The late Dame Vivienne Westwood is being honoured with a “one of a kind” walking tour around her hometown this weekend.
Set to celebrate the talent and legacy of the undeniable fashion and cultural icon – who sadly passed away at the age of 81 late last year – the brand-new dedicated walking tour will take fans around Westwood’s hometown of Glossop where she spent her childhood and show the cultural impact she had on the community
Born in the picturesque Derbyshire town in 1941, Westwood attended school in Glossop and was always known to speak highly of her early years and the rugged landscape of the High Peak, especially around her home village of Tintwistle.
Although Glossop is considered to be the gateway to the Peak District, it’s actually only 30 minutes from Manchester on a direct train to Piccadilly.
No longer cut off from the rest of Greater Manchester and Derbyshire, Glossop is now a thriving town that boasts a number of popular cafes, restaurants, delis, bars, and pubs – making it an excellent place to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
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The new walking tour, called ‘Too Inspired To Be Tired, is taking place for one-day-only this Saturday 13 May, and is being curated and led by culture expert Martha Camarillo as part of Glossop Creates – a collective aiming to bring together local independent creative businesses and individuals.
With participants encouraged to “dress the part” and attend the walk wearing their most “eccentric, bold, and rebellious outfits” the ‘catwalk’ along Glossop’s High Street will explore Vivienne Westwood’s early years, family, influences, and inspirations, before pondering what might have inspired a girl from a small town to become an international icon and one of the most influential British designers in fashion history.
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‘One of a kind’ Vivienne Westwood walking tour launched around her hometown / Credit: Vivienne Westwood (via Instagram)
“Vivienne Westwood’s persona has always intrigued me,” said walk curator Martha Camarillo.
“It’s all about her – a life filled with intensity and stimulating stories, a woman who always saw beyond what the eye sees, and someone who always wanted to find the heart of the matter and channelled her actions and ideas to the next level with her characteristic passion, and her strong, sharp temperament.
“She had the ability to transform herself and others.”
The Wander Walks: Too Inspired To Be Tired tour will take place on Saturday 13 May, and will start at 3pm by Deggy’s mural on Chapel Street – with tickets costing £5 each.
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)
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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 -
9th May 2023 
