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NHS staff can get free tickets to Manchester Opera House’s socially-distanced Christmas pantomime

They are entitled to enter a ballot to win tickets for the first night of Sleeping Beauty.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 17th November 2020
Palace & Opera MCR / ATG Tickets

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”.

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.

You can find more information here.

What's On

Cheshire Oaks to debut first-ever ice rink with iconic Christmas tree in the middle to skate around

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Cheshire Oaks has unveiled its big plans for the upcoming festive season.

With less than 100 days until Christmas is here, and festive events being announced left, right, and centre, Cheshire Oaks has now joined in on the action, and for the first time ever this year will be adding a bespoke ice rink into the mix, which is set to become centrepiece of its festive celebrations this Christmas season.

The Designer Outlet shopping mall is already known and loved in the North West for its Christmas events each year, and 2025 is set to be no different.

The highly-anticipated ice rink attraction will launch in late October, and it’s already promising to be an ‘unforgettable experience’ that organisers say blends the timeless joy of ice skating with contemporary design and community spirit. 

A brand-new ice rink is coming to Cheshire Oaks with a big Christmas tree in the middle to skate around / Credit: Supplied

At the heart of the new ice rink will be a custom-designed ice path that gracefully weaves around Cheshire Oaks’ iconic oak Christmas tree in the centre.

The rink itself will be nestled within a dedicated Christmas events space at the shopping village.

“We are incredibly excited to soon introduce this bespoke ice rink experience to our guests,” says Kenny Murray, who is the General Manager at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. 

“It’s more than just a place to skate – it will be a destination where families and friends can create cherished festive moments.”

There’ll be lots of other fan-favourite festive activities returning too / Credit: Supplied

The new ice rink will officially open on Friday 24 October, and tickets will be available soon, with the option to book in advance online or on the day, so keep your eyes peeled.

Alongside the exciting new ice rink addition will, of course, be some of Cheshire Oaks’ fan-favourite Christmas attractions – including the ‘The Big Wheel’ and ‘Santa in the Sky’ experiences, as well as festive film screenings, and the massively popular Winter Village.

The Winter Village is the perfect place to head to if you’re in need of a break from gift shopping and somewhere to soak up the Christmas spirit, as here you can grab a cosy seat and tuck into some traditional German bratwurst from the swing grill, warm up with mulled wine at the bar, and marvel at the UK’s tallest Christmas tree.

You can also book a little wooden hut to relax in, with each hut accommodating up to six people.

The Big Wheel is also one of Cheshire Oaks’ best-loved experiences each year, as here you can simply sit back, relax, and enjoy watching the festivities unfold below you, with each flight taking 10 minutes, or you can upgrade to Santa in the Sky to meet the main man in the most unique way possible.

Read more:

Find out everything happening at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas here.

Featured Image – Supplied

What's On

Huge vintage home show to take over historic Manchester building next month

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

One of Manchester’s most historic buildings is set to host a huge home show full of vintage finds next month.

The Vintage Home Show is taking over Victoria Baths for their second event of the year.

For anyone looking to add a retro touch to their homes, this is a chance to feast your eyes on a carefully-curated collection of furniture, homeware, ceramics, artworks, vinyl records, and more stocked by more than 60 knowledgeable sellers in a welcoming atmosphere amid the empty Grade II-listed swimming pool.

Planning to renovate in a vintage style? Or looking for one missing piece of the puzzle? This event can help you track down that something special for your home.

From one-off minimalist pieces, to mass-market retro and kitsch classics, with prices for items starting from as little as £1, you’ll have the chance to shop the collections of dozens of quality independent dealers from right around the UK, all under one historic roof.

Browse a selection of vibrant stalls featuring pieces spanning from the mid-century decades to the bold brightness of the 1990s, and everything in between.

No matter what your budget, you’ll find that gorgeous something to suit your impeccable taste.

Once you’ve finished shopping everything you need to transform your home, you can stop off at Victoria Baths’ on-site cafe to treat yourself to a selection of cakes, savouries, pastries, and soup, as well as both hot and cold drinks.

A huge vintage home show will be taking over the historic Victoria Baths in Manchester next month / Credit: Vintage Home Show

The Vintage Home Fair will take over Victoria Baths on Sunday 5 October, kicking off from 10:30am for keen shoppers after ‘Early Bird’ entry, while ‘Standard Entry’ starts at 11am and runs through the day until 3:30pm.

Due to popularity, the event will be operating a timed ticket entry process, that way organisers can manage the numbers of visitors in the building at any one time to allow everyone a chance to see everything.

Read more:

Tickets are now on sale, priced anywhere from £2 to £6 depending on the time you go, so you simply need to arrive anytime within your allocated hour and stay as long as you wish.

Get your tickets online here.

Featured Image – Vintage Home Show

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