinema will open from Wednesday to Sunday, starting from 21 October until 4 December, and from Monday to Sunday, from 5 December until 2 January. Show times are 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm, although these will vary depending on the day.
ADVERTISEMENT
Visit the Backyard Cinemawebsite here to check screening times and buy your tickets.
Featured image: The Manc Group
What's On
ENB’s Romeo & Juliet at Palace Theatre Manchester – the world’s most famous story expertly reimagined | Review
Emily Sergeant
Every now and then you experience a bit of a full circle moment… and for me, this was one of them.
Back in 2011, when I was a dance-obsessed 14-year-old, taking and assisting classes countless times a week, I became enamoured by a BBC documentary series called Agony & Ecstasy: A Year with English National Ballet. As one of the country’s premier ballet companies – celebrating its 60th anniversary at the time of the documentary – ENB allowed cameras behind the scenes, from the rehearsal room to backstage, giving audiences a previously unseen inside look on what it takes to stage some of the most spectacular productions your eyes will ever meet.
One of the ballets being staged in the year the BBC followed the company was Romeo & Juliet.
Based on a story known around the world and with an unmistakable score by Prokofiev, it’s a ballet I was already fond of prior to the documentary, but seeing the work that went into making the show a reality, up close like never before, it turned into one of my favourites.
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to see several different dance stagings of Romeo & Juliet – but last night, at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, was the first time I got to sit in the audience and see English National Ballet’s production live with my own eyes.
And it was just as magical as I was hoping it would be.
ENB’s Romeo & Juliet is now on stage at Manchester Palace Theatre / Credit: Laurent Liotardo
Right off the bat, I’m just going to presume you already have somewhat of a grasp on the story of Romeo & Juliet, right? Given the fact it’s arguably Shakespeare’s most famous work and one of the most iconic plays of all time.
And you’ll be pleased to know, even if you’re not seasoned in watching ballet, that the story we all know and love remains largely intact for this production, therefore making it easy for audiences of all ages and interests to follow along and admire.
The two title characters, the star-crossed lovers themselves, were embodied expertly by Rentaro Nakaaki and Julia Conway as Romeo and Juliet, who had the audience captivated from the second they entered the stage – with undeniable chemistry and enviable technique.
Fabian Reimair took on the role of Tybalt with ease, Noam Durand was Mercutio, and Rodrigo Pinto was Benvolio, all while Elvis Nudo and Minju Kang stepped into the shoes of Paris and Rosaline.
But the lead roles are nothing without the wider cast of supporting dancers and character actors, who really help transport you to 14th century Verona and help bring the authenticity a production as epic as this requires.
The world’s most famous story has been expertly reimagined / Credit: Bill Cooper | Laurent Liotardo
Aside from the dancing, it would be remiss not to praise the expert sets and costuming here from Ezio Frigero and Franca Squarciapino.
And I suppose I should also give a shoutout to little-known name, Rudolf Nureyev, who choreographed this version of Romeo & Juliet all the way back in 1977. Something tells me he would’ve had a great career… I could be wrong, though.
Romeo & Juliet really is one of the most tragic love stories of all time, and the power of that is not lost through dance. It’s still as raw and heartbreaking in this production as it always is.
And that is truly a credit to every single person forming part of it – both on the stage and off.
ENB’s Romeo & Juliet is now on stage at Manchester Palace Theatre until Sunday 25 October, and you can book your last-minute tickets here.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
What's On
Manchester’s smash-hit Pitbull 5km run is back in town this week
Daisy Jackson
A 5km running event where participants dress up as Pitbull is returning to Manchester this week.
Runners will be donning bald caps, drawing on goatees, and shrugging on their suit jackets as they hit the streets for a very silly run.
The Pitbull Party Run has been organised again this year by Slow Run Club, and Run the Street MCR, who’ll be spurring runners on with plenty of daftness inspired by the man himself.
It’s part of a series of shakeout events taking place all week before the 24-Hour Run Against Homelessness.
The 5km shake-out run will be soundtracked by non-stop Pitbull party anthems from warm-up all the way through the run to the cool-down.
Last year’s event proved to be a massive hit and had dozens of Pitbull look-a-likes running through the streets – so now they’re hoping to make it even bigger for this year.
Runners will meet outside The Tap House in Circle Square from 6.30pm for a warm-up, ready to run from 7pm.
And all participants will get a free Lucky Saint beer to celebrate finishing the race.
24-Hour Run founder Thomas Lewis said: “We’ve got a great programme of events lined up across Greater Manchester.
“These shakeout events are all about bringing local running communities together while spreading the word about the 24-Hour Run Against Homelessness in November.
“The Pitbull party run got a great reception last year, and we’re delighted to be teaming up with Run The Streets MCR and Slow Run Club to put on this event again.”
The Manchester 24-Hour Run Against Homelessness is a charity relay challenge that invites runners of all abilities to take part in a continuous 24-hour relay made up of a 5km loop repeated throughout the 24 hours.
Runners can join for as little or as much as they like, whether it’s one lap or 20. The event takes place from midday on Wednesday 11 November to midday Thursday 12 November.
The 24-Hour Run supports the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity’s A Bed Every Night scheme, and last year saw cumulative distance of over 16,000 km covered and raised over £70,000 for the charity.
Tickets for the Pitbull Party Run are £3, which all goes to the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity to support The Manchester 24 Hour Run’s goal of £100,000.
Daisy Jackson -
21st October 2022 
