Not Now, Bernard at Waterside Arts 👾 On Sunday 25th October, we headed to Waterside Arts in Sale to see the 2.30pm performance of Not Now, Bernard, a stage adaptation of David McKee's much-loved children's picture book. Alice and Leo hadn't read Not Now, Bernard before the day of the show, so they weren't familiar with the story. I was looking forward to seeing what they would think of it and how the book would be brought to life on stage. The production promised music, physical comedy and an enormous purple monster, so it sounded like a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon together. Our Journey to Waterside Arts 🚌 Our journey to Waterside Arts didn't quite go to plan! We would usually get the tram to Sale, but there were engineering works taking place on the Altrincham line, which meant there were no trams running. Instead, we had to travel by bus. Unfortunately, there was also a football match on that afternoon, so the buses were running really late. We arrived at the bus stop at around 1.30pm, expecting our bus at 1.35pm, but it didn't turn up until 1.55pm! With the show due to start at 2.30pm, I was starting to get a little worried that we might not make it in time. Thankfully, it's only a short bus journey to Sale, and we arrived at Waterside Arts at around 2.10pm, giving us 20 minutes before the performance was due to begin. By the time we arrived, the auditorium was already open, so we headed straight inside to find our seats. Our Seats & View 🎭 We were seated in Row P, Seats 13–16, with Seat 13 being the aisle seat. Row P is the second row from the back of the auditorium, but Waterside Arts is a fairly small theatre, so even from the back you still get a really good view of the stage. The seating is also very well raked, which makes a big difference when you're watching a show with children. It means the seats rise quite steeply towards the back, helping you see over the people sitting in front. We had a lovely clear view of everything happening on stage, and I would happily sit in this row again. I think this is one of the nice things about smaller theatres. You don't necessarily need to sit near the front to feel involved in the performance, and we certainly didn't feel too far away from the action. The Show 👾 Not Now, Bernard is based on David McKee's children's picture book, first published in 1980. The story follows Bernard, a little boy whose parents are always far too busy to listen to him. No matter what he tries to tell them, their response is always the same: "Not now, Bernard!" Even when Bernard discovers a monster in the garden, his parents are too distracted to pay attention. Unfortunately for Bernard, the monster eats him and takes his place, but his mum and dad are so busy that they don't even notice! It's a simple story, but there's an important message behind it about listening to children and making time for them. I thought the story worked really well as a stage show. The production, adapted and directed by Toby Hulse for Roustabout Theatre, adds music, physical comedy, imaginative mime and lots of opportunities for the audience to join in. One of the things I particularly liked was how much the performers managed to do without using actual props. At the beginning of the show, the performers mime using everyday objects while Robin Hemmings, who provides the live music and sound effects, creates all the noises to match their movements. It's such a clever idea, and Leo really enjoyed this part of the performance. He also particularly liked the moment when Bernard showed everyone around his house. Alice had a different favourite scene. She loved the moment when Bernard's mum dropped a vase, spilled water everywhere and then tried to mop it all up. Of course, there wasn't actually a vase, any water or a mop on stage. The whole thing was performed through mime, with Robin providing the sound effects. I thought this was brilliantly done, and it was lovely watching how something so simple could be made so entertaining. The production also uses Makaton signing as part of the storytelling, which I thought was a lovely addition. It helps make the show more accessible to children with different communication needs while fitting naturally into the performance. There was plenty of audience participation too, especially when everyone was encouraged to shout the familiar words, "Not now, Bernard!" Alice and Leo both really enjoyed joining in, and it was lovely hearing so many children around the auditorium getting involved. Visually, the production is really colourful and captures the feel of a children's picture book. The set, designed by Laura McEwan, is simple but effective, with bright colours and plenty of opportunities for the performers to use their imagination. And then, of course, there's the monster! I absolutely loved the enormous purple monster costume. It looked fantastic on stage and really brought the illustrations from the book to life. Shaelee Rooke plays both Bernard and the monster, which I thought worked really well. Bernard is a very different character from the enormous creature that eventually takes his place, and she brings both to life. Kim Heron plays Bernard's mum, and I particularly enjoyed her physical comedy, especially during the scene with the vase and spilled water. Fionn Gill plays Bernard's dad, and I thought his exaggerated movements and comic timing were brilliant. He was probably my favourite of the adult characters. Robin Hemmings is also a big part of what makes the show work so well. The live music and sound effects add so much to the performance, particularly during the mime sequences. The whole production feels very playful and imaginative, and I liked that it encouraged the children to use their imaginations too. The show lasted approximately 55 minutes with no interval, which I thought was a good length for the younger audience. There was plenty happening throughout to keep the children interested without the performance feeling too long. Meeting the Cast & Buying the Book 📚 One of the loveliest parts of our afternoon came after the show, when we discovered that the children could meet the cast in the foyer, just outside the theatre near the shop. There was a little area set up with a framed display introducing the characters from the production, along with a large board where children could leave messages and drawings about what they thought of the show. I thought this was such a lovely idea. The board was covered in colourful notes, drawings of the monster and comments from children who had enjoyed the performance. Some had written about their favourite characters, while others had mentioned the music, signing and sound effects. It was really nice seeing how different parts of the show had stood out to different children. Alice particularly enjoyed chatting to Shaelee Rooke, who played Bernard, and both Alice and Leo had their photograph taken with Bernard and his dad. I always think it's lovely when children get the chance to meet the performers after a show. It makes the experience feel that little bit more special, especially when they've just spent the last hour watching those characters on stage. There were also copies of David McKee's Not Now, Bernard picture book available to buy for £7.99. Alice really wanted a copy, so we bought one for her. As neither Alice nor Leo had read the book before seeing the show, I thought it was a lovely souvenir to bring home. They'd now seen the story performed on stage and could enjoy reading the original book afterwards. It was a really nice way to finish our visit, and I'm glad we stayed for a little while after the performance rather than heading straight home. Final Thoughts 💜 We had such a lovely family afternoon seeing Not Now, Bernard at Waterside Arts, and despite the slightly stressful journey getting there, it turned out to be a really enjoyable Sunday afternoon. I thought the production was a wonderfully imaginative way to bring David McKee's story to the stage. It was colourful, entertaining and full of clever little touches that made something as simple as miming everyday activities really enjoyable to watch. What I particularly liked was seeing Alice and Leo discover the story for the first time. They both enjoyed different parts of the performance, and there was plenty to keep them interested and involved throughout. The opportunity to meet the cast afterwards was another lovely addition to the experience. Alice particularly enjoyed chatting to Bernard, and buying a copy of the book meant we could bring a little piece of the show home with us. At just 55 minutes long, with no interval, I think Not Now, Bernard would make a lovely theatre experience for younger children, particularly those who enjoy stories, music and a little bit of silliness. More Information About Not Now, Bernard 👾 Not Now, Bernard is a touring family theatre production by Roustabout Theatre, based on David McKee's much-loved children's picture book. The show runs for approximately 55 minutes without an interval and is recommended for children aged 3+. We saw Not Now, Bernard at Waterside Arts in Sale on Sunday 25th October 2026, but the production is continuing to tour the UK, so there are more opportunities for families to see it. The good news for families in Greater Manchester is that Not Now, Bernard will be returning to the area on Sunday 21st February 2027, when it visits The Lowry in Salford. Tickets are available through The Lowry website. For other UK tour dates, venues and booking information, visit the official Not Now, Bernard production website. If you'd like to read my more detailed theatre-focused review of the production, you can also head over to our sister website, All About Theatre. 🎭 At A Glance 📍 Venue: Waterside Arts, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Greater Manchester, M33 7ZF 🎭 Show: Not Now, Bernard – a family theatre production by Roustabout Theatre, based on David McKee's children's book 👤 Recommended Age: 3+ ⏱️ Runtime: Approximately 55 minutes ☕ Interval: No interval 🎟️ Tickets: Adult £14, child £12 for the Waterside Arts performance. Prices may vary at other venues. 🎶 What To Expect: Live music, physical comedy, imaginative mime, audience participation and an enormous purple monster 🙋 Audience Participation: Children are encouraged to join in throughout the show, including shouting "Not now, Bernard!" ♿ Accessibility: The production incorporates Makaton signing into the storytelling. Contact the venue for information about accessible seating, facilities and other access requirements. 💺 Seating & View: Waterside Arts has a relatively small, well-raked auditorium, offering good views of the stage even from seats towards the back. 📖 Merchandise: Copies of David McKee's Not Now, Bernard picture book were available to buy for £7.99. Availability may vary between venues. 👾 Meet the Cast: Children had the opportunity to meet the cast after the performance, take photographs and leave messages or drawings on a feedback board. Check with your chosen venue for details of post-show activities. 🚋 Getting There by Tram: Sale Metrolink stop on the Altrincham line is a short walk from Waterside Arts. Check for engineering works or service changes before travelling. 🚌 Getting There by Bus: Bus services run to Sale town centre, within walking distance of the theatre. 🚗 Parking: The 440-space Q-Park multi-storey car park on Broad Road, Sale, M33 2AE, is within easy walking distance. Waterside ticket holders can receive 20% off parking when booking in advance using discount code WATERSIDE20 at the online checkout. ☕ SUP Bar & Coffee House: Open Monday–Saturday, 10am–5pm, and for pre-show and post-show drinks. The café and bar serves hot and cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, snacks and locally sourced cakes. 🛍️ Gift Shop: Waterside Arts has a gift shop selling locally made jewellery, cards, prints, crafts and gifts, with a focus on supporting artists and independent makers. 🌍 Tickets & Venue Information: Waterside Arts Our tickets for this performance were kindly gifted for review purposes. All opinions are our own.

Family Weekly Update This week's Family Weekly Update covers 21st–27th September 2026, and it was another busy week with a mixture of blogging, theatre, shopping and family time. Mum and I headed to The Lowry for a theatre press night, while Lawrence and I managed to fit in another Trafford Centre shopping trip. There was also a school trip for Leo, plenty of blogging and drawing, and another fun family afternoon to finish the week. Here's what we got up to! 💻 Monday – Weekly Vlog Editing & Alice's Doctor's Appointment Monday was another day spent catching up with some editing and blogging. I spent most of the day editing the previous week's vlog, Weekly Vlog #469, and writing the Family Weekly Update blog post to go alongside it. After school, I took Alice to a doctor's appointment. Once we got back home, I made dinner and we spent a little time watching television together before it was time to get Alice and Leo ready for bed. 🎭 Tuesday – School Meeting & High Society Press Night At The Lowry Tuesday started with me editing a couple of videos for YouTube. I managed to get quite a bit done before it was time to head out to collect Alice and Leo from school. After picking them up, I attended a Meet the Teacher meeting at their school. Once we got home, I made dinner before getting ready to head out again, this time for a theatre trip with Mum. We'd been invited to the press night of High Society at The Lowry, so Dad kindly gave us a lift and dropped us off opposite the Imperial War Museum North. From there, Mum and I walked across the bridge towards The Lowry, arriving at around 7:10pm for the 7:30pm performance. Once inside, I collected our tickets, programme and wristbands from the press desk before having a quick look at the merchandise. There was quite a large selection available, and I'd planned to buy a magnet during the interval, but I completely forgot! We were sitting in the Circle, Row E, Seats 28 and 29, and I was really pleased with our view. We could see the whole stage clearly, including the enormous mansion set, and being higher up meant we could really appreciate everything happening across the different levels. I was going into High Society almost completely fresh, as I'd never seen the film or a stage production before. Mum had seen the film, so she was much more familiar with the story than I was. We both found the first act a little slow, although we really enjoyed the musical number that closed it. Thankfully, the second act was much livelier, with more comedy, some fantastic musical numbers and plenty of beautiful costumes. The performance finished at around 10pm, and Dad came back to collect us. We spent some of the journey home chatting about the show, and although Mum enjoyed the production, she said she thought she probably preferred the film. If you'd like to read more about our evening, including the story, performances, costumes, merchandise and our seats, you can read my full High Society at The Lowry review. I also have a more theatre-focused review over on All About Theatre. PR – Gifted tickets. 🏛️ Wednesday – Leo's School Trip & Writing My High Society Review Wednesday was an exciting day for Leo because he was going on a school trip to the World Museum in Liverpool. His class was visiting the museum to look at the Ancient Egypt exhibition, which sounded like a lovely school trip. While Leo was away with school, I spent most of the day working on my review of High Society. I had quite a lot I wanted to write about, especially the enormous set, beautiful costumes and the differences between the first and second acts. I also worked on the social media posts to go alongside the review, so it ended up being another fairly busy day at my computer. 🛍️ Thursday – Selfridges Christmas Shopping, Jellycat & Primark Lawrence had Thursday off work, so we decided to head to the Trafford Centre while Alice and Leo were at school. We got the bus over to ASDA first because we had a parcel to collect. Once we'd picked it up, we had a quick look around the children's clothes, although we didn't see anything we wanted to buy this time. We did, however, pick up a couple of bags of onion ring crisps for Alice, as they're still her favourite, along with some Kinder Eggs as a little treat for both children. After ASDA, we walked across to the Trafford Centre and headed into Selfridges. We started by having a look around the toy department to get some ideas for Christmas presents for Alice and Leo. I know it was still only September, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to see what was available and start thinking about what we might get them. We then had a look around the Jellycat shop and the Disney Store. I always enjoy browsing both, even when we're not planning to buy anything. On our way out of Selfridges, we passed the Christmas Shop, so of course we had to stop for a look! There were lots of advent calendars and Christmas decorations to browse, and I always enjoy seeing all the new festive ranges appearing in the shops. After all that shopping, we were getting hungry, so we headed to The Orient for lunch. We decided to get food from different places this time. I went to KFC and ordered my usual plain Fillet Burger with cheese, chips and gravy, while Lawrence went to McDonald's and chose a Big Rösti Burger with paprika-seasoned fries. Once we'd finished eating, we had a quick look inside Namco, which had recently reopened after being refurbished. We were curious to see what it looked like following the changes, so we popped in for a look before carrying on with our shopping. We then walked across the bridge to Trafford Palazzo and headed into Primark. We had a look around the clothes and managed to find another Minecraft T-shirt for Leo, which I knew he'd be pleased with as he's been really enjoying Minecraft recently. Lawrence also found a Mighty Ducks zip-up hoodie that he liked, so we bought that too. After Primark, we had a look around Primark Home before heading back to catch the bus. We managed to get home in time to pick Alice and Leo up from school, so we'd fitted quite a lot into our day! 🎨 Friday – House Jobs, Drawing & Blogging Friday was a much quieter day at home after our busy Thursday. I spent some time getting on with jobs around the house before settling down to do a little drawing on my iPad. I've been really enjoying working on my illustrations recently, so it's always nice when I get a bit of time to sit and draw. I also made a start on writing a new blog post. I didn't manage to finish it, but at least I'd made some progress and could come back to it another day. 👻 Saturday – Homework, Craft Room Tidying & Casper Saturday was another fairly quiet day at home. I started by helping Alice and Leo with their homework before getting on with a few jobs around the house. One of the things I wanted to tackle was my craft room, which was in need of a tidy. I've been spending quite a lot of time drawing and making things recently, and it doesn't take long for everything to become a bit messy! Later in the day, Alice and I settled down to watch Casper the Friendly Ghost, while Leo decided he'd rather spend some time playing on his tablet. It was a nice, relaxed way to spend the afternoon, especially with Halloween getting a little closer. 🃏 Sunday – A Family Afternoon Playing UNO On Sunday, we decided to head round to my parents' house for another family afternoon playing UNO. We walked over at around 1:30pm, and Mum had put some snacks out for us to enjoy while we played. This time, we played UNO, UNO Flip and UNO Zero. We've been playing quite a lot of different versions of UNO recently, and it's been really nice having these family afternoons together. Alice joined in with UNO Flip, but after that she decided she'd rather watch Numberblocks, so she went off to do that while the rest of us carried on playing. We had a lovely afternoon, and at around 5pm, Dad kindly gave us a lift home. Once we got back, we made dinner and watched a little television before it was time to get Alice and Leo bathed and ready for bed. It was a nice way to finish the weekend before getting ready for another week of school. 💭 Final Thoughts It's been another nice week, with a mixture of days out, family time and getting on with things at home. I really enjoyed seeing High Society with Mum on Tuesday evening. Although we both thought the first act was a little slow, the second act was much more enjoyable, and the beautiful costumes, spectacular set and Cole Porter music made it a lovely evening at the theatre. Thursday's Trafford Centre trip was another highlight. It was nice to spend some time with Lawrence, have a look around the shops and start getting a few ideas for Christmas presents. I can't believe how quickly Christmas seems to be creeping up on us again! I'm also glad I managed to get my High Society review written and find a little time for some drawing and blogging during the week. We finished things off with another lovely afternoon at Mum and Dad's playing UNO, which is becoming a nice way for us all to spend time together. 🎥 Watch Weekly Vlog #470 If you'd like to see more from our week, you can watch Weekly Vlog #470. This week's vlog includes my trip to The Lowry with Mum to see High Society, our Trafford Centre shopping day looking around Selfridges, Jellycat, the Disney Store and Primark, and our family afternoon playing UNO at my parents' house.

Our Trip To See Sylvia At The Lowry On Monday 19 October 2026, Lawrence and I headed to The Lowry to see Sylvia, a musical telling the story of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst. We'd been invited along to the press night, and I was really looking forward to seeing it, particularly as it was a musical neither of us had seen before. The performance was due to start at 7.30pm, and my dad kindly gave us a lift, dropping us off opposite the Imperial War Museum North. From there, we walked across the bridge to The Lowry, arriving at around 7.05pm. Once inside, we headed straight to the Lowry Bar, where the press desk was located, to collect our tickets and programme. With everything collected, we decided to have a look at the merchandise before heading into the auditorium. Sylvia Merchandise At The Lowry There was quite a good selection of Sylvia merchandise available, including clothing, accessories, souvenirs and music. Suffrajitsu T-shirt (S–XXL): £30 Make Some Noise cap: £25 Tote bag: £25 Rebellion water bottle: £22 Quotes badge set: £12 Sylvia pin: £9 Make Some Noise pin: £9 Women Count magnet: £12 Acrylic Sylvia logo magnet: £10 Sylvia poster: £12 Sylvia lyric book: £12.99 Sylvia CD soundtrack: £15.99 Sylvia vinyl soundtrack: £39.99 I love collecting magnets from the shows we see, so of course I couldn't resist adding another one to my collection! It was also lovely to see that a portion of the proceeds from selected merchandise went to the Centenary Action campaign. Our Seats & View At The Lowry After looking at the merchandise, we made our way into the auditorium and found our seats in the stalls, Row M, seats 32 and 33. Our seats were towards the side of the auditorium, so we had a slightly side-on view of the stage. However, there weren't any parts of the production that we couldn't see and, overall, I thought they were good seats. We settled in ready for the 7.30pm performance, excited to see what Sylvia had in store for us. The Story & My Thoughts Sylvia tells the story of Sylvia Pankhurst, the daughter of famous suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, and her involvement in the fight for women's right to vote. However, the musical isn't just about the suffragette movement. It also explores the complicated relationships within the Pankhurst family and how Sylvia's political beliefs increasingly differed from those of her mother and older sister, Christabel. Before seeing the show, I knew about Emmeline Pankhurst and her involvement in the suffragette movement, but I knew very little about Sylvia herself. I found it fascinating to discover more about her life and how she believed that the fight for equality should extend beyond women's voting rights to include working-class communities and wider social issues. One of the things that surprised me most was just how difficult the relationship between Sylvia and her mother became. Although I admired Emmeline's determination and everything she was fighting for, I found it quite upsetting that she was willing to put her political beliefs before her relationship with her daughter. As a mum myself, I found that particularly difficult to understand, as my children will always come first. The musical also explores some of the darker aspects of the suffragette movement, including the imprisonment of protesters, hunger strikes and force-feeding. These moments are quite difficult to watch, but they really bring home just how much these women were prepared to sacrifice in their fight for equality. What I particularly liked was that the story wasn't presented as a straightforward celebration of the suffragettes. Instead, it showed how people who were ultimately fighting for the same cause could have very different opinions about how to achieve their goals. I'm not usually a huge fan of sung-through musicals, and I did initially find the format a little difficult to get into. However, I soon adjusted to it, and because I found Sylvia's story so interesting, I had no trouble following what was happening. In fact, I became increasingly absorbed in the story as the first act progressed. The first act lasted approximately 1 hour and 17 minutes, and by the time the interval arrived, I was thoroughly enjoying the show. During the 20-minute interval, Lawrence and I headed back to the Lowry Bar, where we each got a glass of water and sat discussing what we'd seen so far. One of the things we talked about was how lovely it was to see a musical that was completely new to us. We've been fortunate enough to see so many musicals over the years, but that also means we often end up watching the same productions again and again. Don't get me wrong, I love revisiting my favourites, but there's something particularly exciting about discovering a new musical, especially when it turns out to be as good as Sylvia! After our drinks, we headed back into the auditorium for the second act, which lasted approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. I thought the second act was just as enjoyable as the first, with the story becoming increasingly emotional as Sylvia continued to follow her own beliefs, even when doing so meant challenging those closest to her. Despite dealing with some quite serious subjects, the musical also has plenty of humour, and I loved how it managed to balance the more emotional moments with energetic musical numbers. Set, Lighting, Costumes, Choreography & Performances One of the things that impressed me most about Sylvia at the Lowry was how visually spectacular the production was, especially considering how relatively simple the set was. The stage featured a large rectangular frame with a stepped structure at the back, while projections and lighting were used to create different locations and atmospheres. I thought this worked brilliantly, as it allowed the scenes to flow naturally without lots of complicated scenery changes. The lighting was absolutely stunning, with powerful beams of light creating some spectacular effects during the larger musical numbers. I also loved the projections, particularly when words such as 'MARCH' and 'VOTES FOR WOMEN' appeared across the backdrop. They really helped create the feeling of a political demonstration. The costumes were also interesting, with the suffragettes initially wearing quite dark, structured outfits. As Sylvia became more involved with the working-class communities of East London, the costumes became noticeably more colourful, which I thought was a clever way of showing the differences between the groups. However, the thing that really stood out for me was the choreography. Created and choreographed by Kate Prince, Sylvia combines hip-hop and contemporary dance with an incredibly varied soundtrack featuring rap, soul, funk and musical theatre. The choreography was absolutely phenomenal! I was particularly impressed by just how perfectly synchronised the ensemble was. Every movement seemed to happen at exactly the same time, and watching such a large group of performers dance with that level of precision was mesmerising. I also loved how the choreography helped tell the story rather than simply providing entertainment between the songs. One particularly powerful moment involved the women repeatedly being knocked to the ground before getting back up again, showing their determination to continue fighting despite everything they faced. Another highlight was Suffrajitsu, which opens the second act and incorporates martial arts-inspired movements. It was such a fun and energetic number, and I thought the choreography was brilliant. The music was equally impressive, with so many different styles incorporated into the production. Two of my favourite songs were March Women March and Be The Change, which come towards the end of the first act. I thought they worked beautifully together, with one providing a spectacular ensemble number and the other bringing a more emotional end to the act. The cast were also fantastic. Naomi Katiyo was phenomenal as Sylvia Pankhurst. I thought she captured Sylvia's determination and vulnerability beautifully, and her performance made it easy to sympathise with the character, particularly as her relationship with her family became increasingly strained. Beverley Knight was simply outstanding as Emmeline Pankhurst. Her vocals were absolutely incredible, and she had such a commanding stage presence. I also thought she portrayed Emmeline's more difficult personality traits brilliantly, making her a character I could admire for her achievements while also feeling frustrated by some of her decisions. The scenes between Naomi Katiyo and Beverley Knight were among the most emotional moments of the production, and I thought they worked wonderfully together. The supporting cast were excellent too, particularly Ellena Vincent as Christabel Pankhurst, Kirstie Skivington as Adela Pankhurst and Tachia Newall as Keir Hardie. There were also some wonderfully funny moments involving Winston Churchill, played by Castell Parker. The entire ensemble deserve a special mention because their energy, commitment and incredible dancing really helped make the production so enjoyable. By the time we left The Lowry, it was around 10.28pm. My dad was picking us up, so we walked back across the bridge towards the Imperial War Museum North. While we waited, Lawrence and I carried on chatting about how much we'd enjoyed the show. We both agreed that it was lovely to have discovered another musical that we hadn't seen before, especially one that was so good! Final Thoughts On Sylvia At The Lowry I absolutely loved Sylvia, and I think it's a fantastic musical that manages to be educational, entertaining, funny and deeply moving all at the same time. The performances were outstanding, the music was incredible, and Kate Prince's choreography was some of the most impressive I've seen. I was completely mesmerised by the ensemble's synchronisation, and the staging, lighting and projections all worked together beautifully. However, what made the evening particularly memorable was discovering Sylvia Pankhurst's story. Although I was familiar with Emmeline Pankhurst, I hadn't realised just how different Sylvia's beliefs were from those of her mother or how much conflict this caused within their family. I came away feeling that I'd not only seen a brilliant musical but had also learnt something new about an important part of British history. It's always exciting to discover a musical that we haven't seen before, and Sylvia certainly didn't disappoint. I would definitely recommend seeing it if you get the opportunity during its UK tour! More Information About Sylvia At The Lowry Sylvia is at The Lowry until Saturday 24 October 2026 before continuing its UK tour. For tickets, further tour dates and information about the production, visit the official show or theatre website. Watch Our Theatre Trip In The Weekly Vlog You can also see more from our evening at The Lowry in our weekly family vlog, including our arrival, a look at the merchandise and our theatre trip to see Sylvia. Sylvia At The Lowry – At A Glance 📍 Venue: The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ 🎭 Theatre: Lyric Theatre 📅 Lowry Run: Monday 19th – Saturday 24th October 2026 ⏱️ Runtime: Act One – 1 hour 17 minutes | Interval – 20 minutes | Act Two – 1 hour 10 minutes (approximately 2 hours 47 minutes in total) ☕ Interval: Approximately 20 minutes 👤 Age Recommendation: 10+ 🎭 Genre: Musical Theatre / Historical Drama / Hip-Hop Musical ⚠️ Content Guidance: The production explores imprisonment, hunger strikes, force-feeding, violence against protesters and political conflict. See The Lowry's official content warning for full details. 💺 Our Seats: Lyric Theatre Stalls, Row M, Seats 32 & 33 👀 Seat View: Towards the side of the auditorium, giving us a slightly side-on view of the stage. However, we could see everything clearly, and I thought they were good seats. 📖 Programme Available: Yes – £6. We collected ours from the press desk as part of our invitation. 🛍️ Merchandise Available: T-shirts, caps, tote bags, water bottles, badges, pins, magnets, posters, lyric books, CDs and vinyl soundtracks. I bought a magnet for my collection. 🚋 Getting There: The Lowry is in Salford Quays and can be reached by tram, bus or car. We were dropped off opposite the Imperial War Museum North and walked across the bridge to the theatre. 🚊 Closest Tram Stops: MediaCityUK and Imperial War Museum ♿ Accessible Performances: Audio Described by Caroline Burn on Thursday 22nd October at 2.00pm, with a Touch Tour at 1.00pm. BSL-interpreted by Emma Jane Mansfield on Thursday 22nd October at 7.30pm. 🌍 Further Tour Dates: Sylvia continues its UK tour after its Salford run. 🎟️ Booking: Tickets for the Lowry performances are available through the Lowry website, with standard tickets advertised from £24 and concessions from £21. 🌐 Official Website: Visit the official Sylvia website for production information and UK tour dates. Our tickets for this performance were kindly gifted for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular – Spooky Circus Fun & Our First Family Circus Adventure! On Saturday 17th October 2026, we headed to the Trafford Centre in Manchester for a family afternoon at Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular. We had been kindly invited along to watch the 2.30pm performance, and with Halloween just around the corner, it seemed like a lovely way to get into the spooky spirit! This was also Alice and Leo's first ever visit to a circus, so they were both really excited to see what it would be like. Gandeys Circus is a family-run circus company with a history stretching back more than 100 years. In 2025, the company was awarded the BigTopLabel, an international recognition of excellence in circus entertainment. Its Halloween Spooktacular combines traditional circus performances with a spooky twist, promising an afternoon of daring stunts, impressive acrobatics, comedy and Halloween fun. We decided to travel to the Trafford Centre by bus, catching the 150 and getting off outside Selfridges. From there, we walked through the shopping centre, coming out through John Lewis before making our way to Peel 7 Car Park, where Gandeys Circus had set up its distinctive red, white and blue Big Top. We had allowed ourselves plenty of time before the performance, so there was no need to rush, and we could enjoy having a look around before finding our seats. Arriving At Gandeys Circus – Tickets, Food & Halloween Fun When we arrived, we collected our tickets and refreshments vouchers from the box office, which was just in front of the Big Top. Once we had everything, we headed inside to have a look around. There were various stalls selling food, drinks and circus merchandise. There were plenty of traditional circus treats available, including popcorn, candyfloss and slushies, along with hot food such as burgers, hot dogs and chips. There was also a merchandise stall selling various light-up toys, including flashing wands and swords. One thing that immediately caught Alice's attention was the face painting stall. Both face painting and hair braiding were available for £5 each, and Alice decided she wanted to have her face painted as a ghost, which seemed very appropriate for a Halloween circus! While Alice was having her face painted, Lawrence took Leo to collect our popcorn, candyfloss and drinks using the vouchers we had been given. Alice was really pleased with how her ghost face paint turned out, and as we had paid for her to have her face painted, we decided to let Leo choose something from the merchandise stall. He picked a light-up heart wand, which cost £12. There were also some large Halloween-themed inflatables decorating the area, which Alice and Leo immediately spotted and wanted us to take photographs of them in front of. I thought these were a lovely addition, helping to create a fun Halloween atmosphere before we had even entered the main circus tent. I really liked that there was plenty to see and do before the performance started. It made the visit feel like more of an occasion, rather than simply arriving, finding our seats and waiting for the show. Our Seats & View Inside Gandeys Circus Big Top Once we had finished exploring the entrance area, we headed into the main Big Top, where a member of staff checked our tickets and escorted us to our seats in the grandstand. The seating was arranged around the circus ring, with the rows rising upwards towards the back. I thought the seats were well raked, meaning you could see over the people sitting in front of you, and from what I could see, I think you would get a good view from most areas of the Big Top. The circus ring was positioned in the centre, with a colourful backdrop, theatrical lighting and a ceiling decorated with little stars. It had that wonderful traditional circus atmosphere, and I particularly liked how close the audience felt to the performers. Unlike a traditional theatre, where the action takes place on a stage, the performers were right there in the middle of the tent, which made everything feel much more immediate. Before the show started, Leo needed the toilet, so we followed the clearly marked 'Toilets' exit inside the Big Top, which led directly to the portable toilets around the side of the ticket office. I thought this was really convenient, especially when visiting with children, as we didn't have to go back through the main entrance to reach them. Once we were back in our seats, we settled down with our popcorn, candyfloss and drinks while we waited for the performance to begin. Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular – The First Half The show opened with a colourful dance number and introduction, immediately bringing plenty of energy to the circus ring. This was followed by the first main circus act, featuring a group of acrobats performing on large, tyre-shaped rings to Evanescence's Bring Me to Life. The performers bounced up and down on the rings, using them to launch themselves into the air and perform impressive somersaults. They even incorporated a long skipping rope into the routine! I thought the dramatic music and colourful lighting made this a brilliant way to start the show. Throughout the first half, we were treated to a wonderful variety of entertainment, including dancing witches, comedy from the clown and a spectacular fire act. The fire performance was particularly striking, combining flaming props, acrobatics and a large metal hoop, with performers dressed in colourful UV-reactive costumes. The dramatic purple lighting made the flames stand out even more, creating a really impressive visual effect. There was also a dance routine to Michael Jackson's Thriller, which fitted perfectly with the Halloween theme. I particularly liked how the show moved between different styles of performance, with colourful dance numbers and moments of comedy breaking up the more intense circus acts. There was always something different happening, and I don't want to give too much away because I think part of the fun of visiting a circus is discovering what the performers have in store for you! The clown provided plenty of laughs throughout the afternoon, interacting with the audience and getting everyone involved in the fun. Alice and Leo particularly enjoyed it when he ran through the audience squirting people with water! It was a really funny moment, and I thought it was lovely how the comedy wasn't just confined to the circus ring, with the audience becoming part of the entertainment too. The Aerial Hoop – One Of My Favourite Performances One of my favourite performances during the first half was the aerial hoop routine. The performer was suspended high above the circus ring on a large circular hoop, carrying out a series of impressive movements, balances and poses. I always find aerial performances fascinating, as they require such incredible strength, flexibility and control, yet the performers somehow manage to make everything look so graceful and effortless. What made this particular performance even more special for me was the music. She performed to Kerry Ellis's rocky version of Defying Gravity from Wicked, which is a song I absolutely love! I thought the powerful vocals and rock arrangement worked brilliantly with the aerial routine, adding even more drama to the movements as she performed high above the circus ring. The Globe Of Death – A Thrilling End To The First Half The first half came to an exciting conclusion with the Globe of Death, which was a firm favourite with Lawrence and Leo. The Globe of Death is a large metal spherical cage in which motorcyclists ride around the inside, performing incredibly daring manoeuvres. Watching the riders travel around the cage at speed, seemingly defying gravity as they circled above and around one another, was quite something! It is one of those acts where you know the performers must have practised countless times, as the timing and precision required are incredible. Even though you know they are professionals, you can't help feeling a little nervous watching them. The Interval – More Halloween Fun There was a 20-minute interval between the two halves of the performance, giving everyone a chance to stretch their legs, use the toilets or buy some more refreshments. The face painting stall was also available during the interval, which was handy for anyone who hadn't had a chance to get their face painted before the show started. During the interval, there was also an opportunity to go into the circus ring and take your own photographs with one of the motorbikes from the show and a giant purple monster character. There appeared to be a charge for this, which I believe was around £4, although I can't confirm the exact price. I thought it was a fun opportunity for families to capture a souvenir of their visit, particularly for children who had enjoyed the motorbike performances. There was also a raffle, with tickets available to purchase for the chance to win a big plushie. The winner was announced just before the second half began. Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular – The Second Half After the interval, we returned to our seats for more circus entertainment, and the second half got off to a particularly exciting start with a Squid Game-inspired Russian swing performance. The performers were dressed in costumes inspired by the popular Netflix series, including green tracksuits and pink guards, while a large inflatable character resembling the Red Light, Green Light doll added to the unusual presentation. A Russian swing is a large floor-mounted swing that performers use to build up momentum before launching themselves high into the air to perform acrobatic tricks. It was incredible watching the performers being propelled into the air before carrying out somersaults and other acrobatic movements. The timing and coordination involved must be extremely precise, particularly as the performers have to work together to build up enough momentum for each stunt. Alice and Leo both really enjoyed this act, and Alice couldn't quite believe what she was watching. She kept asking me, "Is it real?" because she was so amazed that the performers could actually do something like that! I thought the Squid Game theme was an interesting addition to the show, giving this particular act a slightly different feel from the more traditional circus performances. The second half continued with a mixture of comedy, aerial acrobatics, dancing and other impressive circus skills. I particularly enjoyed the aerial performances, which were another wonderful display of strength and control, while the clown continued to provide plenty of laughs between the bigger acts. The High-Wire Act – Alice's Favourite Performance Another highlight of the second half was the tightrope and high-wire balancing performance, which was definitely Alice's favourite part of the afternoon. Watching the performers demonstrate their incredible balance and control high above the circus ring was quite nerve-racking, particularly when you consider how far above the ground they were. I always find these sorts of acts fascinating because they require so much concentration, precision and skill. Alice was absolutely captivated by the performance and, just as she had during the Russian swing act, kept asking me, "Is it real?" She just couldn't quite believe that people could actually do something like that! It was lovely seeing her so amazed by what was happening in front of her, and I think watching the high-wire performers is something she'll remember from her first circus experience. A Fun-Filled Finale Before we knew it, the afternoon was drawing to a close, with the performers coming together for a colourful finale. Towards the end of the show, the dancers performed to This Is Me from The Greatest Showman, which I thought was a lovely choice of song for the closing part of the performance. The show then finished with The Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Show, with everyone encouraged to get up and join in with the dancing! I thought this was a brilliant way to end the afternoon, bringing the audience into the fun and finishing the performance on a really lively note. I always enjoy seeing the whole cast come together at the end of a show, and this was no exception. It was lovely seeing the different performers together after watching their individual acts throughout the afternoon. The performance lasted approximately an hour and 40 minutes, including the 20-minute interval, which I thought was a good length for a family show. There was plenty happening throughout, and the afternoon seemed to fly by. Final Thoughts On Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular We had a lovely afternoon visiting Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular at the Trafford Centre, and it was a fun way to enjoy some family time together during the Halloween season. As this was Alice and Leo's first ever circus experience, it was lovely seeing how much they enjoyed themselves. We all came away with different favourite moments, and I think that says a lot about the variety of entertainment on offer. It was a wonderful introduction to the circus for them, and I loved seeing their reactions to some of the incredible performances. I thought the combination of traditional circus acts with the Halloween theme worked really well, giving the show a slightly different feel while still keeping that familiar Big Top atmosphere. One of the things I particularly loved was how much thought had gone into the overall presentation. It wasn't simply a collection of individual circus acts, but a complete theatrical experience, with the music, costumes, choreography and lighting all working together. I loved the mixture of familiar songs and more dramatic music, including I Will Rise Again by Orkestral Studio, and thought the music had been really well chosen to complement the different performances. The dancers' costumes ranged from colourful circus-inspired outfits to darker, more gothic looks, while the changing lighting helped create different atmospheres throughout the show. I thought it struck a lovely balance between spooky entertainment and family fun. The additional activities before the show were also a nice touch. Alice enjoyed having her ghost face paint, while Leo was very pleased with his light-up wand, and these little extras helped make the afternoon feel even more special. I also thought the location at the Trafford Centre was convenient, particularly as we were able to travel there by bus and walk through the shopping centre to reach the Big Top. One thing I would mention for families visiting with children who are sensitive to loud noises is that the music was quite loud. Leo sometimes struggles when shows are particularly noisy, so we always take his ear defenders with us, just in case he needs them. He did ask for them during the performance, and once he had them on, he was much more comfortable and really enjoyed the show. If your child is sensitive to loud sounds, I would recommend bringing ear defenders, just in case they need them. If you're looking for Halloween family activities in Manchester, particularly something a little different from the usual pumpkin picking and spooky trails, Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular is certainly worth considering. With its mixture of exciting stunts, impressive acrobatics, comedy, dancing and Halloween fun, there's plenty for both children and adults to enjoy. Save £5 On Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular Tickets With My Exclusive Discount Code! If you're thinking of visiting Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular at the Trafford Centre, I've got a little treat for you! Gandeys Circus has kindly given me an exclusive discount code to share with my readers, giving you £5 off Grandstand, Ringside and Premium Ringside tickets. 🎟️ Discount Code: VIP5 Simply enter the code VIP5 when booking your tickets to receive £5 off eligible seating. Book Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular Tickets Here The show runs until Sunday 1st November 2026, so there's still time to enjoy some spooky circus fun this Halloween! Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular At The Trafford Centre – At A Glance 🎪 Show: Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular 2026 📍 Location: Peel 7 Car Park (P7), Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AA 📅 Show Dates: Saturday 10th October – Sunday 1st November 2026 ⏱️ Running Time: Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes, including a 20-minute interval 🎭 What To Expect: A Halloween-themed circus featuring motorbikes, the Globe of Death, aerial acrobatics, balancing acts, comedy, dancing and audience participation. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Friendly: An entertaining circus experience for the whole family, although some of the daring stunts, spooky characters and loud music may be overwhelming for younger or more sensitive children. 👶 Under 2s: Children under two can attend free of charge when sitting on an adult's lap. 🔊 Noise Levels: We found the music quite loud, so ear defenders may be useful for children who are sensitive to noise. 🍿 Food & Drinks: Popcorn, candyfloss, slushies, burgers, hot dogs and chips available to purchase. Outside food and drinks are not permitted. 🎨 Additional Activities: Face painting and hair braiding (£5 each), light-up toys, merchandise and photo opportunities. Face painting was also available during the interval. 📸 Interval Photo Opportunity: Take your own photographs with a motorbike and giant purple monster character in the circus ring. An additional charge may apply. 🎃 Fancy Dress: Halloween costumes are encouraged. 🚻 Toilets: Portable toilets located around the side of the ticket office, accessible directly from a clearly marked exit inside the Big Top. ♿ Accessibility: Wheelchair access available. Pushchairs must be left in the designated area at the entrance. 🚗 Getting There & Parking: Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular is accessible by car, bus or tram. Free parking is available at the Trafford Centre, including Peel 7 Car Park (P7), where the Big Top is located. If travelling by public transport, the Big Top is a short walk from the John Lewis end of the shopping centre. 🎟️ Exclusive Discount: Use code VIP5 for £5 off Grandstand, Ringside and Premium Ringside tickets. 🔗 Book Tickets: Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular Gifted Experience: We were kindly invited to attend Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular and received complimentary tickets and refreshments vouchers in exchange for an honest review. Gandeys Circus also provided an exclusive discount code for my readers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Choir of Man at The Lowry – A Night of Music, Laughter & Pub Shenanigans! On Tuesday 13 October 2026, Lawrence and I headed to The Lowry in Salford for the press night of The Choir of Man. I'd seen the show before and was really looking forward to experiencing it again, although I don't think either of us realised just how much fun we were going to have! The Choir of Man is a musical unlike most others. Set inside a fully functioning pub called The Jungle, it combines familiar songs, comedy, audience participation and heartfelt storytelling. What makes it particularly unusual is that audience members can actually go onto the stage before the performance and during the interval, have a drink at the bar and meet the cast. Although I'd enjoyed the show on my previous visit, this time turned out to be an even better experience. In fact, I think it was probably the most fun Lawrence and I have ever had at the theatre! Our Trip To See The Choir of Man At The Lowry My dad kindly gave us a lift to Salford Quays, dropping us off opposite the Imperial War Museum North. From there, Lawrence and I walked across the bridge towards The Lowry, which is only a short walk away. Once inside the venue, our first stop was the press desk. I already had our tickets on my phone, so I only needed to collect our programme and drinks voucher. With those safely in hand, we headed over to the merchandise stand to see what was available. The Choir of Man Merchandise & Programme There was quite a good selection of The Choir of Man merchandise available at The Lowry, including clothing, accessories and souvenirs. Here's what was available during our visit, along with the prices: Show Logo T-shirt – £30 I Sang With The Choir T-shirt – £30 No Judgement Here Hoodie – £55 Cap – £25 Tote Bag – £25 Teddy Bear – £16 Magnet – £10 Mug – £16 Shot Glass – £12 Pin Badge – £9 CD – £15 I didn't actually buy anything, although I've since realised that I probably should have picked up the magnet! I collect theatre magnets, and because I'd seen The Choir of Man before, I assumed I already had one. However, when I got home, I remembered that the magnets had been out of stock during my previous visit, so I never actually managed to get one. Hopefully I'll have another opportunity to add one to my collection in the future! After looking at the merchandise, we stopped to have a look at the cast board to see who would be performing that evening, before heading into the auditorium to find our seats. Our Seats & View At The Lowry We entered the Lyric Theatre through Door A and headed to our seats. We'd been allocated Row Q, Seats 26 and 27 in the stalls, and I was really pleased with where we were sitting. We had an excellent, clear and unobstructed view of the stage, and I felt we were in a great position to enjoy the whole performance. Having previously seen The Choir of Man, I already knew how much the seating position could affect the experience, so I was particularly pleased that we'd been allocated stalls seats for the entire performance this time. I'll explain more about the difference between sitting in the stalls and circle later in the review. Once we'd found our seats, we left our coats there and headed down towards the stage to join the queue for the onstage bar. Visiting The Jungle – The Onstage Pub Before The Show One of the things that makes The Choir of Man so unusual is that the stage is transformed into The Jungle, a fully functioning pub that audience members are invited to visit before the show. The onstage bar offered draught beer alongside a selection of canned beers and ciders, including Brooklyn Brewery Stonewall Inn IPA, 1664 lager, Thatchers Gold and Thatchers Blood Orange. Alcohol-free options included Lucky Saint beer and Thatchers Zero cider, while cans of Cano Water were also available. Lawrence chose a can of Thatchers Blood Orange cider, but as we had a drinks voucher, I'm not sure how much the drinks would normally cost. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to walk around the stage and look at the set properly. From our seats, the pub looked fantastic, but getting up close allowed us to appreciate all the little details that had gone into creating it. There were framed photographs and decorations on the walls, and I particularly enjoyed looking at the pictures and exploring the surroundings. As it got closer to the performance starting, members of the cast began coming onto the stage and chatting with audience members. They were really friendly and happy to pose for photographs, and Lawrence and I were lucky enough to get a few photos with some of them. It was such a lovely way to start the evening and made the whole experience feel much more relaxed and welcoming than a traditional theatre visit. Just before the show was due to begin, we headed back to our seats. A few audience members remained on stage, where they joined some of the performers in a spot of cup stacking, working together to build an enormous pyramid out of clear plastic cups. It was a fun little activity to watch and helped keep the atmosphere lively right up until the performance began. The Story & My Thoughts The Choir of Man doesn't really have a traditional storyline. Instead, it introduces us to nine men who regularly meet at their local pub, The Jungle, where they share stories, music, laughter and friendship. Each member of the group has a nickname that reflects his personality, including the Romantic, the Joker, the Barman, the Hardman and the Bore. The Poet acts as the narrator, introducing the different characters and sharing stories that reveal a little more about their lives. Although the show is packed with comedy and lively musical numbers, it also explores some surprisingly thoughtful themes, including loneliness, mental health, friendship and the importance of having somewhere you feel you belong. I really like the way the production balances these more serious moments with the fun and entertainment. One minute you're laughing at something happening on stage, and the next you're listening to a touching story or a beautifully performed song. There is also plenty of audience participation, with performers inviting people onto the stage during certain numbers. Some lucky audience members are even handed beers, while packets of crisps and beer mats are tossed into the audience. One of the funniest moments involved the Maestro performing a very serious, slowed-down version of The Proclaimers' I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles). Every time the other cast members tried to join in with the familiar upbeat version, he became increasingly frustrated. It was absolutely hilarious, and I loved the way the performers played off one another. Another particularly funny moment involved the Beast serenading an audience member during Katy Perry's Teenage Dream. There was also a scene where the Bore invited someone onto the stage to help build a house of cards. The first act lasted approximately an hour, with the interval beginning at around 8:30 pm. Our Interval Singalong On Stage During the interval, I headed to one of The Lowry's regular bars to get a Diet Coke using my drinks voucher. Afterwards, Lawrence and I returned to the auditorium and joined the queue to go back onto the stage. We had another opportunity to chat with some of the cast, but the highlight was definitely getting to stay on stage for the interval singalong. Towards the end of the break, the performers led everyone through The Wild Rover and Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer. Being up there with the cast and other audience members, singing along in the middle of the pub set, was such a fun and unusual experience. Lawrence and I both really enjoyed it, and it's definitely something I'd recommend doing if you get the opportunity. At around 8:50 pm, when the 20-minute interval came to an end, we were thanked for joining in and politely ushered off the stage. The cast then finished the song themselves before the performance continued. I think this was one of the things that made our visit so memorable. Rather than simply watching the show, we actually got to be part of the experience, which was fantastic. Set, Lighting, Music, Choreography & Performances The set is one of my favourite things about The Choir of Man. Designed by Oli Townsend, The Jungle looks and feels like a real pub, complete with a wooden bar, tables, stools, a piano, framed pictures and colourful decorations. I loved the attention to detail, particularly as we had the opportunity to explore it before the performance. Being able to see the photographs and decorations up close made me appreciate just how much thought had gone into creating the setting. The lighting also works really well, changing from the warm, welcoming atmosphere of a traditional pub to much more colourful and dramatic lighting during the larger musical numbers. Musically, the show is absolutely fantastic. The nine performers have incredible voices, and their harmonies are beautiful. The songs cover a wide range of styles, with music from artists including Queen, Adele, Sia, Paul Simon, Katy Perry and Guns N' Roses. I particularly enjoyed the variety of the performances. Some numbers are energetic and full of movement, while others are much quieter and allow the cast's vocals to take centre stage. The choreography is also brilliant, with plenty of dancing around the pub furniture, clever routines involving beer tankards and some fantastic tap dancing. Jack Skelton, who played the Handyman, particularly impressed me with his tap dancing, while Oluwalonimi (Nimi) Owoyemi was excellent as the Poet, guiding us through the evening with his spoken-word narration. What I really loved about the cast was how natural their interactions felt. They genuinely came across as a group of friends having fun together, and their jokes, banter and playful behaviour made the whole performance incredibly entertaining. 243 Choir Members Performing Chandelier One of the biggest highlights of the evening was a special performance of Sia's Chandelier, featuring 243 additional singers from four local choirs as part of The Jungle Choir Community Project. The participating choirs were the University of Lancashire Chamber Choir, Northwich Musical Theatre Choir, Sing Space Musical Theatre Choir and Valley Aloud Choir. The singers were positioned around the auditorium, including at the back of the stalls and up in the circle. Some were standing directly behind us, so when they began singing, we were completely surrounded by their voices. It was an absolutely incredible experience. The harmonies sounded beautiful, and hearing so many people singing together from different parts of the theatre created a wonderful atmosphere. This special choir performance takes place on opening nights at different venues, so it isn't necessarily part of every performance on the tour. I feel very lucky that we got to experience it. Another musical highlight for me was the beautiful a cappella performance of The Parting Glass at the end of the show. The cast's voices blended together wonderfully, and it was a lovely way to finish such an entertaining evening. Was The Choir of Man Better From The Stalls Or The Circle? Having seen The Choir of Man before, I already knew how much the seating position could affect the experience. On my previous visit, I attended with my parents and watched the first act from the circle before moving down to the stalls for the second act. I remember noticing quite a difference between the two areas, particularly when it came to feeling involved in the performance. From the circle, I felt a little removed from the action. Although I could still enjoy the music and see what was happening on stage, I didn't feel quite as immersed in the atmosphere of The Jungle. Moving down to the stalls for the second act made a noticeable difference, as I felt much closer to everything that was happening. This time, Lawrence and I were sitting in Row Q of the stalls for the entire performance, which was fantastic. I loved feeling part of the lively atmosphere throughout the evening, particularly with all the audience participation and interaction between the cast and the audience. I also think making the most of the onstage experience contributed to how much I enjoyed the show this time. During my previous visit, I went onto the stage with my dad, but we only stayed for a short while and didn't join in with the interval singalong. This time, Lawrence and I spent much longer exploring the pub set, chatting with the cast and taking photographs, and we stayed on stage for the singalong, which was one of my favourite parts of the evening. If you're planning to see The Choir of Man, I would personally recommend sitting in the stalls if you want to feel immersed in the atmosphere and closer to the action. However, if you'd prefer to sit back and enjoy the performance without feeling quite so involved, the circle could be a great choice. Neither seating area is necessarily better for everyone, and it really depends on the experience you're looking for. Having watched the show from both areas, though, I definitely prefer the stalls, so I was really pleased that we'd been allocated seats there for this visit. The Journey Home The performance finished at approximately 9:44 pm, making our total running time around 2 hours 14 minutes, including the interval. This was slightly longer than The Lowry's advertised running time of 2 hours 5 minutes, possibly because of the additional opening-night choir performance. After leaving the theatre, Lawrence and I walked back across the bridge towards the Imperial War Museum North, where we waited for my dad to collect us. We spent the walk chatting about the show and all the things we'd enjoyed, particularly the interval singalong and the incredible choir performance. We'd both had such a fantastic evening, and there was certainly plenty to talk about on the way home! Final Thoughts On The Choir of Man At The Lowry I absolutely loved seeing The Choir of Man again, and I honestly think this was one of the most enjoyable theatre trips Lawrence and I have ever had together. The music was fantastic, the cast were incredibly talented, and the atmosphere throughout the evening was brilliant. I particularly loved how the production combined lively musical numbers and hilarious comedy with more heartfelt moments about friendship, community and human connection. Although I'd enjoyed the show on my previous visit, I definitely had a better experience this time. Being in the stalls for the entire performance and making the most of the opportunities to go on stage made such a difference, and sharing the evening with Lawrence made it even more special. If you enjoy live music, comedy and a lively atmosphere, I would absolutely recommend seeing The Choir of Man. It's such a fun and uplifting production, but it also has a lovely message about friendship and looking out for one another. A fantastic evening filled with music, laughter and unforgettable moments – and definitely one of our most fun theatre trips yet! More Information About The Choir of Man At The Lowry The Choir of Man is appearing at The Lowry in Salford from 13 to 17 October 2026 as part of its UK and Ireland tour. For tickets and further information, visit The Lowry's official website. For a more detailed look at the production, including the set, choreography, music and cast, you can also read my full review on All About Theatre. Watch Our Theatre Trip In The Weekly Vlog You can also see more from our visit to The Lowry in our weekly family vlog, including our journey to the theatre, the onstage pub experience and some of the highlights from our evening. - Coming soon The Choir of Man At The Lowry – At A Glance 🎭 Show: The Choir of Man 📍 Venue: The Lowry, Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays, Salford, Greater Manchester 📅 Performance Dates: 13–17 October 2026 🎟️ Tickets: From £36.50 🔗 Booking: The Lowry – The Choir of Man ⏱️ Running Time: Approximately 2 hours 5 minutes, including a 20-minute interval, as advertised by The Lowry. Special opening-night performances may run slightly longer. 🕒 Arrival Tip: Arrive early if you'd like to explore The Jungle onstage pub, take photographs and meet some of the cast before the performance. 🍻 Onstage Bar: Audience members can visit The Jungle pub on stage before the performance and during the interval. Drinks are available to purchase, but you don't need to buy anything to explore the set. 🎤 Audience Participation: The show includes opportunities for audience interaction, with some audience members invited onto the stage during the performance. 💺 Seating Tip: Stalls seats offer a more immersive experience, while the circle provides a more elevated view of the stage. 🛍️ Merchandise: A selection of official show merchandise is available, including clothing, souvenirs and accessories. Availability and prices may vary. 🚊 Getting There: The Lowry is easily accessible by tram, bus and car. The nearest Metrolink stop is MediaCityUK, just a short walk from the theatre. 🚗 Parking: Parking is available at the nearby Quayside MediaCityUK multi-storey car park. Our tickets and drinks vouchers were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Family Weekly Update This week's Family Weekly Update covers 14th–20th September 2026, and it was a nice mixture of days out, blogging, family time and getting on with a few projects that I'd been meaning to finish. Lawrence had a day off, so we managed to fit in another Trafford Centre shopping trip, and I also headed to The Lowry for a solo theatre trip to see High School Musical. Back at home, I finally finished a blog post that I'd been working on for quite some time, and we ended the week with a fun afternoon at my parents' house. Here's what we got up to! 💻 Monday – Weekly Vlog Editing & Blogging Monday was another day spent at my computer, catching up with some editing and blogging. I spent most of the day editing Weekly Vlog #468 and writing the Family Weekly Update blog post to go alongside it. There wasn't much else to report from Monday, but it was good to get another weekly vlog and blog post finished. 🛍️ Tuesday – Disney Store, Minecraft Shopping & Lunch At Pesto Lawrence had Tuesday off work, so we decided to head to the Trafford Centre for a bit of shopping and some lunch while Alice and Leo were at school. We started by having a look around the new The Entertainer store. While we were there, we spotted a little plush toy of Rex from the PAW Patrol Dino Movie, which we thought the children would like, so we bought it for £8. We then headed into Selfridges to have a look around the new Disney Store. We didn't buy anything this time, but it's so nice to have a Disney Store back in Manchester. When Alice and Leo were little, we used to visit the Disney Store almost every week, so I've really missed having one nearby. It was lovely to have a look around again, even if we did manage to leave without buying anything! After that, we headed to Pesto for lunch. We both ordered from the lunchtime menu, where you can choose three dishes for £13.99. As usual, I went for exactly the same things I always order! I had the pepperoni pizza, chicken wings and spicy Italian sausage with potatoes and peppers, along with a Diet Coke. Lawrence went for the lasagne, arancini and the spicy Italian sausage with potatoes and peppers. I know I probably should try something different occasionally, but I really enjoy my usual choices, so I always end up ordering them! Once we'd finished lunch, we walked over to Trafford Palazzo to have a look around Primark. Leo has been really interested in Minecraft recently and had asked if he could have some Minecraft clothes, so we wanted to see what Primark had. Luckily, we managed to find a few things for him and bought a Minecraft hoodie, sweatshirt and a pair of jogging bottoms. While Lawrence was paying for the clothes, I walked across to Primark Home for a quick look around. They already had lots of their Christmas decorations and homeware out, so of course I had to have a look! It still feels quite early to be thinking about Christmas in September, but I always enjoy seeing the new seasonal ranges. After that, we headed back to catch the bus home and made it back in time to pick Alice and Leo up from school. 🎭 Wednesday – A Solo Theatre Trip To See High School Musical At The Lowry On Wednesday, I headed out on my own for a theatre trip to see a matinee performance of High School Musical at The Lowry. I got the tram over to Salford Quays and, as I had some time before the performance, decided to treat myself to lunch at Nando's. I ordered the Cheesy Garlic Pitta and a Lemon & Herb Double Chicken Burger with cheese, along with mash and a Sprite. After lunch, I still had a bit of time before the show, so I headed into the Cadbury Store. I picked up a Roses Pick & Mix containing just strawberry and orange creams, as they're my absolute favourites! One of the best things about being able to choose your own chocolates is not having to buy a whole box just to get the ones you like. I then had a quick look around the M&S Outlet and The Works before making my way over to The Lowry. This time, I was sitting in the stalls in Row P, Seat 31, and I had a really good view of the stage. I really enjoyed the performance. It was lovely to see High School Musical on stage again, and I had a great afternoon at the theatre. After the show finished, I headed back to the tram stop and made my way home. 👉 You can read all about our Family trip to see High School Musical in our High School Musical family theatre review, or head over to All About Theatre for my full 5-star review of the production. 💍 Thursday – Finally Finishing Our Wedding Blog Post Thursday was another day spent blogging, but this time I was working on something a little different. I'd been writing a blog post looking back at mine and Lawrence's wedding, called Our Wedding Day 10 Years Later: Looking Back At Our 2016 Wedding. I'd originally hoped to have it finished and published before our tenth wedding anniversary in June, but we'd been so busy that I just hadn't managed to get it done. It's quite a big post, and there was a lot I wanted to include, so it ended up taking much longer than I'd originally expected. I spent most of Thursday finishing it off, and it felt really good to finally get it completed, even if it was a few months later than I'd planned! I've really enjoyed looking back at our wedding and remembering all the little details from the day, so I'm hoping to continue writing more posts for the wedding series. 🧁 Friday – Disney Video Editing, Cupcake Recipes & More Wedding Memories Friday was another day spent working on my blog and YouTube content. I started by editing one of my Disney Come Shop With Me videos, which I'd filmed during one of my recent shopping trips. I then wrote a new recipe blog post for the simple cupcake recipe we always use when making cupcakes at home. It's a recipe we've used lots of times over the years, so I thought it would be nice to finally share it on the blog. Once I'd finished that, I made a start on writing the next post in my wedding series. I didn't manage to finish it, but at least I've made a start. After taking so long to complete the first wedding post, I'm hoping I won't leave quite such a big gap before finishing the next one! 🏡 Saturday – Homework, House Jobs & Turning Red Saturday was a fairly quiet day at home. I started by helping Alice and Leo with their homework before getting on with a few jobs around the house. There wasn't anything particularly exciting planned, but sometimes it's nice to have a day where we can just get on with things at home. Later in the day, we settled down together to watch Turning Red on Disney+. It was a nice way to spend some time together before the children's bedtime. 🃏 Sunday – A Family Afternoon Playing UNO On Sunday, we decided to walk round to my parents' house for a family afternoon together. We'd planned to spend some time playing UNO, which is something we've all been enjoying recently. Mum had put out some snacks for us, which Alice and Leo were very happy about, especially the chocolate fingers! We ended up playing quite a few different versions of UNO, including UNO Flip Extreme, UNO No Mercy and the original UNO. It was a really fun afternoon, and we all had a great time playing together. It's funny how many different versions of UNO there are now. The original is still great, but some of the newer versions can get quite competitive! After we'd finished playing, Dad kindly gave us a lift home. Once we were back, it was time to make dinner, get Alice and Leo bathed and ready for bed, and prepare for another week of school. Lawrence and I then watched a bit of television before heading to bed ourselves. 💭 Final Thoughts It's been another lovely week, with a nice mixture of getting things done and spending time together. I really enjoyed our Trafford Centre day on Tuesday, especially having a look around the new Disney Store. It brought back lots of memories of when Alice and Leo were younger and we used to visit the Disney Store all the time. Wednesday's trip to see High School Musical was another highlight. I always enjoy going to the theatre, and it was nice to have a little afternoon out on my own. I'm also really pleased that I finally finished our wedding blog post. It's something I've wanted to share for a while, and although it took longer than planned, I'm happy to have it completed. We finished the week with a lovely afternoon playing UNO at Mum and Dad's, which was a nice way to spend time together before another busy school week. 🎥 Watch Weekly Vlog #469 If you'd like to see more from our week, you can watch Weekly Vlog #469. This week's vlog includes our Trafford Centre shopping trip, a look around the new Disney Store in Selfridges, my solo theatre trip to see High School Musical at The Lowry and our family afternoon playing UNO.

Our Trip To See King Lear At The Royal Exchange Theatre 🎭 On Thursday 8th October, Dad and I headed into Manchester for the press night of King Lear at the Royal Exchange Theatre. I was going into this production knowing very little about the story. Although I'd heard of King Lear, I'd never seen it performed before, and it had been quite a few years since I'd last been to see a Shakespeare play. The performance was due to begin at 7pm, so Dad and I decided to use the park and ride and catch the tram into Manchester. We got on the tram at around 6pm and travelled into the city centre, getting off at Market Street. From there, it was only about a two-minute walk to the Royal Exchange Theatre, and we arrived at approximately 6:25pm. Once inside, we headed straight to the box office to collect our press-night tickets. King Lear Programme & Mythic Reinvention Exhibition 📖 Unlike some of the larger theatres, the Royal Exchange doesn't usually have a merchandise stand selling souvenirs for its productions. However, there was an official King Lear programme available for £6. I always like to buy a programme when I visit the theatre, so after collecting our tickets, I went and purchased one. As we still had some time before the auditorium opened, Dad and I decided to have a look around the theatre's Mythic Reinvention exhibition. The exhibition is free to visit and features a collection of costumes from previous Royal Exchange Theatre productions. I found it really interesting seeing the costumes up close, particularly all the little details that you don't always notice when you're watching a performance. There were quite a few pieces on display, and unfortunately we didn't have enough time to see everything properly before the show. I'll definitely have to come back another day to have a look around the parts I missed. It was a lovely way to spend some time before the performance, and I think it's well worth having a look if you're visiting the Royal Exchange while the exhibition is running. Our Seats & View At The Royal Exchange Theatre 🎟️ At around 6:50pm, Dad and I headed into the auditorium through Door 4. For this performance, we were seated in Row B, Seats 34 and 35. Being in Row B meant we were sitting very close to the stage, which was lovely because we could really appreciate the actors' expressions and all the little details of the performance. Overall, I thought our view was good. However, one thing worth remembering about the Royal Exchange Theatre is that it's an in-the-round auditorium, meaning the audience sits around the stage rather than just in front of it. Because of this, there are occasions when an actor can be standing between you and the main action, temporarily blocking your view. We did experience this at times during King Lear, although it didn't spoil the performance for me. Personally, my favourite place to sit at the Royal Exchange is Row A of the First Gallery. I really like being slightly higher up because you get an excellent view of the whole stage, and you don't have actors standing directly in front of you. However, sitting close to the front definitely has its advantages too. You feel much more immersed in the story, especially during the more dramatic scenes, and it's lovely being able to see the performers so clearly. I think it really comes down to whether you prefer feeling close to the action or having a better overall view of everything happening across the stage. The performance began at 7pm. The Story & My Thoughts 👑 King Lear tells the story of an ageing king who decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. Before deciding how much each daughter should receive, Lear asks them to declare how much they love him. His two eldest daughters are happy to flatter him, but Cordelia refuses to exaggerate her feelings simply to please her father. Lear doesn't react particularly well to her honesty, and his decision sets off a chain of events that gradually tears his family apart. Alongside Lear's story is another family conflict involving the Earl of Gloucester and his two sons, Edgar and Edmund. As the different characters become caught up in betrayal, jealousy and struggles for power, things grow increasingly tragic. I don't want to go into too much more detail because there are some important developments that I wouldn't want to spoil for anyone unfamiliar with the play. As I'd never seen King Lear before, I was going into the production without really knowing what to expect. The opening was certainly quite different from what I had imagined. Rather than beginning in a traditional historical setting, the production opens with a modern party atmosphere, complete with karaoke. It was quite an unusual contrast hearing Shakespeare's original language spoken by characters in contemporary clothing and surroundings. I have to admit that I found this a little difficult to adjust to at first. It had been years since I'd watched Shakespeare performed, and I wasn't familiar with the story, so I was having to concentrate quite hard to follow the language and understand the different relationships. I also found the first act rather lengthy. There was a lot of information to take in, and although I could appreciate the performances and staging, I wasn't completely drawn into the story straight away. The first act lasted approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes, followed by a 20-minute interval. During the interval, I decided to have a little walk to stretch my legs. I also took the opportunity to have another look at some of the costumes in the Mythic Reinvention exhibition before heading back into the auditorium. Once I was back in my seat, Dad and I spent some time discussing the first act. It turned out that we both felt quite similarly about the production so far. We agreed that the first act had been rather slow and that it had taken us a little while to get into the story. Thankfully, I found the second act much more gripping. By this point, I was becoming more familiar with the characters and their relationships, and the consequences of their earlier decisions were beginning to unfold. The story became increasingly dramatic, with some genuinely shocking moments. There was one scene involving Gloucester that I found particularly disturbing. I won't spoil exactly what happens, but it certainly isn't something I'll forget in a hurry! I also found some of the later scenes surprisingly emotional. Although I'd struggled a little with the first act, by the end of the play I was completely absorbed in what was happening. The second act lasted approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes, with the performance finishing at around 10:12pm. That gave the play a total running time of approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes, including the interval. It was certainly a long performance, but I thought the second act was much stronger than the first. Set, Lighting, Sound & Performances 🎭 One of the things that impressed me most about King Lear was how visually striking the production was. The stage floor was dark, with large gold cracks running across it. I thought this was a really effective design, particularly as the cracks seemed to reflect the divisions developing between the characters and the breakdown of Lear's family. Suspended above the stage were long metal chain curtains, which could be raised and lowered throughout the performance. These were used to create different spaces and dramatically change the appearance of the stage without needing lots of traditional scenery. I loved how effectively they worked within the Royal Exchange's in-the-round setting. The lighting, designed by Lucy Carter, was equally impressive. Different colours and intensities helped create the atmosphere, particularly as the story became darker and more dramatic. However, my favourite visual moment was definitely the storm sequence. With real rain falling onto the stage, accompanied by thunder and dramatic lighting, it looked absolutely spectacular. Sitting so close to the stage made the scene feel even more intense, and I thought it was one of the most memorable moments of the entire production. The costumes were contemporary rather than traditional Shakespearean clothing, which worked well with the modern setting. I also liked how Lear's appearance changed throughout the play. He began looking smart and authoritative, but as his situation deteriorated, his clothing and overall appearance became increasingly dishevelled. It was a simple but effective way of showing how much his circumstances had changed. The original music by Nadine Shah and sound design by Holly Khan also played an important part in creating the atmosphere. As for the performances, I thought the entire cast were excellent. David Threlfall was outstanding as King Lear. At the beginning, Lear is proud, demanding and not particularly likeable, but as the story progresses, Threlfall gradually reveals a much more vulnerable side to the character. There were moments when I found myself genuinely feeling sorry for him, despite some of the terrible decisions he'd made earlier in the play. Threlfall's performance was incredibly powerful, particularly during the more emotional scenes towards the end. Jonathan Slinger was another standout for me as the Earl of Gloucester. His storyline contains some of the play's most disturbing moments, and I thought he portrayed Gloucester's suffering brilliantly. Tom Varey and Paddy Stafford were also excellent as Gloucester's sons, Edgar and Edmund, whose very different personalities and decisions play such an important part in the story. Nadine Shah, Lisa Diveney and Isobel Akuwudike gave strong performances as Lear's three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. I particularly liked how different the sisters were, both in their personalities and in the way they responded to their father. Jason Done also gave a memorable performance as Kent, one of the characters who remains loyal to Lear despite everything that happens. There really were some fantastic performances throughout the production. If you'd like to read more about the production itself, you can also read my more theatre-focused four-star review over on All About Theatre. King Lear Press Night Celebrations 🥂 As this was the official press night, Dad and I had been invited to stay for the opening night celebrations after the performance. Once the play had finished, we headed out to join the other guests. There was a selection of food available, along with glasses of prosecco, so Dad and I joined the queue to see what was on offer. There were several different types of mini quiches, vegetarian and vegan wraps, gluten-free sandwiches, honey mustard glazed cocktail sausages and a selection of fresh fruit. As I'm quite a fussy eater, there wasn't a huge amount that appealed to me, so I decided to have some cocktail sausages and grapes. Dad, on the other hand, tried a little bit of everything! There were also glasses of prosecco available, so Dad had one of those. I don't drink alcohol, so I went and bought myself a Diet Coke instead. Once we'd sorted our food and drinks, we managed to find a table where we could sit down and chat about the play. Dad agreed with me that the first act had been a little slow, but we'd both enjoyed the second act much more. We also agreed that the performances were excellent and that the staging, particularly the storm sequence, had been incredibly impressive. It was nice to have the opportunity to sit and discuss everything afterwards rather than having to rush straight out of the theatre. Although it was getting quite late by this point, I'm glad we stayed for the celebrations. The Journey Home 🚋 After we'd finished eating, Dad and I decided it was time to head home. We left the Royal Exchange and walked over to Piccadilly Gardens to catch the tram. Our tram arrived at approximately 10:55pm, so thankfully we didn't have too long to wait. Once we reached the park and ride, we got back into the car and Dad drove me home. I arrived back at around 11:20pm. It had been quite a long evening, especially with the three-hour performance and the celebrations afterwards, but I'd really enjoyed spending the evening with Dad. Final Thoughts On King Lear At The Royal Exchange Theatre ✨ Overall, I really enjoyed my visit to see King Lear at the Royal Exchange Theatre, although I did find it took me a little while to settle into the production. As someone who wasn't familiar with the story and hadn't seen Shakespeare performed for years, I initially struggled with the combination of Shakespearean language and the contemporary setting. I also thought the first act was a little slow. However, the second act was a completely different experience for me. Once I was more familiar with the characters, I became much more involved in the story, and some of the later scenes were both genuinely shocking and surprisingly moving. David Threlfall was outstanding as Lear, while Jonathan Slinger was another particular highlight as Gloucester. I was also incredibly impressed by the staging. The gold cracks across the floor, hanging chain curtains and dramatic lighting created some beautiful theatrical moments, while the storm scene with real rain was absolutely spectacular. Dad agreed with me about the production too. We'd both found the first act quite slow, but thought the second act was much more gripping. We also agreed that the cast were excellent and that the staging was one of the biggest highlights of the evening. I also really enjoyed the rest of our evening at the Royal Exchange. Having the opportunity to look around the Mythic Reinvention exhibition before the show was a lovely bonus, and it was nice to stay for the press night celebrations afterwards. Most importantly, it was lovely to spend the evening with Dad. Although King Lear isn't the easiest play to follow if you're unfamiliar with Shakespeare, I'm really pleased I had the opportunity to see this production. A powerful and visually spectacular evening at the theatre, with outstanding performances and some genuinely unforgettable moments. More Information About King Lear At The Royal Exchange Theatre 📍 King Lear is playing at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester until Sunday 15th November 2026. Tickets are available through the Royal Exchange Theatre website, where you can check current performance times, prices and availability. The performance we attended lasted approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes, including a 20-minute interval. The Royal Exchange Theatre is located in St Ann's Square in Manchester city centre and is easily accessible by public transport. We travelled by tram and got off at Market Street, which was only around a two-minute walk from the theatre. One thing worth remembering when booking tickets is that the theatre has an in-the-round auditorium. Personally, I love sitting in Row A of the First Gallery because you get an excellent overall view of the stage, but sitting in the lower rows allows you to feel much closer to the action. There was also an official King Lear programme available for £6 during our visit. If you're visiting the theatre, I'd recommend allowing some extra time to explore the free Mythic Reinvention costume exhibition, if it's still running when you attend. For more detailed thoughts about the performances and production, you can read my King Lear review on All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch Our King Lear Theatre Trip In The Weekly Vlog Our trip to see King Lear at the Royal Exchange Theatre will also feature in my weekly vlog. You'll be able to see more from our evening, including our visit to the theatre, the Mythic Reinvention exhibition, our seats and view of the stage, and the press night celebrations. I'll add the vlog here once it's available. King Lear At The Royal Exchange Theatre – At A Glance 🎭 📍 Venue: Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann's Square, Manchester, M2 7DH 📅 Manchester Run: 2nd October – 15th November 2026 🎭 Genre: Shakespearean Tragedy / Drama 👑 Starring: David Threlfall as King Lear 🎬 Adapted & Directed By: Matthew Dunster ⏱️ Our Performance Runtime: Approximately 3 hours 12 minutes including interval ☕ Interval: Approximately 20 minutes 💺 Our Seats: Row B, Seats 34 & 35, entering through Door 4 👀 Seat View: Good view close to the stage, although actors occasionally blocked parts of the action because of the in-the-round staging 💡 My Favourite Seating Area: Row A of the First Gallery, which offers an excellent overall view of the stage 📖 Programme Available: Yes – £6 🛍️ Merchandise Available: No production merchandise was available during our visit, apart from the programme 🚋 Getting There: Market Street Metrolink stop, approximately a two-minute walk from the theatre at our pace 🚗 Park & Ride: We used the tram park and ride to travel into Manchester 🎟️ Booking: Tickets and performance information are available through the Royal Exchange Theatre website Our tickets for this performance were kindly provided for review purposes. We were also invited to attend the press night celebrations. All opinions are my own.

My Trip to See Little Shop of Horrors at Hope Mill Theatre 🌱 On Wednesday 7th October, I headed into Manchester for the press matinee of Little Shop of Horrors at Hope Mill Theatre. I've always loved Little Shop of Horrors. It combines science fiction, horror, comedy and musical theatre, which are all things I enjoy, and it has an absolutely fantastic score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, the songwriting partnership behind so many of my favourite Disney songs. I was really looking forward to seeing this new production, especially in such an intimate theatre. There were two press performances taking place that day, but I decided to attend the 2:30pm matinee. Although I enjoy evening theatre trips, afternoon performances are often much easier to fit around family life, particularly when I need to get home to the children. Getting to Hope Mill Theatre by Tram 🚋 I set off at around 1pm and caught the tram towards Manchester. Usually, when I visit Hope Mill Theatre, I have to change trams along the way. However, because there was a concert taking place at Co-op Live, the trams were running through towards the Etihad Campus. This worked out brilliantly for me because it meant I didn't have to change trams at all. I was able to stay on until New Islington, which is the closest Metrolink stop to Hope Mill Theatre. I got off the tram at approximately 1:30pm and made my way towards the theatre. Even walking quite slowly, it only took me about five minutes, and I arrived at around 1:35pm. Considering the performance wasn't due to start until 2:30pm, I had managed to arrive with almost an hour to spare! Once inside, I went over to the desk and gave my name. The lady checked the list and told me that I would be sitting in Row F, Seat 9. She also explained that our programmes would be waiting on our seats when we entered the auditorium and that drinks were available inside. As I'd arrived so early, there were plenty of tables available, so I decided to have a look around before finding somewhere to sit. Little Shop of Horrors Merchandise 🛍️ Of course, one of the first things I did was investigate the merchandise! There was actually quite a nice selection of Little Shop of Horrors souvenirs available. The prices displayed were: 📖 Brochure – £7 👕 Hoodie – £65 👕 T-Shirt – £32 🧢 Cap – £20 👜 Tote Bag – £18 🎭 Badge Set – £15 📓 Notebook – £12 ✏️ Pencil – £3.50 There were six different pencils available. One featured the Little Shop of Horrors title, while the other five had the names of characters from the musical. I asked how much it would cost to buy the complete set and was told £15.50, although this wasn't mentioned on the price list. I was tempted to buy all six, but in the end I decided to just get the one with the Little Shop of Horrors title on it for £3.50. I always enjoy picking up a little souvenir from the shows I see, and I thought the pencil was a nice inexpensive option. Audrey II Decorations, Photos & Drinks 🌱 After looking at the merchandise, I spotted a large Little Shop of Horrors promotional board. Naturally, I had to stop and take a selfie! The board featured a huge illustration of Audrey II, complete with its enormous mouth and sharp teeth, so it made a great backdrop for a photo. I also loved the little Audrey II-inspired decorations on the tables. Each table had a display featuring a miniature carnivorous plant surrounded by flowers. The one near me had several little green mouths, orange flowers and purple foliage. They were such a fun detail and made the bar area feel part of the production. After taking my photos, I went over to the bar and bought half a pint of Diet Coke for £2.65. I then found myself a table and settled down to wait. I'd planned to use the time to upload a few Instagram Stories, but unfortunately I couldn't get any phone signal, and there didn't seem to be any Wi-Fi available. Instead, I ended up playing a few games on my phone. After a little while, I noticed a table towards the back of the room with complimentary drinks available for the press. I hadn't spotted it when I first arrived! I went over and chose a bottle of Fentimans Mandarin and Seville Orange Jigger before returning to my table. With my drink sorted, I carried on playing games until it was time to go into the auditorium. My Seat & View at Hope Mill Theatre 🎟️ The auditorium opened at 2:29pm, just a minute before the advertised performance time. I made my way inside and found my seat in Row F, Seat 9, where my complimentary programme was waiting for me. I was really pleased with the view. Hope Mill Theatre is quite a small, intimate venue, which means you feel much closer to the stage than you would in a larger theatre. The seating is also nicely raked, so the rows rise as you move further back, helping to give a clear view of the stage. From Row F, I had an excellent, unobstructed view of the entire stage. I could see all the details of the set, including the huge illuminated SKID ROW letters and Mushnik's flower shop, which had been cleverly incorporated into the design. Although I haven't sat in every part of Hope Mill Theatre, I imagine most seats would offer a good view because of the intimate layout and the rake of the seating. I would certainly be happy to sit in Row F again. The performance was scheduled to begin at 2:30pm but started five minutes late, at approximately 2:35pm. Act One lasted around 65 minutes, followed by a 20-minute interval. I stayed in my seat during the interval and spent the time reading through my programme. Act Two was considerably shorter, lasting approximately 35 minutes, with the performance finishing at around 4:40pm. That gave the show a total running time of approximately 2 hours 5 minutes including the interval, excluding the five-minute delay at the start. The Story & My Thoughts 🌱 Little Shop of Horrors follows Seymour Krelborn, a shy and rather awkward young man who works in Mushnik's struggling flower shop in the rundown neighbourhood of Skid Row. Seymour dreams of escaping his miserable surroundings and finding happiness with his colleague Audrey, whom he has secretly fallen in love with. Unfortunately, Audrey is in a relationship with Orin Scrivello, a rather unpleasant dentist with a particularly sadistic streak. When Seymour discovers a strange and unusual plant, which he names Audrey II after the woman he loves, things begin to change. The plant attracts attention, bringing customers into the previously failing flower shop and offering Seymour the possibility of fame, fortune and a better life. There is just one rather disturbing problem. Audrey II doesn't survive on water and sunlight. Instead, it has developed an appetite for human blood! As the plant grows, so does its hunger, and Seymour soon finds himself facing some increasingly difficult decisions. I don't want to give too much more away for anyone who hasn't seen the musical before, but it's a wonderfully ridiculous story that combines dark comedy, science fiction and some surprisingly touching moments. I've seen Little Shop of Horrors before and already knew the story, so I wasn't going into this production expecting any surprises in that respect. What I was particularly looking forward to was seeing how the creative team would bring the musical to life in such a small theatre. I'm delighted to say that I absolutely loved it. From the opening number, I was reminded exactly why this musical has been one of my favourites for so many years. The production is full of energy, the comedy works brilliantly, and there are some lovely emotional moments amongst all the madness. Set, Lighting, Puppetry & Music 🎶 One of the things that impressed me most was how much the production managed to achieve within the relatively small performance space. The set, designed by Morgan Large, is fantastic. Huge illuminated SKID ROW letters dominate the stage, with Mushnik's flower shop cleverly positioned amongst them. I loved the contrast between the bold, colourful exterior and the more traditional interior of the shop, with its shelves, plants, counter and vintage furnishings. Everything had been designed to make the most of the available space, and I never felt as though the stage was too small for what was happening. The lighting was equally impressive. The illuminated lettering changed colour throughout the performance, while blues, greens and warmer lighting helped create the different moods and locations. There were also lighting strips extending above the stage, which made the whole setting feel much larger. And then, of course, there was Audrey II. The different versions of the plant were incredibly impressive, growing from a small, rather unusual specimen into an enormous creature that eventually dominated the flower shop. The larger puppets were particularly detailed, with huge mouths, twisting foliage and lots of movement. I thought the puppeteers did a fantastic job of making Audrey II feel like a character in its own right. As impressive as the puppetry was, though, the music was what really made this production special for me. There are so many brilliant songs in Little Shop of Horrors, including Somewhere That's Green, Dentist!, Suddenly Seymour and Feed Me. Hearing them performed by such a talented company in the intimate surroundings of Hope Mill Theatre was an absolute treat. The vocals throughout were fantastic, and I loved how clearly you could hear the performers and the music. The Cast 🌟 I thought the entire cast were wonderful, but my two biggest highlights were definitely Jed Berry as Seymour and Maisie Smith as Audrey. Jed Berry was absolutely brilliant as Seymour. He captured the character's shy, awkward personality perfectly, making him incredibly likeable even when he started making some rather questionable decisions. He also has a fantastic voice, and I particularly enjoyed his more emotional moments. Maisie Smith was equally impressive as Audrey. She brought a lovely warmth and vulnerability to the character, along with plenty of humour. Her performance of Somewhere That's Green was particularly touching. But what I loved most was the chemistry between Jed and Maisie. They worked so naturally together, and their performance of Suddenly Seymour was one of my favourite moments of the afternoon. Michael Starke was excellent as Mr Mushnik, bringing lots of personality and humour to the role. Benjamin Yates was absolutely hilarious as Orin, the sadistic dentist. His performance was wonderfully over-the-top, and Dentist! was another highlight. Rio Maye, Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid and Gabrielle Davina Smith were fantastic as Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette. Their harmonies were incredible, and they brought so much energy and personality to the musical numbers. Marcus Ayton also deserves a special mention for providing the magnificent voice of Audrey II. His powerful vocals gave the plant so much character. The puppeteers, Christopher Dobson, Julia Frost and Imogen Khan, were equally impressive, bringing Audrey II to life with some remarkable movements. There really wasn't a weak performance in the company. Everyone worked brilliantly together, and the musical numbers were an absolute joy to watch. If you'd like to read more about the production itself, you can also read my more theatre-focused five-star review over on All About Theatre. The Journey Home 🚋 Once the performance finished at around 4:40pm, I made my way out of Hope Mill Theatre and headed back towards New Islington tram stop. As I'd chosen the matinee specifically so I could get home to the children at a reasonable time, I didn't hang around afterwards. Thankfully, the journey home went smoothly, and I arrived back at around 5:50pm. It was lovely to be able to enjoy an afternoon at the theatre without having to worry about getting home late. Final Thoughts 🌱 I had a fantastic afternoon seeing Little Shop of Horrors at Hope Mill Theatre. I've loved this musical for years, so I went into the performance with high expectations, and I'm delighted to say that it certainly lived up to them. The intimate venue worked brilliantly for the production, allowing me to appreciate all the little details of the set, lighting and performances. The Audrey II puppetry was incredibly impressive, and the whole cast were fantastic. Jed Berry and Maisie Smith were particular highlights for me. Their chemistry was wonderful, and I absolutely loved hearing them perform Suddenly Seymour. But more than anything, it was the music that made the afternoon so special. Hearing such a fantastic score performed so beautifully by such a talented company was an absolute treat. I also really enjoyed the little touches around the theatre, from the Audrey II table decorations to the photo opportunity and the selection of merchandise. It all made the visit feel like a lovely afternoon out rather than simply arriving, watching the show and going home. A wonderfully entertaining afternoon filled with fantastic music, brilliant performances and one very hungry plant! More Information About Little Shop of Horrors at Hope Mill Theatre 📍 Little Shop of Horrors is playing at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 28th November 2026. Tickets are available through the Hope Mill Theatre website, where you can check current performance times and availability. Ticket prices vary depending on the performance and seating block, with prices I found starting from £34.50, plus a £1.50 booking fee per order. After Manchester, the production transfers to Liverpool Playhouse, running from 3rd December 2026 to 9th January 2027. Tickets are available through the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse website where you can check current performance times and availability. Hope Mill Theatre is a small, intimate venue, and the nearest Metrolink stop is New Islington, which was approximately a five-minute walk from the theatre at my pace. The performance I attended lasted around 2 hours 5 minutes including a 20-minute interval. 🎥 Watch My Little Shop of Horrors Theatre Trip I also filmed some clips from my visit to Hope Mill Theatre, including the merchandise, decorations and my view of the stage. I'll add the video here once it's available. At a Glance 📍 Venue: Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard Street, Manchester, M4 7JB 📅 Manchester Run: 25th September – 28th November 2026 🎭 Genre: Comedy Horror Musical ⏱️ Runtime: Approximately 2 hours 5 minutes including interval ☕ Interval: Approximately 20 minutes 🎟️ Ticket Prices: From £34.50, plus a £1.50 booking fee per order. Prices vary by performance and seating block 🎟️ Tickets: Hope Mill Theatre 💺 My Seat: Row F, Seat 9 👀 Seat View: Excellent clear view of the whole stage. The auditorium is intimate and the seating is well raked 📖 Programme Available: Yes, brochure priced at £7. 🛍️ Merchandise Available: Hoodies, T-shirts, caps, tote bags, badge sets, notebooks, brochures and pencils 🚋 Nearest Tram Stop: New Islington Metrolink 🚶 Walk From Tram Stop: Approximately 5 minutes 🎭 Liverpool Transfer: 3rd December 2026 – 9th January 2027 at Liverpool Playhouse 🎟️ Tickets: Liverpool Playhouse My ticket and programme were kindly provided for review purposes, along with a complimentary press drink. All opinions are my own.

Our Trip To See The Silence Of The Lambs At The Lowry 🐑 On Tuesday 6th October, Lawrence and I headed to The Lowry for the press night of The Silence of the Lambs. I had seen the 1991 film before, although it had been a very long time since I'd watched it. I remembered Hannibal Lecter, Clarice Starling and Buffalo Bill, along with some of the most famous moments, but I couldn't remember all the details of the story. The performance was due to begin at 7:30pm, so Dad picked the children up and then dropped Lawrence and me off opposite the Imperial War Museum North. From there, we walked across the bridge towards The Lowry, arriving at around 7:05pm. Once inside, we headed to the press desk in The Lowry bar, where we collected our programme and an envelope containing our tickets and wristbands for drinks during the interval. After collecting everything, we stopped to take some photos in front of the large The Silence of the Lambs production poster. We then went to have a look to see if there was any merchandise available for the show. The Silence Of The Lambs Programme & Merchandise 📖 There wasn't a merchandise stand filled with souvenirs for The Silence of the Lambs. The only item we could find available to buy was the official programme, which cost £6. We had already been given a programme when we collected our press-night tickets, so there wasn't anything else for us to buy this time. With our photos taken and programme collected, we headed into the Lyric Theatre to find our seats. Our Seats & View At The Lowry 🎟️ For this performance, Lawrence and I were seated in Stalls Row M, Seats 32 and 33, entering the auditorium through Door B. The seats are towards the side of the auditorium, so we had a slightly side-on view of the stage. However, there weren't any parts of the production that we couldn't see and, overall, I thought they were good seats. There was one issue with my original seat, though. I initially sat in Seat 32, which was two rows behind one of the wheelchair spaces. On the night we attended, the wheelchair being used in that space was quite large and sat considerably higher than the regular theatre seats. As I'm only 5ft 2in, I couldn't see over it and quite a large part of my view was blocked. Luckily, Lawrence is much taller than me, so we swapped seats. I moved across to Seat 33, where my view was fine, while Lawrence was able to see perfectly well from Seat 32. I wouldn't necessarily avoid Seat 32 because of this. The view would depend on the setup in the wheelchair space ahead and Lawrence had no problem seeing from the seat. However, if you're short like me, it is something worth being aware of. Once I'd moved into Seat 33, I had a clear view of everything happening on stage and didn't feel that the side-on position caused us to miss anything. I would happily sit in this area again. The performance was scheduled to begin at 7:30pm, although I think it actually started a few minutes late at around 7:35pm. Act One lasted approximately 65 minutes, followed by an interval of around 20 minutes. The second act lasted approximately 60 minutes, with the performance finishing at around 9:55pm. The Story & My Thoughts 🐑 The Silence of the Lambs follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who is sent to interview imprisoned psychiatrist and serial killer Dr Hannibal Lecter. The FBI is trying to catch another serial killer, known as Buffalo Bill, who has been abducting and murdering young women. They hope Lecter's understanding of criminal behaviour may help them identify the killer before he claims another victim. But Hannibal isn't prepared to simply give Clarice the answers she needs. Instead, their conversations become a psychological game, with Lecter offering clues in exchange for increasingly personal information about Clarice and her past. Meanwhile, Buffalo Bill has abducted his latest victim, Catherine Martin, and the race is on to find her before it is too late. I don't want to go into too much more detail because it would be very easy to give away parts of the story for anyone who hasn't seen the film or read Thomas Harris' novel. Despite having seen the film, I quickly realised that I couldn't remember nearly as much of the story as I thought I could. This actually worked in my favour because I became completely caught up in Clarice's investigation. Rather than waiting for scenes I remembered from the film, there were plenty of moments when I genuinely wasn't sure what was going to happen next. During the interval, Lawrence and I headed back to the main bar and into the press area. We both chose an orange juice and found somewhere to sit while we compared notes on what we'd thought so far. We had both really enjoyed the first act and were looking forward to the second. I remained just as gripped after the interval. As Clarice gets closer to finding Buffalo Bill, the tension continues to build and the different parts of the story begin to come together. By the end, I had been completely gripped from start to finish. Set, Lighting, Sound & Performances 🎭 I was really impressed by how well The Silence of the Lambs worked on stage. The set is huge and imposing, with stone walls, different levels, staircases and corridors creating a suitably dark setting for the story. One of my favourite parts of the design was Hannibal Lecter's transparent cell. It moves around the stage as the story changes location, and the transparent walls mean you can watch both Hannibal and Clarice during their conversations even though the cell physically separates them. I also loved how slick the scene changes were. Rather than stopping everything while scenery and props are moved around, the changes become part of the action. At times, the way the cast and scenery move around the stage feels almost choreographed, and it keeps the story flowing really well. The lighting and projections add even more to the atmosphere, with the stage changing from cold greys and blues to much more intense reds and greens. Sound is also used really effectively to build tension, and there are several sudden loud noises and gunshots along the way. A few of them definitely made me jump! Mollie Gallagher and John Partridge were my two favourite performances of the evening. Mollie Gallagher plays Clarice Starling in what is her professional stage debut, and I thought she was excellent. She gives Clarice plenty of determination while still showing her more vulnerable side, and she confidently leads the production. John Partridge takes on the iconic role of Hannibal Lecter. I think one of the biggest challenges with this character is that so many people immediately associate Hannibal with Anthony Hopkins, but I never felt as though Partridge was simply trying to copy what had been done before. He makes the role his own and is incredibly captivating to watch. Even when Hannibal is confined within his glass cell, he has a strong presence on stage, and his scenes with Mollie Gallagher were some of my favourites. Sam Jackson is also excellent as Buffalo Bill, switching between appearing relatively ordinary and becoming much more disturbing. Lottie Amor gives a very strong performance as Catherine Martin, making her fear and desperation feel believable, while Oliver Farnworth provides strong support as FBI Agent Jack Crawford. Jo Mousley, Jonny Magnanti, Andrew Joshi and Mark Peachey take on numerous other characters throughout the production and also help make those incredibly slick transitions between scenes work so well. If you'd like to read more about the production itself, you can also read my more theatre-focused five-star review over on All About Theatre. The Journey Home 🚗 Once the performance finished at around 9:55pm, Lawrence and I made our way out of The Lowry and walked back across the bridge towards the Imperial War Museum North. Dad was picking us up from the same place where he'd dropped us off earlier in the evening, so we waited there for him to arrive. While we waited, Lawrence and I carried on talking about the show and what we'd thought of it. We had both really enjoyed it, so there was plenty to discuss while we waited for Dad. Once he arrived, he drove us home, bringing another theatre trip to an end. Final Thoughts On The Silence Of The Lambs At The Lowry ✨ Overall, Lawrence and I both really enjoyed The Silence of the Lambs at The Lowry. I wasn't sure how a story so closely associated with an iconic film would work on stage, but I thought this production worked incredibly well in its own right. For me, Mollie Gallagher and John Partridge were particular highlights. Gallagher is excellent as Clarice, while Partridge manages to take such a well-known character as Hannibal Lecter and make the role his own. I was also really impressed by the way the production looked. Hannibal's glass cell, the imposing set, lighting, projections and incredibly slick scene changes all help create a dark and atmospheric world. But most importantly, I was completely caught up in the story. It turns out that having forgotten quite a lot of the film wasn't a bad thing after all! Dark, atmospheric and utterly gripping – The Silence of the Lambs had me hooked from start to finish. More Information About The Silence Of The Lambs At The Lowry 📍 The Silence of the Lambs is playing in the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry, Salford, until Saturday 10th October 2026. Tickets for The Silence of the Lambs at The Lowry are available through The Lowry website, where you can also check the remaining performance times and current availability. After Salford, The Silence of the Lambs continues its UK and Ireland tour, with further performances currently scheduled into 2027. You can find the remaining tour dates on the show's official website. The production has an advertised running time of approximately 2 hours 15 minutes including the interval and an age recommendation of 15+. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The show contains disturbing scenes involving threats, violence and murder, very strong language, depictions of human remains, sexual references, sexual harassment and violence. It also uses flashing lights, haze and loud noises, including gunshots. If you'd like to read my more theatre-focused review of the production, you can also read my five-star review of The Silence of the Lambs on All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch Our Theatre Trip In The Weekly Vlog Our trip to see The Silence of the Lambs at The Lowry will also feature in my weekly vlog. You'll be able to see more from our evening, including our trip to The Lowry, the production poster and our view from Stalls Row M. I'll add the vlog here once it goes live. The Silence Of The Lambs At The Lowry – At A Glance 🎭 📍 Venue: The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ 🎭 Theatre: Lyric Theatre 📅 Lowry Run: Tuesday 6th – Saturday 10th October 2026 ⏱️ Advertised Runtime: Approx. 2 hours 15 minutes including interval ☕ Interval: Approx. 20 minutes 👤 Age Guidance: 15+. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult 🎭 Genre: Psychological Thriller / Drama ⚠️ Content Guidance: Disturbing scenes involving threats, violence and murder, very strong language, depictions of human remains, sexual references, sexual harassment and violence, flashing lights, haze and loud noises including gunshots 💺 Our Seats: Lyric Theatre Stalls, Row M, Seats 32 & 33 👀 Seat View: Side-on but with a clear view of the production from Seat 33. My original view from Seat 32 was affected by the wheelchair space ahead on the night we attended, although Lawrence, who is much taller than me, could see from the seat without a problem 📖 Programme Available: Yes – £6 🛍️ Merchandise Available: We only saw the official programme available to buy during our visit 🚋 Getting There: The Lowry is in Salford Quays and can be reached by tram, bus or car 🚊 Closest Tram Stops: MediaCityUK and Imperial War Museum ♿ Accessible Performances: BSL-interpreted performance on Thursday 8th October at 7:30pm and an Audio Described performance with Touch Tour on Friday 9th October 🌍 Further Tour Dates: The Silence of the Lambs continues touring the UK and Ireland after Salford, with dates currently scheduled into 2027 🎟️ Booking: Tickets for the remaining Salford performances are available through The Lowry website 🌐 Official Website: Visit the official The Silence of the Lambs website for production information and remaining UK and Ireland tour dates Our tickets for this performance were kindly gifted for review purposes. All opinions are my own. Watch The Trailer

Family Weekly Update This week's Family Weekly Update covers 7th–13th September 2026, and after the excitement of going back to school the previous week, we were starting to settle back into our usual routine. There were a couple of trips to the Trafford Centre this week, including an early birthday lunch for Dad and a day out with Lawrence while the children were at school. Back at home, I spent more time working on my drawings and experimenting with turning some of my designs into mugs using sublimation. There was also a big first for Alice this week, a book I'd been trying to find finally turned up in a rather unexpected place, and we finished the week with a quiet movie day at home. Here's what we got up to. 💻 Monday – Vlog Editing & Blogging Monday was another day spent working at my computer. I spent most of the day editing one of my weekly vlogs and writing the Family Weekly Update blog post to go alongside it. I managed to get quite a bit done, so by the end of the day I had another vlog edited and its Family Weekly Update written too. 🍕 Tuesday – An Early Birthday Lunch For Dad It was my dad's birthday on Wednesday, so on Tuesday I took him out for an early birthday lunch. Mum came along with us too, and Dad drove us over to the Trafford Centre, where we'd decided to have lunch at Pesto. We ordered from the lunchtime menu, where you can choose three dishes for £13.99. I'm very much a creature of habit when it comes to Pesto, so there wasn't much deliberating over what I was going to order! I went for exactly what I normally have – pepperoni pizza, chicken wings and the spicy Italian sausage with potatoes and peppers, along with a Diet Coke. After we'd eaten, I had a quick look in the Haribo shop and picked up a pack of Strawberry Softies and some Balla Zing Stixx before we headed home. It was a lovely little early birthday lunch for Dad. 🎨 Wednesday – House Jobs & Drawing Wednesday was Dad's actual birthday, but we'd already had our birthday lunch together the day before. I had a much quieter day at home, getting on with some jobs around the house before spending some time drawing on my iPad. I've been doing lots of drawing recently, and I'm really enjoying seeing my collection of designs gradually grow. 🏊‍♀️ Thursday – Alice's First School Swimming Lesson Thursday was a big day for Alice because she had her first school swimming lesson. I'd been asked to go along for the first session just to make sure she was okay and could cope with everything. Thankfully, I didn't need to worry. She was absolutely fine, her friends helped her and she ended up having the best time. By the time I got home afterwards, I only had about half an hour before I needed to head back out again to collect Alice and Leo from school! Alice was quite tired when she got home after swimming, so we had a quiet afternoon and watched Zootropolis 2 together while I did a little more drawing on my iPad. Leo didn't fancy watching the movie with us, so he went upstairs and played on his tablet for a little while instead. 🛍️ Friday – The Gruffalo Granny, TGI Fridays & A Trafford Centre Day Lawrence was off work on Friday, so with Alice and Leo at school, we decided to have a day out together at the Trafford Centre. We got the bus and headed to ASDA first because I wanted to see if they had the new The Gruffalo Granny book. I looked where all the other books were and couldn't find it, so I assumed they didn't have any. Then, completely randomly, I spotted copies sitting on the floor down another aisle! I'm not quite sure why they were there, but at least I'd found them. We then had a quick look at the children's clothes, although we didn't see anything else we wanted to buy. We did pick up a couple of bags of onion ring crisps because they're Alice's favourite at the moment. After ASDA, we headed over to the Trafford Centre for lunch at TGI Fridays. We ordered from the lunch menu, which included an appetiser, main course and drink for £12.50. Lawrence and I both chose the Cheese & Bacon Loaded Chicken Bites for our appetisers. Lawrence had the Crispy Chicken Fingers for his main, while I paid an extra £8 to upgrade mine to a rump steak. We both had Diet Coke to drink. The food was delicious, and it was lovely to have a nice lunch out together while the children were at school. After lunch, we walked across the bridge to Trafford Palazzo, where we stopped to have a look at Gaia. Gaia was a huge seven-metre replica of the Earth by artist Luke Jerram, created using detailed NASA imagery. It was suspended inside Trafford Palazzo and glowed above us, so it was pretty impressive to see it in person. We then headed into Primark, where I had a look at all the latest Disney products and filmed a new Disney Come Shop With Me video for YouTube. We did actually end up buying something too – a couple of cardigans for Alice. After Primark, we had a look around Primark Home before getting the bus back home in time to collect Alice and Leo from school. It was quite a busy day, but we'd managed to fit a surprising amount in before the school run! ☕ Saturday – Making More Sublimation Mugs Saturday started with me helping Alice and Leo with their homework before I went back to working on some of my drawings. I've been creating repeatable patterns from some of my Procreate designs, and I wanted to see how they would look on mugs. Once I'd finished the patterns, I transferred them onto my computer, added them to my mug wrap template and printed them using my sublimation printer. I cut out the mug wraps, wrapped them tightly around the sublimation mugs and added a mug wrap to hold everything in place. Then it was time for another attempt at sublimation with my dedicated craft air fryer. I put the mugs into the air fryer at 200°C for eight minutes, turning them after four minutes. I was really happy with how the actual designs looked once they were transferred onto the mugs. Seeing patterns I'd drawn myself in Procreate wrapped around a real mug is still really exciting. The sublimation itself wasn't quite perfect, though. There was some blurring on parts of the design and a little fading around the handle, neither of which I'd had on my previous attempt. I'm wondering whether I moved the sublimation paper slightly when I turned the mugs halfway through, which could explain the blurring. I'm also not sure whether the paper was completely flat around the handle, which could have caused the fading in that area. So although I'm really happy with the designs themselves, I definitely need to do a few more tests and keep adjusting my method until I can get consistently good results. It's all part of learning, though, and every mug is helping me work out what I need to change for the next one. 🎬 Sunday – Matching Pairs & A Monsters Movie Day Lawrence was working on Sunday, so Alice, Leo and I had another quiet day at home. We played Matching Pairs together before settling down for a bit of a Monsters movie day. We watched Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University, while I also spent some time working on more drawings on my iPad. It was a nice, relaxed way to finish the week before getting everything ready for another Monday morning and another week of school. 💭 Final Thoughts This week felt like we were properly getting back into our normal school-term routine. It was lovely to take Dad out for his birthday lunch, and I was really pleased that Alice enjoyed her first swimming lesson so much. I think I was probably more worried about how she'd cope with it than she was! Lawrence and I also had a lovely day together on Friday. We managed to find The Gruffalo Granny, have a really nice lunch at TGI Fridays, browse Primark and Primark Home and even get home in time for the school run. I've also become slightly obsessed with trying to perfect my sublimation mugs! I'm really pleased with how my drawings and repeat patterns look once they're actually on the mugs, so now I just need to work out exactly what is causing the occasional blur and fading. Hopefully a few more experiments will get me there. It was a nice mix of family time, getting back into the school routine and finding a little time for some of my own creative projects too. 🎥 Watch Weekly Vlog #469 If you'd like to see more from our week, you can watch Weekly Vlog #469. This week's vlog includes my early birthday lunch with Dad, our Trafford Centre day out and my latest attempt at sublimating mugs using an air fryer.

Looking for a fun and easy Halloween food idea that kids will actually eat? These Mummy Hot Dogs are perfect for Halloween parties, buffets or a fun Halloween tea. Made with hot dogs wrapped in strips of ready-rolled puff pastry, they're baked until golden before adding edible candy eyes to turn them into little mummies. We use a tiny bit of cream cheese to stick the eyes in place, which works really well and stops them falling off. They're really simple to make, use just a few ingredients and look so effective as part of a Halloween party spread. 👻 Mummy Hot Dogs These Mummy Hot Dogs are basically a spooky Halloween version of our puff pastry hot dogs. Instead of wrapping the pastry neatly around the sausages, we use lots of thin strips wrapped in different directions to look like mummy bandages. You don't need to worry about making them perfect either. In fact, the slightly uneven pastry strips make them look even more like little mummies! Once they're baked, two edible candy eyes finish them off. 🎃 Why You'll Love These Mummy Hot Dogs They're really easy to make and only need a handful of ingredients. Hot dogs and puff pastry also make them a good option for children who prefer familiar foods, while the mummy design makes them feel much more exciting for Halloween. They're perfect for adding to a Halloween party table and are simple enough for the kids to help make too. ⚡ Quick Tips Let the puff pastry sit at room temperature for around 10 minutes before unrolling it, as this makes it easier to handle. Cut the pastry into long, narrow strips and wrap them around the hot dogs in slightly different directions. Remember to leave a little gap near the top for the mummy's face. Brush the pastry with egg wash before baking to give it a lovely golden finish. Most importantly, wait until after baking to add the edible candy eyes. A tiny blob of cream cheese behind each eye works brilliantly as edible glue and helps stop them falling off. ⏰ Recipe at a Glance Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Makes: 8 Mummy Hot Dogs Oven Temperature: 180°C 🛒 Ingredients 8 hot dogs 1 sheet ready-rolled puff pastry 1 egg 1 tablespoon water 16 edible candy eyes Cream cheese 👩‍🍳 How to Make Mummy Hot Dogs 1. Prepare the Baking Tray Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with greaseproof or baking paper. Take the puff pastry out of the fridge and leave it at room temperature for around 10 minutes before unrolling it. This makes the pastry easier to work with and helps prevent it from cracking. 2. Cut the Puff Pastry Unroll the sheet of puff pastry onto a flat surface. Cut the pastry into lots of long, narrow strips. We used scissors to cut ours, but you could also use a pizza cutter or sharp knife. The strips don't need to be perfectly straight or exactly the same width. Slightly uneven strips work really well for creating the mummy bandages. 3. Wrap the Mummy Hot Dogs Take one hot dog and start wrapping the strips of puff pastry around it. Wrap the pastry in slightly different directions and overlap some of the strips to give it the appearance of mummy bandages. Make sure you leave a small section of the hot dog uncovered near one end. This will become the mummy's face once the eyes are added. Repeat until all eight hot dogs are wrapped and place them onto the lined baking tray. 4. Add the Egg Wash Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the egg wash over the puff pastry on each mummy. 5. Bake the Mummy Hot Dogs Bake the Mummy Hot Dogs at 180°C for around 20 minutes, or until the puff pastry has risen and turned golden. Every oven is slightly different, so keep an eye on them towards the end of the cooking time and remove them once the pastry is cooked and golden. 6. Add the Mummy Eyes Once baked, remove the Mummy Hot Dogs from the oven and allow them to cool slightly. Add two tiny blobs of cream cheese to the exposed section of each hot dog. Gently press an edible candy eye into each blob of cream cheese. The cream cheese acts as edible glue and helps keep the eyes securely in place. Your little hot dog mummies are now ready to serve! 🍽️ Tips for the Best Mummy Hot Dogs Let the pastry rest before unrolling Leaving the puff pastry at room temperature for around 10 minutes makes it much easier to unroll without it cracking. Cut narrow pastry strips Thin strips create a much better bandage effect than large pieces of pastry. Don't worry if they're not all exactly the same size. Don't make them too neat This is one recipe where wonky is a good thing! Wrapping the pastry at different angles makes the finished hot dogs look much more like mummies. Leave room for the face Remember to leave a small section of each hot dog uncovered near the top. You'll need this space for the candy eyes once they're baked. Don't stretch the pastry too tightly Wrap the strips around the hot dogs without pulling too much. The puff pastry needs room to expand as it bakes. Look for golden pastry rather than relying entirely on the timer We baked ours for around 20 minutes at 180°C, but ovens can vary. They're ready when the puff pastry is risen, cooked through and golden. Add the eyes after baking Don't put the edible candy eyes in the oven. Add them once the Mummy Hot Dogs have finished baking and cooled slightly. Use cream cheese as edible glue A tiny blob of cream cheese behind each candy eye helps it stay exactly where you put it. Serve them warm These are best served while the puff pastry is still warm, crisp and flaky. 🎃 Perfect for Halloween Parties These Mummy Hot Dogs are a really simple addition to a Halloween buffet and look great surrounded by other spooky treats and decorations. They're perfect for Halloween parties, kids' Halloween food, a Halloween tea, after-school treats or just making an ordinary family meal a little more fun in the run-up to Halloween. Because the recipe itself is so simple, it's also an easy Halloween food idea if you're preparing several different things for a party and don't want every dish to involve lots of complicated decorating. 🌭 More Fun Hot Dog Recipes If your kids enjoy these Mummy Hot Dogs, you might also like our Carrot Hot Dogs for Easter or Shamrock Hot Dogs for St Patrick's Day. Both use the same simple combination of hot dogs and puff pastry but turn them into something completely different for another celebration. ✨ Final Thoughts These Mummy Hot Dogs are such an easy way to turn something as simple as hot dogs and puff pastry into a fun Halloween treat. I love Halloween food that looks special without needing lots of complicated ingredients or decorating, and these definitely fit the bill. The little candy eyes really bring the mummies to life, and using cream cheese to stick them on means they actually stay where they're supposed to! They look brilliant as part of a Halloween party spread and, because they're basically hot dogs and pastry, they're also a great option for children who might not want some of the more unusual Halloween party foods. A few strips of pastry and some candy eyes turn simple hot dogs into the cutest little Halloween mummies!👻 🎥 Watch Us Make These Mummy Hot Dogs You can see me making these Mummy Hot Dogs in our 2025 Halloween vlog, starting at around 13:30. The vlog also follows what we got up to for Halloween, including our Halloween party and all the fun we had celebrating together.

DIY Black Cat Piñata A fun homemade Halloween piñata made using recycled cardboard and simple craft supplies We have a little Halloween party at home every year, and one of the things the children always look forward to is having a piñata. Rather than buying one, I like to make our Halloween piñata myself. Over the years I've made a bat, ghost and pumpkin, and last year I decided to make this DIY Black Cat Piñata, complete with pink ears, a heart-shaped nose and a cute little face. It's actually quite simple to make and you don't need a template or any specialist craft supplies. The main structure is made from old cardboard, then covered with fringed black tissue paper. Here's how I made it. What You Will Need Cardboard Black tissue paper Pink card White card Masking tape Glue stick String Scissors Pen or pencil Sweets to fill the piñata For the main structure, I used waste cardboard. My husband works in a shop, so I asked him if he could bring home some cardboard that was going to be thrown away for us to use. If you have any old cardboard boxes lying around the house, they would be perfect for this. You don't need nice new sheets of craft cardboard because it's all going to be covered with tissue paper anyway. Step-by-Step Instructions 1. Draw and Cut the Cat Shape Start by drawing a simple cat-head shape onto a large piece of cardboard. I drew mine freehand with a large rounded head and two pointed ears at the top. Don't worry about making it perfect. Once the piñata is covered in tissue paper, you won't notice any slightly wonky lines. Carefully cut out your cat shape. Place the cut-out cat onto another piece of cardboard and draw around it. Cut out this second shape so you have two matching pieces for the front and back of your piñata. I didn't measure our finished piñata, so I can't give you an exact size. I simply made it to fit the cardboard I had available. You can make yours as large or small as you like depending on the cardboard you have and how many sweets you want it to hold. 2. Cut the Cardboard Sides Cut several long strips of cardboard 2 inches (5 cm) wide. These will create the sides and give your piñata its depth. Try to keep all of the strips the same width. This is important because the second cat-shaped piece needs to sit evenly on top when you assemble the piñata. If you have corrugated cardboard, I find this works particularly well for the sides. Cut your strips so that the corrugation runs across the 2 inch (5 cm) width of the strip, rather than along its length. This makes the cardboard much easier to bend and shape around the curves of the cat's head and ears. The strips don't need to be the same length. Using several shorter pieces also makes it easier to work your way around the cat shape. I usually make the sides of my piñatas 2 inches (5 cm) deep, which gives plenty of room inside for sweets without making the finished piñata too bulky. 3. Build the Piñata Take one of your cat-shaped pieces and begin attaching the cardboard strips around the edge using masking tape. Bend the cardboard as you go so that it follows the shape of the cat's head and ears. If you've cut the corrugated cardboard in the direction mentioned above, you should find it much easier to shape around the curves. Continue around the cat, but leave a gap at the top between the ears. This is where you'll add the sweets later. Once the side strips are in place, position the second cat-shaped piece on top. Because all of your cardboard strips are the same width, the second piece should sit evenly on top of them. Attach it to the side strips using more masking tape and work your way around the edge until everything is securely taped together. You should now have the basic 3D shape of your cat piñata, with an opening between the ears. Don't worry if the cardboard and masking tape look a little messy at this point. It's all going to be hidden underneath the tissue paper. 4. Cut and Attach the Black Tissue-Paper Fringe Cut your black tissue paper into long strips. To make this much quicker, I layer several sheets of tissue paper together before cutting them into strips. I then stack several of the strips on top of each other and cut the fringe into them all at the same time. This saves a lot of time compared with cutting every strip and every piece of fringe individually. To make the fringe, make lots of little cuts along one edge of the stacked tissue-paper strips. Don't cut all the way through – leave an uncut section along the top for the glue. Once you've cut enough fringe, start near the bottom of the cat and use a glue stick to attach the first strip of tissue paper. Add the next strip slightly above it so that the fringe overlaps the previous row. Continue adding overlapping rows as you work your way up the cat. Cover the front, back and sides in the same way until you can no longer see the cardboard underneath. You don't need to make the fringe particularly neat or have every row perfectly straight. The overlapping layers help to hide the cardboard underneath and give the finished cat its shaggy appearance. My Glue Stick Tip I used to attach the tissue paper to our homemade piñatas with a hot glue gun, but I've recently discovered that an ordinary glue stick does the job perfectly well for a piñata we're using for a party at home. It's also much easier! Using the hot glue gun took me longer, I would get through quite a few hot-glue sticks and, more often than not, I'd end up burning my fingers at some point. I've found using an ordinary glue stick much quicker and cheaper, and it worked perfectly well for our black cat. I'll definitely be using this method for our future piñatas. 5. Make and Add the Cat's Face Once the cat is completely covered in black tissue paper, you can add the face. I kept mine really simple and used pink and white card. I cut out: Two white closed eyes with eyelashes White whiskers A pink heart-shaped nose Two pink pieces for the inside of the ears I drew and cut all of the pieces by hand. I didn't worry about making them completely accurate because I think the handmade look works really well for this. If you have a Cricut, you could use it to cut the facial features instead. I have one myself, but for something this simple I found it much quicker just to cut them by hand. Before sticking anything down, arrange all of the pieces on the front of the cat until you're happy with how the face looks. Then use your glue stick to stick everything into place. Your black cat should now be looking much more like a cat! 6. Add the Hanging String Once I'd finished decorating the cat, I added the string for hanging it. I make two small holes at the top of the piñata, one on either side of the opening between the ears that I left for adding the sweets. The holes only need to be just big enough for the string to pass through. I made each hole by carefully pushing one blade of my scissors through the cardboard. Feed one end of the string through each of the small holes. You can then reach through the larger opening between the ears, pull the two ends of the string out through the opening and tie them together. Once the ends are tied together, the knot sits inside the piñata and you're left with a loop of string on the outside ready for hanging. I always position the two string holes on either side of the sweets opening because having that larger opening there makes it really easy to reach the ends of the string and tie them together. I didn't add any extra reinforcement around the holes. The cardboard itself was enough for ours. If you're making the piñata with children, this is a step for an adult to do because you're using the point of the scissors to make the holes. 7. Fill Your DIY Black Cat Piñata With Sweets When you're ready for your Halloween party, it's time for the most important part – the sweets! We filled ours through the opening I'd left between the cat's ears, and the children helped put all the sweets inside. There's no need to close the opening afterwards. I simply left ours open. How many sweets you need will depend on the size of your piñata and how many people are going to be taking part. 8. Hang It Up and Enjoy! Normally we tie our Halloween piñata to the washing line outside and take turns hitting it. Unfortunately, it was raining for last year's Halloween party, so taking a tissue-paper-covered black cat outside wasn't really an option! Instead, we had to improvise. We hung the piñata from a sweeping brush and Daddy held it up while we took turns hitting it. When it was Daddy's turn to have a go, I held the sweeping brush instead. One thing we've discovered from making our own piñatas is that they're surprisingly strong! Even though they're only made from cardboard and masking tape, ours can take us quite a while to break open, which means everyone gets plenty of turns before the sweets finally come tumbling out. If you're having a go yourself, just make sure everyone else stands well back while somebody is taking their turn. Making Our Own Halloween Piñatas Making our own piñata has become one of the little traditions we have as part of our family Halloween parties. We've now made a bat, ghost, pumpkin and black cat, and I love that they're made largely from cardboard that would otherwise have been thrown away. You don't need to make the cardboard underneath look perfect either. The fringed tissue paper hides a multitude of sins! They're simple to make, don't need lots of expensive craft supplies and, judging by how long it can take us to get into them, they're much stronger than they look. Now I just need to decide what Halloween piñata I'm going to make next! Happy crafting! 🎥 Watch Me Make the DIY Black Cat Piñata If you’d like to see how I made our DIY Black Cat Piñata, you can watch the process in Weekly Vlog #429, along with everything else we got up to that week. The piñata-making starts at 6:49, so you can skip straight to that part if you just want to see how I made it.