Manchester Family Friendly Film Festival

I've just received an email telling me that The Manchester Family Friendly Film Festival will be taking place across the city this August.

There will be a selection of films showing at venues across the city, such as Victoria Baths, Urbis and Cornerhouse, which have been made over the last 50 years. Unfortunately, as my son hates all films, we will not be attending. I managed to scar him for life, I think, by taking him to see Ratatouille, aged 3, followed by that one with Eva the robot in it. We had to leave both screenings after less than 10 minutes.

Anyhow, for those who can attend, this years festival looks set to be a winner, with several day-long special events including...

Magic and Monsters Day
A day of storytelling, magic shows, monster-related craft activities and screenings of Wizard of Oz and The Dark Crystal. There will also be a live 50min magic show with Magic Philip (who has apparently.... entertained Brooklyn Beckham), facepainting AND a filmmaking workshop.
11 Aug, 10-5pm, The Dancehouse, £5, ages 6+

Dance Day
Enjoy screenings of High School Musical (U) and Swedish musical Kidz in Da Hood (PG), and sign up for one of the following workshops; Break Dancing, Ballet, Street Dancing. Kids can learn routines from High School Musical and the day finishes with a performance.
13 Aug, 10am-4pm at The Dancehouse Theatre, Tickets £5, Ages 8 +

ET in Spinningfields
Twilight showing of spooky extraterrestrial drama, or, as I was taught in film school, a take on the Jesus story. Yes... he even ascends to heaven at the end.
16 Aug, 8-10pm, Spinningfields, free

Click here to book tickets and see the full programme.

PIRATE SCHOOL theatre show, this sat. 2.30pm.

Pirate School is coming to the waterside arts centre in Sale. Okay, so being a more centrally located bod lacking the millions one requires to reside in Sale, i don't spend a huge amount of time in the suburb, but this arts centre does put on a frighteningly good array of stuff for kids... in coming months they've got a kids stand up comedian, this show, various performing arts workshops aimed specifically at young people, and their adult programme isn't shy of great too, with singing workshops and such like for beginners too. Just the kind of thing to indulge in over summer, before winter makes you want to lock the door and never come out. sorry. that'll just be me, but it looks good allllll round.

Thomas Pulls In

Thomas & Friends arrive at the Opera House in Manchester, Friday 25 to Sunday 27 April

My son pointed out a flaw in the concept behind the Thomas stage show; 'Thomas can't go to a theatre mum, he has to go to a station' however, it looks like an excellent adventure all round, with musical numbers and characters like Thomas, Percy, Diesel, The Fat Controller and various other residents of the strangely named island Of Sodor.

The show clocks in at 90 minutes, and includes songs such as... ‘Roll Call’ and ‘Good Morning’ as well as a magic lantern festival.

Fri 2pm, 5pm, Sat 11am, 2pm and 5pm, Sun 11am and 2pm, £10 to £19.50, tel: 0844 847 2328

The Nutcracker!

This weekend we are going to a show at the Lowry called Matthew Bournes Nutcracker!

There's something about the use of an exclaimation mark after any event title that puts me right off. I'm trying to think of examples to illustrate my point and failing, but regardless of my feelings, the show sounds right up my son's street. He likes (in order of passion)

1. sweets (the show culminates in sweetie land)

2. theatres (they are dark and he gets to lie around eating sweets while people parade around for his pleasure)

3. dancing (most days include at least an hour of his own personal dance-fusion which combines air guitar with gestures of a lady of the night. i have no idea where he gets it from).

I will report back, but the last few Saturday matinee tickets are on sale now.