Featured Events in Manchester in April, 2025 (July Updated)

Portraits of Recovery invite the recovery community to see the hotly anticipated new play Treading Water at HOME Theatre at 5.30 pm on 30 April. We have limited availability and discounted tickets , at only £1 each (usually £11.20 ). Tickets are non-refundable. RECOVERIST CULTURE FIX EVENT Join us for a Recoverist trip to the cinema to see Treading Water, a film by Gino Evans. ABOUT THE FILM: Following his release from prison, Danny tries to take control of the mental health issues that have shaped his life. However, an encounter with an old flame evolves into a tragic obsession. Set against a backdrop of everyday life in Manchester, Treading Water is a portrait of its central character and contemporary British society told with compassion and bracing realism. Gino Evans’s debut feature marks the arrival of an exciting new voice in Northern cinema. Reviews "Hard-hitting drug addiction drama is not for the faint-hearted" the Guardian . Information The performance is at HOME, Manchester, on Wednesday 30 April. It starts at 5.30 pm, with approx running time of 2 hours (without interval). Attendees should arrive in the foyer of HOME for 4.45pm sharp. We have limited availability. TRIGGER WARNING The film includes depictions of addiction and mental illness, which can be quite graphic/extreme at times. Link to BBFC info below: https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/treading-water-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdi4otk1 Information Source: Portraits of Recovery | eventbrite

Folk Life Drawing HappeningInMCR and The Portico Library invites you to explore a Life Drawing class with a difference. Join us for a series of immersive Life Drawing Workshops, inspired by our exhibition, Echoes - China & Hong Kong voicing the collection. These sessions are curated by HappeningInMCR with the active participation of the models to the themes in the exhibition. All levels of experience welcomed, all materials provided and included in the price of the tickets. Ticket purchases will contribute to HappeningInMCR’s curation of future events. Life Models will respond to the themes of Folklore from China/Hong Kong or themes in the collection. Tonight's model will be clothed. Creative Collaborators: Rachel Li - Model. HappeningInMCR: An Information hub collating and sharing Visual Art Events and Opportunities in Greater Manchester. www.instagram.com/happeninginmcr Throughout the Dynamic Collections programme , we are inviting audiences to participate in the understanding of our collectin and help us to diversify our approach to future programming. Read more about the exhibition on this page: www.theportico.org.uk/whats-on Information Source: The Portico Library | eventbrite

Following on from our success and thought-provoking Elevate Female Founders panel in January, we will be running a series of events to explore key topics in more depth. First up… finance! The session will cover: - Finding the right accountant and advisors - Tax planning – for you and your business - Managing budgets and credit control - Raising funds and debt finance Kindly hosted by Zebox UK, it will be highly interactive with questions and advice sought from the audience. Chaired by Ilona Alcock, speakers include: Charlotte Ashton – Implicit Advisory Rebecca Alcock – Jolly Property Stuart Hurst - Cloud 10 Accounting Daisy Whitehouse - Down At The Social Free for Elevate members / £15 + VAT for non-members Information Source: Elevate | eventbrite

Peter Bullimore’s Hearing Voices Workshop offers an insightful and compassionate approach to understanding and supporting individuals who experience voice hearing, paranoia, and unusual beliefs. Drawing from his own lived experience and extensive work in the field, Peter and his co-presenter Kate Crawford emphasize the importance of making meaning of these experiences rather than pathologizing them. Workshop content will include: How common is it to hear voices? Three stages of hearing voices & understanding the metaphor of voices Deconstructing voices Personal experience Voice profiling Thought stopping Short term coping strategies for voices hearer’s Focusing Techniques Case Studies Workshop outcomes Take a critical and thoughtful perspective on traditional ways of understanding voice hearing Understand the potential pitfalls of the claims made from other therapies Take a respectful and ethical approach to the experience of voice hearing Understand the potential connection between trauma and voice hearing Develop new ways of talking to and working with those that experience hearing voices The workshop covers key topics such as the prevalence and phases of voice hearing, the role of trauma and neglect in developing paranoia, and practical strategies for coping and support. Participants are introduced to the Maastricht Interview, a tool designed to explore the personal significance of voices and beliefs, facilitating a deeper understanding and aiding in recovery. Through a combination of presentations, experiential learning, and case studies, attendees gain practical skills to support individuals in navigating their experiences. The workshop fosters an environment of empathy and empowerment, challenging traditional psychiatric models and promoting a more person-centered approach to mental health. This training is particularly beneficial for mental health professionals, peer supporters, and anyone interested in alternative perspectives on psychosis and recovery. By the end of the workshop, participants are equipped with tools and insights to better assist those they support in finding meaning and resilience in their experiences. Agenda 9.00-9.30am - Registration opens 9.30-11.00am - Session 1 11.00am-11.15am - Break 11.15am-12.45pm - Session 2 12.45pm-1.30pm - Lunch 3.00pm-3.15pm - Session 3 4.00pm - Finish Registration will be at 9am, with a start time of 9.30am. There will be food available on the day. Please note, places will be limited. If we are over-subscribed we will be in touch. For questions or more information, please contact charm.mentalhealth@gmail.com If you have any accessibility requirements or would struggle to cover transport costs, please contact us. Information Source: CHARM | eventbrite

Finlay & Joe are fine. Society isn’t collapsing, sketch comedy is more financially lucrative than ever, and you definitely cannot smell burning. Returning to the stage after their 2023 sellout show Past Our Bedtime, Finlay & Joe present a brand new hour of sketch comedy - Pretend It’s Fine. Expect wildly imaginative comedy sketches from these two future national treasures who will not stop until they are knighted for services to live entertainment. Although not Finlay. He probably wouldn’t accept a knighthood. He’s afraid of swords. Maybe a Blue Peter badge? 2024 Leicester Square Sketch Off! Finalists ‘Really cracking concept’ - Chortle ‘Such a good idea they should patent it’ - Beyond the Joke ‘Infectious energy’ - Three Weeks ‘Ow, help, please help us, ow, we’re on fire’ - Finlay & Joe Information Source: Finlay & Joe | eventbrite

Networking is an invaluable way to raise your profile, win new business, connect with peers, develop industry knowledge and more. And yet, we are constantly talking to people who avoid networking events as much as possible! This session will cover: - Overcoming nerves - Developing a networking strategy - Planning what to attend - Online profile - Making the most of events - Following up Kindly hosted by Zebox UK. £75 +VAT for Elevate members / £125 + VAT for non-members Please let us know if you would like to use one of your free member training places for this course. Information Source: Elevate | eventbrite

The next Crime Central is on Wednesday 30th April with the wonderful Se Lynes, Olivia Kiernan and Matthew Booth!! Bringing the best from all over! Featuring the best and brightest crime writing talent both locally and from around the country - the big names are all coming to Manchester! Go behind the scenes! Showcasing blockbuster bestsellers, emerging talent and industry insiders, Crime Central will share the real story of what goes on in the crime world. Meet your favourite authors! With giveaways, audience interaction, book signings, the chance to ask questions and more – while bringing a crime fiction buzz back to this great northern city. Information Source: Manchester Library and Information Service | eventbrite

Improvised Comedy every Wednesday at 33 Oldham Street. This week's line up Absolute Onions take a karaoke classic chosen by the audience and perform an improvised narrative that will uncover the surprising real story behind that song! So pour the Prosecco, spin your disco balls and get ready to drop the mic! Very Clever Number 9 Reviews 'Literally stopped me breathing for a second or two – never been to improv before but I'd definitely come again' - audience review PLUS Casino Improv Information Source: Absolute Onions | eventbrite

Finlay & Joe are fine. Society isn’t collapsing, sketch comedy is more financially lucrative than ever, and you definitely cannot smell burning. Returning to the stage after their 2023 sellout show Past Our Bedtime, Finlay & Joe present a brand new hour of sketch comedy - Pretend It’s Fine. Expect wildly imaginative comedy sketches from these two future national treasures who will not stop until they are knighted for services to live entertainment. Although not Finlay. He probably wouldn’t accept a knighthood. He’s afraid of swords. Maybe a Blue Peter badge? 2024 Leicester Square Sketch Off! Finalists ‘Really cracking concept’ - Chortle ‘Such a good idea they should patent it’ - Beyond the Joke ‘Infectious energy’ - Three Weeks ‘Ow, help, please help us, ow, we’re on fire’ - Finlay & Joe Information Source: Finlay & Joe | eventbrite

We are back for the second edition of the Big Fat Musical Theatre Quiz! Date: Monday 24th February 2025Time: 7:30 start time, doors open from 7:00Location: Lions Den, Deansgate, ManchesterPrice: £5 (pay on the door)Get ready for a pub quiz like no other! The Big Fat Musical Quiz isn’t just a test of your musical theatre knowledge—it’s a full-on, show-stopping, laugh-out-loud extravaganza! Think you know your Sondheim from your Schwartz? Your Les Mis from your Lion King? Great! But can you belt out a show tune under pressure? Act out a dramatic West End-worthy scene on demand? Finish the lyrics before the music cuts out? This is your local pub quiz meets Whose Line Is It Anyway?, where trivia meets talent and every round is packed with theatrical twists. Expect classic quiz questions, high-energy challenges, and plenty of opportunities to steal the spotlight (and a few bonus points!) with your performance skills. Whether you're a seasoned stage star or just love a good singalong, gather your team, warm up those vocal cords, and prepare for a night of Broadway-level brilliance! Prizes to be won by the top three teams! Hosted by Hywel Evans & Low Fat Productions --- Not sure how to find us at the Lions Den? Public Transport: jump off the tram or train at Deansgate and head up the Deansgate Mews Parking: Great Northern NCP (1 Watson St, Manchester M3 4EJ) / Eurocar Parks (Bridgewater St, Manchester M3 4LY) Information Source: Low Fat Productions | eventbrite