Bryony Kimmings Brings 'Bog Witch' to HOME Manchester
Following a critically acclaimed London run, legendary performance artist Bryony Kimmings presents her hit show 'Bog Witch' at HOME Manchester for a strictly limited engagement from Thursday, March 26 to Saturday, March 28. Known for works like 'I’m a Phoenix, Bitch' and 'Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model', Kimmings delves into her real-life journey of uprooting to a tumbledown cottage in the wilderness with her son, seeking happiness and sanity through nature.
This production promises an unexpected and essential experience, blending songs, stand-up comedy, and performance art into a hilarious and heartfelt narrative. Tickets are priced from £30.20 to £40.20, including a commission, and can be booked via the Box Office at 0161 200 1500. HOME is located at 2 Tony Wilson Place in Manchester.
Poetry Spotlight: Thomas M. Ryan
Local writer Thomas M. Ryan, based in Rochdale, holds a BA(Hons) in Creative Writing and works as a teacher. His poetry, prose, and scripts span genres such as comedy, science fiction, and fantasy, often exploring LGBTQ+ themes. Ryan's work focuses on community, otherness, and our place in a technological world, with contributions to projects like the Common Threads Project 2025 and the Buildings in Landscape Exhibition.
Music Cafés Support Dementia Wellbeing
Manchester Camerata's Music in Mind programme organises Music Cafés, using music therapy principles to enhance the health and wellbeing of people with dementia and their carers. Through handheld percussion instruments, participants find new ways to communicate and have fun, while building community support.
These sessions bring joy, connection, and expression to all involved, with a growing network of Music Champions trained to run similar sessions in local groups, day centres, and care homes. In Rochdale, the Music Café meets every Thursday at Castleton Community Centre from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, free to attend with refreshments provided. For more information, contact hello@hmrcircle.org.uk or call 01706 751165.
Royal Exchange Theatre Secures Heritage Fund Grant
The Royal Exchange Theatre has received a £185,872 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a project celebrating 50 years of storytelling. Launching on September 15, 2026, and running until November 21, 2026, as part of the 'A Homecoming' anniversary programme, the initiative includes a free public exhibition titled 'Mythic Reinvention: Five Decades of Costume and Craft' in the Great Hall.
This exhibition will showcase costumes from five decades of productions, highlighting the craft of designers and makers, with a focus on sustainability. Fifty participants, including members of the Young Company and Elders Company, will co-create the exhibition and a new community performance. Artistic director Selina Cartmell and curator Leslie Travers expressed excitement about preserving and sharing the theatre's costume heritage.
Ai Weiwei's 'Button Up!' Exhibition at Aviva Studios
Internationally renowned artist and activist Ai Weiwei presents 'Button Up!', his most expansive exhibition in the North to date, running from Thursday, July 2 to Sunday, September 6, 2026, at The Warehouse, Aviva Studios. This major show explores 200 years of Chinese and British relations, inspired by Manchester's role in the Industrial Revolution.
Featuring large-scale works in porcelain, cotton, glass, and buttons, the exhibition addresses themes of trade, empire, and globalisation. New pieces include 'Eight-Nation Alliance Flags' made from buttons and 'History Of Bombs' from toy bricks. Tickets start at £15 for earlybird offers, with an artist talk on July 2 priced from £30. Ai Weiwei aims to challenge injustices through art, reflecting on history's impact on current crises.
Community Arts Workshops and Events
Silk Painting Workshop with Aysha Yilmaz: On February 21, explore Islamic arts through silk painting at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum. Using motifs from The Silk Road, participants create their own designs in a mindfulness activity open to all. Adult tickets are £10, including a year-long museum pass, while child tickets are £3 for those under 18, with adult accompaniment required.
Toad Lane Concerts: On February 25, this weekly series features Margaret Ferguson on soprano and Mackenzie Paget on piano at St Mary in the Baum. Doors open at 12 noon for a 12:30 pm start, with tickets priced at £6. The series, running since 2001, received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2020.
These events highlight Manchester's thriving arts scene, from high-profile exhibitions to grassroots initiatives, fostering creativity and community wellbeing across the region.
