NHS staff are to be given free tickets to the opening night of this year’s pantomime Sleeping Beauty at Manchester Opera House this Christmas.
As a thank you to healthcare staff for all their hard work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic this year, the arts venue has announced NHS staff will be entitled to enter a ballot to win tickets for the first night of the pantomime.
The opening night for Sleeping Beauty is Saturday 12th December.
This year’s production – which has been created especially for Manchester Opera House in this unprecedented year – will be “a riotously funny, one-act celebration of pantomime” and it’s set to be packed full of comedy and laughter to allow audience members the opportunity to come safely together and enjoy the magic of the much-loved and unique art form this festive season.
Funding from The National Lottery has helped panto return to the Opera House Manchester this year.
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Sleeping Beauty stars Salford-born Jason Manford as Muddles, with comic legend Billy Pearce as King Billy, musical theatre leading lady Jodie Prenger as the Enchantress, and Eric Potts as the Queen in this year’s “unmissable family production”.
We're so proud to announce we are gifting all tickets to the opening night of our 2020 pantomime Sleeping Beauty to NHS workers and their families!
Announcing the well-deserved perk for NHS staff, Sheena Wrigley – Theatre Director at Manchester Palace and Opera House, said: “We are thrilled at the prospect of working with Qdos Pantomimes and reopening the historic Manchester Opera House with this festive family show.
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“It’s especially important that we can play our part in keeping one of the city’s great Christmas traditions alive after what has been an especially challenging time for communities in Greater Manchester.
“Our wonderful NHS staff can enter a ballot for free tickets for their families – our way of saying a huge ‘thank you’ for everything they’ve done this year.”
Opera House Manchester
Sleeping Beauty is running at the Opera House Manchester from 12th December 2020 – 3rd January 2021, with a relaxed performance on Thursday 31st December, and NHS workers will need to head to healthservicediscounts.com to register for the ballot between now and 29th November.
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Just type ATG/Sleeping Beauty/Opera House in the search bar, and winners will be notified by 7th December.
Ticket prices otherwise start from £13, and can be booked in bubbles of up to six.
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Opera House Manchester’s capacity is being reduced by 50%, there’ll be staggered arrival times and one way systems in place, with sanitising stations placed around the venue, and deep cleaning taking place between every performance.
The Darkness announce huge arena tour, with a Manchester date
Daisy Jackson
The Darkness have announced their largest headline tour in 20 years, and they’re heading straight to Manchester.
The British glam rockers will be performing seven nights across the UK, including the AO Arena.
The Darkness Band of Brothers Tour will include support from the Grammy Award-winning American country rockets Brothers Osborne, as well as UK rock band A.
Earlier this year, the band released their eighth studio album, Dreams On Toast, which has become their most successful album since their debut Permission to Land.
Permission To Land, which spawned the single I Believe in a Thing Called Love, has been revealed as the most successful British rock album of the 21st centiry.
They’ve been touring across Europe, Australia and the USA with their new music, and soon it’ll be time for their gargantuan headline tour.
The Darkness will be performing at Knebworth Park in support of Iron Maiden next summer, before The Band of Brothers Tour kicks off in winter 2026.
Frontman Justin Hawkins said: “Powerful rock was designed to be played in huge rectangular buildings. Huge rectangular buildings were designed to house powerful rock bands.
“The Darkness are a powerful rock band and the arenas listed below are huge rectangular buildings. Except for the exception which proves the rule. Thank you O2 Arena…
“In December 2026 this elegantly logical proposition will become a reality, driven by three bands consisting of seven brothers.
“Three of them are Perrys, from Lowestoft’s A. Two of them are Osbornes, from the Brothers Osborne. And two of them are my brother Dan and I.
“The Darkness, Brothers Osborne and A, veritable Bands of Brothers, rocking in a huge rectangular (or domed) building – what could be more powerful than that?”
The Darkness will play the AO Arena in Manchester on 11 December 2026, with tickets on sale from 10am on Friday 28 November HERE.
The Darkness 2026 UK tour dates
11 July – Knebworth Park (with Iron Maiden)
8 Dec – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
9 Dec – Leeds, FD Arena
11 Dec – Manchester, AO Arena
12 Dec – Birmingham, Utilita Arena
13 Dec – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
15 Dec – Brighton, Brighton Centre
16 Dec – London, The O2
Featured image: Simon Emmett
What's On
Major Christmas lights switch-on event announced at Manchester’s iconic Printworks
Daisy Jackson
Printworks has announced details of a major Christmas lights switch-on event, with celebrity guest Will Mellor.
Set to be the biggest switch-on event in Manchester city centre, the celebration will include a festive singalong and live entertainment, plus a 16ft digital tree and plenty more.
And as part of the wider festive celebrations at Printworks, there’ll be 25 prizes to be won all the way through December, including hotel stays and other goodies from the businesses based in the landmark building.
The Printworks Christmas Lights switch-on will take place on Saturday 29 November, kicking off at 4.30pm with a performance from the brilliant roaming brass band, Mr Wilson’s Second Liners.
Then there’ll be a family Christmas singalong at 5pm on Printworks’ interactive gaming screen, where Mancs can belt out classic Christmas hits together.
At 6pm, the almighty 16ft digital Christmas tree will be officially switched on by TV legend Will Mellor, along with a new festive display appearing overhead on Europe’s largest digital ceiling.
Printworks will host its Christmas Lights switch-on event in November. Credit: Jason Lock Photography
Expect to see Santa’s sleigh flying across the building, and Santa Claus himself pointing out passers-by and revealing if they’ve made the naughty or nice list.
The event will finish with a one-hour DJ set from Jack Clark to keep visitors in the festive spirit. Throughout December, visitors to Printworks can enter daily prize-draws at the digital Christmas tree, with big prizes up for grabs.
Daniel Davis, Centre Manager, said: “Families loved last year’s festive switch-on, which brought light to the city when the citywide celebration was cancelled. We’re thrilled to bring it back even bigger and brighter.
“With our incredible digital ceiling and new interactive features, we’re giving visitors a Christmas experience like no other full of music, magic and surprises.
“Our 16ft digital tree is something truly unique to Manchester, and with 25 prizes up for grabs throughout December, there’s a real reason to keep coming back. Whether you’re joining us for the switch-on or popping in for a festive meal or film, we can’t wait to celebrate with the community.”
The Christmas switch-on event at Printworks in Manchester
4.30pm – Live band performance with Mr Wilson’s Second Liners
5pm – Family singalong
5.30pm – Live band performance with Mr Wilson’s Second Liners
6pm – Christmas switch-on with Will Mellor
6.30pm – Live band performance with Mr Wilson’s Second Liners
Emily Sergeant -
17th November 2020 
