What’s on in Manchester this weekend 22nd-24th October? Five fun things to do

We’ve rounded up events from live theatre with a twist to autumnal trails, to give you some ideas for the weekend, whatever the weather.
Lost Happy Endings  Photo: Brian HartleyLost Happy Endings  Photo: Brian Hartley
Lost Happy Endings Photo: Brian Hartley

Here are a few of our favourites.

Lost Happy Endings

The Lowry, Salford, Friday 22 and Saturday 23 October

The Lost Happy Endings is a new piece of dance theatre from Newcastle-based balletLORENT and is designed to appeal to dance fans young and old. It recreates the often rather grim fairytales of old like Goldilocks, Hansel and Gretel and Snow White but gives them a happier ending with fun comic twists along the way. Shows are at 7pm Friday and 2pm and 7pm Saturday.

Tickets from £9 at the Lowry box office here.

Lost Happy Endings Credit: Brian HartleyLost Happy Endings Credit: Brian Hartley
Lost Happy Endings Credit: Brian Hartley

Manchester Folk Festival

Venues across Manchester, Friday 22 October and Saturday 23 October

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The festival returns with a host of top names coming to the city for three days of brilliant gigs celebrating traditional and roots music at venues including HOME and the 02 Ritz. Highlights include Manchester’s own Jesca Hoop, discovered by Tom Waits, who is at the Royal Northern College of Music on Friday night.

Jesca HoopJesca Hoop
Jesca Hoop

The three days of great gigs kicked off on Thursday but run til Saturday. See our fuller preview here.

Educating Rita

Stockport Garrick Theatre, Stockport, Friday 22 and Saturday 23 October

The last two nights of the run of Willy Russell’s classic tale, a bittersweet comedy about the relationship between a hairdresser and lecturer. The shows starts at 7.30pm each night and tickets are £11 from TicketSource here.

Autumn Carnival Garden Trail

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RHS Bridgewater Gardens, Off Leigh Road, Worsley, all weekend

Roll with the weather (if it is good!) and just turn up for this one - bring the kids to play garden detective with an autumnal trail round the gardens. A great way to sneak in a walk with the little ones, you just grab a map at the gardens entrance and follow the clues to all things autumn.

Autumn leaves  Credit: ShutterstockAutumn leaves  Credit: Shutterstock
Autumn leaves Credit: Shutterstock

Grease

Manchester Opera House, Friday 22 and Saturday 23 October

The sassy high school musical needs no introduction and this current run has proved a hit with fans. The stage version of the cult movie is based on the original script for Broadway and this production has been choreographed by none other than Strictly’s Arlene Phillips. Bags of fun as ever.

Shows are at 7.30pm on Friday and 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday. Tickets cost from £13 here.