MediaCityUK is gearing up to hostVan Gogh Alive next month, and tickets are already being snapped up fast.
It’s “the world’s most visited immersive, multi-sensory experience” that exhibits the life and work of the seminal Dutch artist and after having welcomed over eight million visitors in 70 cities around the world – including sell-out runs in London and Birmingham – the art and culture experience is now destined for Salford.
Van Gogh Alive takes people on a trip through the periods of Van Gogh’s life that defined him as an artist and showcases 3,000 images, including some of his most iconic works like Starry Night and Sunflowers, and lesser-known paintings inspired by his love of Japanese woodprints.
Created by Grande Experiences, Van Gogh Alive has been called a “glorious, stunning, but also very moving” exhibition.
It’ll feature a state-of-the-art gallery technology set to an evocative classical score delivered via a 3D sound system, and an interpretive area where visitors can learn more about Van Gogh’s life, as well as interactive art stations that let people create their own art with the help of expert video tutorials.
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The exhibition is also home to a life-sized walk-in representation of Van Gogh’s ‘Bedroom in Arles’ painting and a ‘Sunflower selfie room’ – a 360° mirrored space complete with hundreds of sunflowers.
Van Gogh Alive has been called a “glorious, stunning, but also very moving” exhibition / Credit: Van Gogh Alive
Van Gogh Alive is supporting The Christie charity and is using the experience as a platform to help raise vital funds so the charity can continue its incredible work leading the way for cancer care, research, and education.
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Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to make a donation to The Christie charity either when purchasing tickets, or while at the exhibition.
Speaking ahead of Van Gogh Alive’s arrival at MediaCityUK next month, Bruce Peterson – Owner of Grande Experiences – said: “After mesmerising a global audience of over eight million people and selling-out cities all over the world, including Rome, Sydney and of course our most recent location at Kensington Gardens in London, we’re incredibly excited to be bringing Van Gogh Alive to MediaCityUK.
“This is an unforgettable cultural experience for all the family.”
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Marie Toller – Head of Major Relationships at The Christie charity – also said the experience “looked absolutely stunning”.
“This is an unforgettable cultural experience for all the family.” / Credit: Van Gogh Alive
“We are delighted that Van Gogh Alive has chosen to support The Christie charity,” she stated.
“The Christie relies on the support and donations from the public to provide our patients with the very best care, treatment and access to research options. Monies raised from the Van Gogh Alive exhibition will go towards making life that little bit easier for cancer patients and enhancing their experience while at The Christie hospital.”
“It’s wonderful to be welcoming such an impactful art experience as Van Gogh Alive to Salford’s MediaCityUK,” added Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor.
“Communities have really missed experiencing arts and entertainment, with the hospitality and creative industries being amongst the hardest hit from the impacts of COVID-19, so it is brilliant to be seeing the creative industries launching new and innovative experiences for all to enjoy within a safe framework [and] I look forward to being transported into the fascinating world of Van Gogh.”
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Van Gogh Alive takes people on a trip through the periods of Van Gogh’s life that defined him as an artist / Credit: Van Gogh Alive
Van Gogh Alive opens its doors from 22 October 2021 – 23 January 2022 at MediaCityUK, and tickets are on sale now.
Tickets are priced at £22 for adults and £15 for children, with concessions and school group discounts available.
Strictly Come Dancing the Live Tour 2023 at Manchester AO Arena – tickets, celebrity dancers, stage times and more
Daisy Jackson
The glitz and glamour of the Strictly Come Dancing will come shimmying into Manchester this weekend when the hit show’s live tour returns to the AO Arena.
With four shows lined up at the venue over the course of the next two days, it’s one of the biggest events in this year’s cultural calendar.
The massive Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour 2023 spans 32 shows across the UK, with recent celebrity contestants paired up with the BBC show’s professional dancers.
The Strictly judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke, will be on hand with their pantomime villain-esque take on the performances.
Speaking about the upcoming tour, Fleur East said: “As a huge Strictly fan, being part of the TV competition has been an unbelievable experience and I’m absolutely over the moon to have the chance to get back into those fabulous sequinned outfits for the live tour!”
Helen Skelton said: “Strictly has been the adventure of a lifetime and I’m so happy that it will continue on the live tour. I’m really looking forward to seeing the fans across the country and performing my favourite dances from the series. I can’t wait!”
When is Strictly Come Dancing Live at the AO Arena?
Host Janette Manrara. Credit: Publicity Picture
There are four Strictly shows lined up in Manchester at the AO Arena, making it one of the biggest stops on the tour.
Strictly Come Dancing the Live Tour will be on both Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 January 2023.
The shows will take place at 1pm and 6pm on Saturday, and 12pm and 5pm on Sunday.
What’s the show’s format?
Directed again by Craig Revel Horwood, the Strictly Live Tour showcases all the choreography, live music and sparkle of the much-loved TV series.
Seven celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners will twirl and shimmy their way across the AO Arena ballroom floor, ready for the tour judges to provide their wisdom and scores.
But it’s the audience who ultimately call the shots, voting for their favourites via text from within the arena, with a champion crowned at the end of every show.
Which celebrities are taking part?
The Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour 2023 is on the way to Manchester. Credit: Publicity picture
This year’s Strictly champions Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal are on the line-up, along with runners-up Helen Skelton and Kai Widdrington, Fleur East and Vito Coppola, and Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu.
Also hoping to lift the Strictly Live Tour glitterball trophy are Will Mellor and Nancy Xu, Ellie Simmonds and Nikita Kuzmin, and Tyler West and Dianne Buswell.
Ready for the huge professional numbers there’ll be six more professional dancers heading out on tour – Amy Dowden, Neil Jones, Robbie Kmetoni, Jake Leigh, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas.
Can I still buy tickets?
You can, actually! There’s limited availability for the afternoon performances but still a fair few tickets for the evening shows.
Those remaining tickets are priced between £42.50 to £64.95.
A Valentine’s Day event where you can sculpt clay penises and vaginas is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Manc lovebirds will be able to get crafty together for Valentine’s Day this year – but in a very sexy way.
A new workshop will take over Ducie Street Warehouse, with couples invited to come along and create clay sculptures of each other.
But rather than crafting a ceramic likeness of each other’s faces, the Sexy Sculpt’n workshop will take things below the belt.
Ticket-holders will be tasked with building each other’s private parts – yep, we mean penises and vaginas – out of clay.
The event comes from Cork & Clay and promises to be a body-positive, ‘unforgettable ceramic experience’.
The ticket price (£25 for early bird or £30 for general admission) includes all the materials you need – air dry clay, rolling pins, tools, aprons and clay slips – as well a box to carry home your sexy piece of clay.
Set to take place on both the 14 February and the 15 February, it’s part of Ducie Street Warehouses’s special Valentine’s Day event programming.
Also on the bill on Thursday 16 February, is Overdrawn’s signature Drink n Draw event, with a special Valentine’s twist.
Overdrawn will provide all the drawing materials you need free of charge, ready for a free night of quality time spent with your loved ones, painting and drinking pints in the lounge.
Meanwhile, dating app Thursday will host its meet-up on the same day, with tickets only available to members of the app.
Ducie Street Warehouse’s executive chef Scott Munro has worked on a limited menu for the love season, featuring tempura oysters, mini fondue, lamb rump, and sharing desserts.
Couples will be able to dig in to molten smores cookie dough pies, or share a vegan pavlova topped with whipped cream, fresh figs, caramelised orange, berries, passionfruit and gold leaf.
The special Valentine’s menu will be available between Friday 10 and Saturday 18 February.