From Wimbledon Live to Disco Classical with Sister Sledge, our pick of July’s best events
Looking for more great things to do in July? Then check out our Essential Guide to 2018 in Manchester: this month ft Bluedot, Comic Con and more
WIMBLEDON LIVE | First Street | 2-15 July
For the third year running, First Street will be screening Wimbledon live on a giant screen at Tony Wilson Place - grab a Pimms, pull up a deckchair and soak up the action, or try summer activities like giant Jenga and table tennis. It’s also a great chance to nip into HOME: highlights this month include Incoming Festival and a live theatre screening of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place, M15 4FN (various times; free)
MANCHESTER EATS | Heaton Park | 7-8 July
This summer Manchester Eats will transform Heaton Park into an outdoor dining haven: complete with artisan produce market, boozy workshops and some of the finest street nosh around. There’s also an impressive line-up of chef demos, headlined by Marco Pierre White, as well as an interactive kids’ village and even a disco classics Prosecco tent. Confidential readers can grab 15% off here.
Heaton Park, Middleton Road, M25 2SW (From 10.30am until 7.30pm Sat, 5.30pm Sun; save 15% here)
GO FASTER | Intu Trafford Centre | Until 8 July
Probably the only chance you’ll get to star in your own action movie (well, trailer anyway), Ford’s immersive new experience sees professional stunt drivers teach you tyre-smoking stunts like drifting and even the classic ‘J-turn’. You’ll then perform these heart-pounding manoeuvres in a Focus RS hot hatch, all filmed using high quality cameras and rigs, as you’re ‘chased’ by a Ford Mustang. The story? A daring casino heist. One for the daredevils…
intu Trafford Centre, Regent Crescent, Stretford, M17 8AA (various times; tickets £149 at eventbrite.co.uk)
LIVE IN CONCERT | Bridgewater Hall | Thursday 12 July
Featuring some of the most memorable music from across the worlds of Lord of the Rings’ and The Hobbit’s Middle Earth, and Game of Thrones’ Seven Kingdoms, this immersive live concert promises to be a fantastical experience indeed.
Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, M2 3WS (7.30pm; tickets from £30 at bridgewater-hall.co.uk)
SISTER SLEDGE & MANCHESTER CAMERATA | Victoria Warehouse | Friday 13 July
One of Manchester’s leading orchestras and disco legends Sister Sledge? It can only be Disco Classical; a new series set to rework some of the dance floor’s most iconic tracks, complete with 30-piece orchestra and a light show to boot. Catch the debut in Manchester before it goes on tour.
Victoria Warehouse, Trafford Wharf Road, Stretford, M17 1AB (7-11pm; tickets from £34.90 at skiddle.com)
FESTA ITALIANA | Cathedral Gardens | 13-15 July
Manchester’s Italian community will once again transform Cathedral Gardens into ‘Little Italy’ this summer, creating a city centre oasis of ‘la dolce vita’ in a weekend-long celebration of all things Italian: masterclasses, producers, ‘bambini cucina’ children’s area, one-off banquets and live music. More info here.
Cathedral Gardens, Corporation St, Manchester M4 3BG. Free to attend
OBSTACOLOUR RUN | Woodbank Park | Sunday 15 July
Start in white, end up bright, at St Ann’s Hospice’s 5km charity fun run: expect inflatable obstacles, powder paint and an undemanding track that’s suitable for the whole family (under fives go free). Running for someone special? All participants will receive a ribbon, which can be tied to the ‘Tree of Dedication’ on crossing the finish line.
Woodbank Park, Turncroft Lane, Offerton, Stockport SK1 4JR (various times; tickets from £10 at sah.org.uk)
REFRACT | Waterside Arts Centre | 19-28 July
Curated by Sale’s Waterside Arts Centre, this annual festival - ‘jilted from convention’ - sees ten days of experimental performance, music and events that challenge visitors of all ages to see things differently. Expect the unexpected, from newts taking over the world to theatre in miniature and a pop-up cabaret club.
Waterside Arts Centre, 1 Waterside, Sale, M33 7ZF (various times and prices, check the website)
FAME THE MUSICAL | Palace Theatre | 20-28 July
Having seen seven West End runs since opening in Miami in 1988, Fame opens its 30th anniversary UK tour in Manchester this month. Based on the bittersweet eighties film - which follows the trials and tribulations of students at New York’s High School of Performing Arts - Selladoor Worldwide’s musical promises the Oscar-winning title track and a stellar new cast.
Palace Theatre, 97 Oxford Street, M1 6FT (2.30pm & 7.30pm; tickets from £18.50 at atgtickets.com)
RUMBA | Sacred Trinity Church | Saturday 21 July
Hosted by Amani Creatives, an African-led arts organisation based in Manchester, Rumba rounds off a series of free summer music and dance shows. The Heritage Lottery Funded event showcases the parallels between Congolese and Cuban culture, with performances including multi-instrumentalist musician Tagne Tebu.
Sacred Trinity Church, Chapel Street, Salford, M3 5DW (12-8pm; free)
BEE IN THE CITY | Citywide | 23 July - September
It’s been part of Manchester’s heraldry for over 150 years, but May’s terror attack brought the bee into public consciousness like never before - symbolising a city united. Building on this community spirit, Bee in the City will celebrate the industrious critter through a trail of 80 supersized bee sculptures, each supported by local organisations. More info here.
ROMEO & JULIET | Heaton Park | 25 July - 12 August
After staging A Midsummer Night’s Dream to critical acclaim last year, Feelgood Theatre returns with another Shakespearean classic - fusing music, drama and spectacular sword fights. The show begins in the Grade I listed Heaton Hall (normally off limits) before journeying through Heaton Park.
Heaton Hall, Heaton Park, St Margaret's Road entrance, Prestwich, M25 2GT (various times; tickets from £13.47 at jumblebee.co.uk)
NOTHING COMPERES TO GORDO | Impossible | Thursday 26 July
Our very own Gordo will be launching Impossible’s first comedy night; featuring three acclaimed acts including Simon Lomas, Sarah Speare and Alex Boardman, who will have you rolling in the aisles. Tickets are normally £10 but, for this special launch event, we’re offering 50% off tickets. The evening starts at 7.30pm with doors at 7pm and lasts until 10pm - when you can continue drinking at the bar and congratulate Gordo on his foray into stand-up…or tell him what a pillock he is.
Impossible, 36 Peter Street, M2 5QR (7.30-10pm; tickets £5 here)
MAKING A NEW WORLD | Imperial War Museum North | 27 July 2018 - March 2019
IWN North will mark the end of the First World War centenary with an ambitious programme spanning Lest We Forget?, an exhibition on ‘controversial’ commemorative symbols, to the iconic Wave of ceramic poppies that turned parts of HM Tower of London blood-red in 2014. Altogether, 888246 poppies were displayed; one for every British or Colonial life lost at the front during WW1.
IWM North, Trafford Wharf Road, Stretford, M17 1TZ (various times; free)
INDEPENDENT BOOKS & ARTS FAIR | Plant Noma | Saturday 28 July
Hosted by experimental micropublisher Dostoyevsky Wannabe, this ‘relaxed summer afternoon type of affair’ will feature a range of local independent presses and art collectives. Browse zines, illustrations and anthologies; grab a coffee from Plant’s onsite stall; and perhaps nip across the square to Pilcrow Pub afterwards…
Plant Noma, Dantzic Street, M4 4AH (2-6pm; free)
