A singalong screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Showis coming to Manchester next month – and you can still grab some tickets.
Event company ‘Project Popups’ is beaming the horror-comedy up on the big screen at Revolution Oxford Road in just a few weeks time, and is serving up an endless supply of drinks and snacks for the occasion, with audience members invited to belt own their own renditions of the soundtrack – and fancy dress is firmly encouraged.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show was originally released in 1975 and has become known as the quintessential ‘midnight movie’, in which viewers would shout back at the screen during theatre showings.
This new event in Manchester is inspired by the spirit of those boisterous screenings, and invites ticket-holders to join in with the wild action taking place on film.
The event synopsis reads: “On a wild and rain-swept late-November evening, somewhere at an empty stretch of road outside Ohio’s merry Denton, the blissfully-affianced, prudish, and boringly innocent young pair of Brad Majors and Janet Weiss find themselves stranded on their way to visit an ex-tutor.
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“Instead, the couple will inadvertently unearth the cross-dressing Dr Frank-N-Furter’s spooky lair of inexhaustible oddities, just in time to partake in the out-of-this-world mad scientist’s proud unveiling of his latest, delightfully extravagant, and most daring creation–the ultimate male and the perfect sex symbol: the flaxen-haired, Rocky Horror.
Audience members are invited to belt own their own renditions of the film musical’s iconic soundtrack/ Credit: 20th Century Studios | Pxhere
“But, little by little, as the effervescent transgressive force gobbles up whole the unsuspecting visitors of the night, Brad and Janet slowly begin to embrace the potent fascinations of seduction, while an idolised Rocky roams free in the mansion.
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“Who can interrupt man’s union with the absolute pleasure?”
The Rocky Horror Picture screening comes with two options: ‘Bottomless popcorn’ or ‘Bottomless popcorn with alcohol’.
If you’re going for the latter – Aperol Spritz, Ketel V&T, Blank Canvas, Amstel, Prosecco, Bloody Mary, Heineken 0.0% and selected soft drinks will all be available to order from the menu.
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The official screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show will be hosted at Revolution Oxford Road on 15 August 2021.
This is guaranteed to be a good ‘un – and tickets are available online here.
Featured Image – 20th Century Studios
What's On
Harry Styles One Night Only at Co-op Live in Manchester – phones-free policy, stage times, and everything else you need to know
Daisy Jackson
Harry Styles will play an exclusive, intimate (for him) one night only concert in Manchester this week.
The show at the Co-op Live coincides with the release of the star’s fourth album, ‘Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally’, both of which will land on Friday 6 March.
Fans have waited years for HS4 and for more live shows from the former One Direction musician, only for him to announce a residency all the way down in London and no northern shows.
But Harry Styles threw us here in Manchester – the closest big city to where he grew up – with the news of a ‘One Night Only’ album release show.
If you’re one of the lucky few thousand who snagged tickets, here’s everything you need to know.
Stage times for Harry Styles One Night Only
Premium doors for Harry Styles will open at 6pm, with general admission entries from 6.30pm.
Harry and the venue haven’t yet publicly announced what time he’ll take the stage, or whether there’ll be any sort of support act.
But we’ll keep this updated as soon as we hear more.
How do tickets work?
Tickets for the Harry Styles Manchester gig were dished out in an unusual ‘ticket request’ format, where fans who registered their interest were randomly allocated tickets – no usual ‘Ticketmaster War’ competing in a first-come, first-served sale.
Those who have been successful will have been charged the £20 per ticket fee, and should be able to see their event details now in the Ticketmaster or Co-op Live apps.
Don’t panic if you can’t see your barcode just yet – they should drop in in the next day.
And remember to save your tickets to your phone’s wallet so you don’t struggle with signal at the doors.
Harry Styles’ show in Manchester on Friday night will have a strict no-phones policy, it’s been confirmed.
Instead, the lucky few thousand of fans heading to his One Night Only gig will be handed proper disposable cameras to capture moments from the night.
Any use of cameras, smart glasses, smart watches, or other recording devices won’t be permitted in the venue on Friday night.
Fans will instead have to secure their phones inside recyclable bags, which will allow them to be used in normal ways for communications, but without the camera. At the end of the night, your phone will be removed from the bag and the bag will be recycled.
Anyone caught using a digital recording device during the Harry Styles One Night Only phones-free show may be asked to leave the venue.
Instead of a sea of phones, Harry Styles will be asking fans to capture their memories from the night on disposable cameras, which will be included with every pair of tickets sold.
When can I watch Harry Styles One Night In Manchester on Netflix?
Harry Styles’ One Night Only gig in Manchester will be the subject of a Netflix documentary
Netflix will be joining Harry Styles at the Co-op Live to film for an upcoming special, Harry Styles One Night in Manchester.
A teaser trailer shows behind-the-scenes footage of the former One Direction star rehearsing in the studio.
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event.
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
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Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
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For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner
Watching Mamma Mia! at Manchester Palace Theatre proved once again why this ABBA-powered musical remains one of the most beloved shows in modern theatre.
The audience arrived ready for a party, and the cast delivered an energetic, feel-good performance packed with humour, heart, and, of course, a catalogue of iconic pop songs.
At the centre of the story is Sophie Sheridan, a young bride-to-be, determined to discover the identity of her father before her wedding day. Secretly, she invites three men from her mother Donna’s past to the island, creating chaos, comedy, and emotional revelations along the way.
The plot is famously light… but it provides the perfect framework for a soundtrack built entirely on hits by the iconic Swedish pop band ABBA.
Mamma Mia! brought infectious energy to Manchester’s Palace Theatre / Credit: Brinkhoff / Moegenburg (Supplied)
Jen Griffin leads the company as Donna Sheridan with warmth and a commanding stage presence. Her stand-out performance balances humour with vulnerability, culminating in a powerful rendition of ‘The Winner Takes It All’.
As Sophie, Lydia Hunt brings youthful excitement and a clear, expressive vocal performance, making her character’s search for identity both believable and engaging.
Donna’s loyal friends provide much of the show’s comedy (and cheers from the crowd). Rosie Glossop plays Rosie with scene-stealing wit and excellent comic timing, particularly during ‘Take a Chance on Me’, while Sarah Earnshaw gives Tanya glamorous confidence and sharp humour. Together the trio create the emotional backbone of the show, portraying friendship that feels authentic and affectionate.
The three possible fathers are played by Luke Jasztal as Sam, Richard Meek as Harry, and Mark Goldthorp as Bill. Each bringing their own unique character personality to the role, helping the storyline unfold with plenty of charm. Meanwhile, Joe Grundy plays Sky with relaxed confidence opposite Sophie.
Visually, the production captures the sunny escapism audiences expect, with bright Mediterranean colours, lively choreography, and a cleverly simple island set that transports the audience far from the streets of Manchester. Ouzo anyone?
By the time the encore begins, with the cast returning in glittering costumes for a joyous ABBA medley including ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Waterloo’, the audience is firmly on its feet.
The show last night felt less like a typical theatre evening and more like a celebration. It may not be subtle, but Mamma Mia! remains addictively entertaining.
Featured Image – Brinkhoff / Moegenburg (Supplied)
The Manc -
22nd July 2021 
