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🛋 Diamond Cottage Ribby Hall Review Looking for a family-friendly stay at Ribby Hall Village? Here’s our honest review of staying in a Diamond Cottage, including what the accommodation was like, the surprise hot tub upgrade, on-site activities, restaurants, and why it worked so well for our multi-generational family holiday. A Peaceful Multi-Generational Getaway with a Touch of Luxury In June 2024, we headed back to one of our favourite UK staycation spots — Ribby Hall Village — and this time, we stayed in a Diamond Cottage with the whole family, including my parents. With space for up to six people, it was the perfect choice for a comfortable family break — and it even came with a surprise extra that made our stay even more special! 🌿 Tranquil Setting – Still Close to the Action Our Diamond Cottage was one of the furthest from the main entertainment and dining areas, but it was still only a short walk to everything. The peaceful location actually turned out to be a huge bonus — ideal for early nights, afternoon naps, or simply relaxing after busy days filled with swimming, soft play, and exploring the village. Although the cottage was tucked away in a quieter part of the resort, everything still felt easily accessible. The walk back at the end of the evening might feel a little long for some families with very young children, but we personally loved how calm and peaceful the area felt. Another big plus was how well connected the resort is. There’s a bus stop right outside Ribby Hall with direct buses into Blackpool, which took around 30 minutes during our stay — perfect for a seaside day trip without needing to drive. 🛋 Spacious, Clean and Perfect for Families The cottage was clean, modern, and really well-equipped, with a bright and welcoming open-plan living space. The lounge had comfy sofas, a Freeview TV and DVD player, making it perfect for cosy evenings in after busy days out. The kitchen had everything we needed, including an American-style fridge freezer, washer/dryer, oven, microwave, and dishwasher, along with a handy starter pack containing cleaning essentials and a tea towel. Thoughtful touches like tea, coffee, and UHT milk waiting for us on arrival were especially appreciated after the drive. We had three bedrooms in total: a double room with en-suite and two twin rooms. The setup worked brilliantly for our family — my parents had one twin room, the children shared the other, and we stayed in the master bedroom. With TVs in every bedroom, everyone had their own little space to retreat to when needed. The single-level layout also worked really well for both younger children and older family members alike. 🛁 A Hot Tub Surprise! When we originally booked the cottage almost a year in advance, hot tubs weren’t included with Diamond Cottages — so discovering one waiting for us when we arrived was such a lovely surprise! It quickly became a favourite with all generations. The children loved having a little dip in the evenings, while the grown-ups enjoyed relaxing in the hot tub once the kids were tucked up in bed. It really added an extra touch of luxury to the whole stay and made the holiday feel even more special. 🧺 Family-Friendly and Thoughtfully Designed We really appreciated all the thoughtful family-friendly details throughout the cottage, from the included towels and bed linen to the option of requesting a high chair and travel cot. Outside, there was a lovely garden area with a picnic bench, which was perfect for sitting out in the evenings while the children played nearby. Having parking directly outside the cottage also made a huge difference when unpacking the car and managing bags, especially with little ones and grandparents in tow. 🎠 Plenty to Do Around the Resort One of the reasons we keep returning to Ribby Hall Village is because there’s so much to do for all ages. During our stay we made full use of the resort facilities, including swimming, soft play, outdoor play areas, restaurants, evening entertainment, and the arcade. There are also several additional activities available for an extra cost, including Pirates Bay Adventure Golf, bike hire, archery, the climbing wall, and Wild Discovery — Ribby Hall’s small on-site zoo. The children especially enjoyed visiting Wild Discovery during our stay, and it was a lovely extra activity to have right on-site. We also found the on-site facilities really convenient, especially having a SPAR shop within the village for picking up essentials. There are several dining options too, including family favourites at The Hive, Italian dishes at Terrazza, Papa Johns pizza, and drinks and snacks from Blend Coffee House. Whether you want a relaxing break or a busier activity-filled holiday, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained. Everything across the village felt family-focused and easy to navigate, which made it ideal for a family holiday where everyone wanted slightly different things from the trip. ℹ️ Good to Know Sleeps up to 6 guests 3 bedrooms Hot tub included during our stay Parking directly outside the cottage Self-catering accommodation Great for family and multi-generational stays Around 30 minutes by bus into Blackpool 💭 Final Thoughts Our stay in the Diamond Cottage was relaxed, comfortable, and full of lovely little surprises. It gave everyone enough space and privacy while still feeling cosy and connected. The peaceful setting, practical family-friendly layout, and unexpected hot tub made it one of our favourite stays at Ribby Hall Village so far. If you’re planning a stay at Ribby Hall and need a self-catering option that works well for the whole family, the Diamond Cottage is a fantastic choice. It’s where comfort meets convenience — with a splash of hot tub magic! 🎥 Watch Our Diamond Cottage Tour We also filmed a full video tour of the Diamond Cottage during our stay at Ribby Hall Village, including the bedrooms, living area, kitchen, outdoor space, and hot tub. Looking for more from our trip? You can also watch all of our Ribby Hall Village holiday vlogs in one YouTube playlist. For more information about accommodation, activities, and current booking availability, visit the official Ribby Hall Village website.

A Return Trip to See Bluey's Big Play at The Lowry On Saturday 23rd May, myself and my brother took Alice and Leo to see Bluey’s Big Play at The Lowry for the 2pm performance, and it turned into such a lovely family theatre trip from start to finish. As huge Bluey fans in our house, the children had been so excited ever since they spotted the poster for the show at the train station a few months ago. We all loved the production when we saw it during its previous visit in 2024, so they were thrilled when they realised it was returning to The Lowry. My dad dropped us off at our usual spot opposite the Imperial War Museum North and we made the familiar walk across the bridge towards The Lowry — a route that always seems to make theatre trips feel even more exciting for the children. We arrived at around 1.25pm which gave us plenty of time before the performance started to soak up the atmosphere and have a look around. Merchandise & Pre-Show Excitement 🛍️✨ One of the first things the children spotted when we arrived was the merchandise stand, which already had a very long queue building around it. There was a huge range of Bluey’s Big Play merchandise available including: Youth Bluey’s Big Play T-Shirts – £25 Adult T-Shirt – £30 Youth Pullover – £35 Youth Beanie – £22 Magnet – £12 Water Bottle – £15 Tote Bag – £20 Asparagus Spinner – £18 Bluey’s Big Play DVD – £17 Bluey Headband – £15 Bingo Headband – £15 Bluey Plush Toys – £18 Bingo Plush Toys – £18 Muffin Plush – £18 Socks Plush – £18 The children spent ages looking at all the plush toys while trying to decide what they liked best, but because the queue was already so long we decided to wait until after the show before buying anything. Even before entering the auditorium, there was already such a lovely atmosphere around the venue with excited children everywhere wearing Bluey ears, cuddling plush toys and chatting about their favourite characters. Our Seats & View From The Circle 🎭 After looking around downstairs, we headed upstairs to the circle and entered the auditorium through Door C before finding our seats on Row B. We were sat in seats 34–37, with seat 37 being the aisle seat. The view from these seats was genuinely excellent. We had a really clear, central view of the stage and because the circle seating at The Lowry is nicely raked, the children could comfortably see over the heads in front without any issues. One thing worth mentioning though is that if your children want to properly join in with the big finale at the end of the show, stalls seats are definitely the better option. The giant inflatable balls and bubbles are mainly released into the stalls area, so from the circle you are more watching the excitement unfold below rather than fully taking part. That said, the circle does give a fantastic overall view of the production itself and actually worked brilliantly for watching all the chaos happening during the finale. The Show 💙 The show itself was absolutely brilliant and both children were completely engrossed from start to finish. Based on the hugely popular animated series, Bluey’s Big Play brings Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli to life on stage using large-scale puppets, colourful sets, music and lots of audience interaction. The story follows Bluey and Bingo as they secretly hide Bandit’s phone in an attempt to get him away from his screen and joining in with their games instead. What follows is a funny, chaotic and heartwarming adventure packed with imagination, dancing, games and lots of familiar Bluey humour. What the production captures so well is the warmth and personality of the television series. It genuinely feels like stepping into an episode of Bluey. The puppetry throughout the show is incredibly impressive and within minutes you almost forget the puppeteers are even there. The characters feel full of life and personality, especially Bluey and Bingo. Alice absolutely loved seeing the grannies racing around in their little car, while Leo was thrilled when Chattermax appeared on stage. Leo was also up dancing during parts of the performance and both children were laughing constantly throughout. Alongside all the silliness and chaos, the show also includes some lovely messages about family time, imagination and sibling relationships which gives it lots of heart as well as humour. After The Show 🧸✨ The performance finished at around 2.50pm and afterwards we headed back downstairs to look at the merchandise once the queue had gone down slightly. We ended up sitting down for a snack first while waiting because the merch stand was still incredibly busy immediately after the performance. Once the queue had gone down a bit, we headed back over to the merch stand and the children were very excited choosing what they wanted to bring home. Their uncle treated Alice to a Bluey ears headband and bought Leo a Bluey plush wearing a little heart headband, while I bought them a Muffin plush to share after they both decided Muffin was their favourite but there was only one left. The children were absolutely thrilled with their new toys and spent the rest of the afternoon happily playing with them at home. Final Thoughts ✨ Overall, Bluey’s Big Play at The Lowry was such a lovely family theatre trip and a brilliant experience for younger children. From the colourful puppetry and familiar characters to the music, humour and joyful audience atmosphere, everything about the production feels carefully designed for families. It captures everything children love about Bluey while still including plenty of warmth and humour for adults too. Whether your little ones are already massive Bluey fans or are simply looking for a fun introduction to live theatre, this is such a joyful and entertaining family show. A fun-filled family theatre trip packed with laughter, imagination and plenty of Bluey magic. More Information About Bluey’s Big Play 💙 Bluey’s Big Play is at The Lowry until 31st May 2026. Performances currently take place at: 11am, 2pm and 4pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 11am performances during the week For more information about tickets and performances, you can visit The Lowry website. If you can’t make it to The Lowry, the good news is that this fantastic family show is touring the UK and Ireland until April 2027. You can find upcoming venues and tour dates on the official website If you’d like to read our more detailed theatre-focused review of Bluey’s Big Play , you can head over to our sister site, All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #454 If you’d like to see what we got up to during our visit to see Bluey’s Big Play at The Lowry, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #454. Our trip to the show begins at 15:07 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. 🎭 At A Glance 📍 Venue: The Lowry, Salford Quays 📅 Dates: Until Sunday 31st May 2026 ⏰ Performance Times:Friday, Saturday & Sunday – 11am, 2pm & 4pm Weekdays – 11am ⌛ Running Time: Approx. 50 minutes 👶 Recommended Age: 3+ 💺 Our Seats: Circle Row B Seats 34–37 👀 Seat View: Excellent clear central view with nicely raked seating 🫧 Best Seats For Finale Interaction: Stalls 🛍️ Merchandise Prices: From £12 🚋 Getting There: Easily accessible by tram, bus or car 🚗 Parking: Nearby parking available at Quayside MediaCityUK 💙 Best Bits: The grannies scene, Chattermax and the colourful finale

The Detective Dog - A Book-Loving Mystery Adventure Brought Beautifully To Life On Stage ✨ On Saturday 16th May we headed to Z-arts Manchester to see The Detective Dog. We’ve always loved Julia Donaldson books in our house and The Detective Dog has been one of Alice and Leo’s favourites for a long time, so we were really excited to see the stage adaptation again after previously enjoying it at Waterside Arts last year. The show started at 11am and we decided to get the bus there as it stops almost directly opposite the venue, which makes Z-arts really easy to get to with children. We arrived at around 10:15am which gave us plenty of time before the performance started. One of the children’s favourite things about visiting Z-arts is the downstairs play area with the giant red bus that children can climb inside. As soon as we arrived Alice jumped straight into the driver’s seat while Leo happily explored the inside of the bus with Lawrence. It’s such a lovely little feature and always helps make visits to Z-arts feel like more than just a theatre trip. By the time we headed back upstairs towards the theatre space at around 10:45am, there was already a lovely buzz building outside the auditorium with plenty for children to explore before the show began. Pre-Show Fun, Smell Stations & Family-Friendly Touches 👃✨ Just outside the theatre doors there was a large display board showing photos of the cast and which characters they would be playing during the performance, which I always think is such a nice touch for younger audiences. Nearby there was also a table set up with ear defenders available to borrow, along with leaflets about the show, feedback forms, pens and a colourful little post box where children could post their completed feedback sheets afterwards. One of the biggest highlights before the performance for Leo was definitely the interactive “guess the smell” activity inspired by Nell’s incredible detective nose. Different scent stations had been set up on chairs for children to investigate and try to identify the smells. Leo absolutely loved moving between all the scent boxes trying to guess each one, and it was such a fun way of bringing part of the story into the foyer before the show had even started. Everything about the setup felt really thoughtful and family-friendly, and it immediately created a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Taking Our Seats Inside The Auditorium 🎭 At around 10:50am we were invited into the auditorium and took our seats in Row D seats 10–13. The view from these seats was excellent. We had a really central view of the stage and because the seating is nicely raked the children could easily see over the people sitting in front, which is always reassuring when visiting the theatre with younger children. Even before the performance began, the set already looked bright, colourful and inviting with storybook-style scenery, illustrated greenery, bookshelves and playful projections helping create a lovely family atmosphere inside the space. The Show 🐾 Adapted and produced by Tiny & Tall Productions, this stage version of The Detective Dog combines puppetry, music, projection, British Sign Language and scent technology to create a really imaginative and accessible theatre experience for younger audiences. Based on the Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie book, the story follows Nell — a clever little detective dog with an incredible sense of smell and a huge love of books. When all the books mysteriously disappear from school, Nell sets out on a mission to solve the mystery. The production moved at such a lovely pace for younger audiences and managed to keep both Alice and Leo completely engaged throughout the full 50 minute running time. There’s no interval, but it never felt too long for little ones. The audience interaction throughout the show worked brilliantly and really helped younger children feel involved in the story. Alice and Leo especially loved the moments where Nell came into the audience, which created so much excitement around the auditorium. One of the funniest moments for the children was when Nell bounced a ball into the audience and accidentally hit daddy on the head, which had both of them laughing hysterically. The puppetry throughout the show was absolutely wonderful, but Nell herself completely stole the show. The puppet felt full of personality and movement and it was so easy to see why the children became completely invested in her throughout the performance. The songs were also really fun and catchy, helping keep the energy up throughout while adding even more warmth and humour to the story. Meeting Nell After The Show 🐶💛 Following the performance, children were given the opportunity to meet Nell in the foyer afterwards which Alice and Leo absolutely loved — especially Alice, who has always adored puppets. Seeing Nell up close after spending the whole performance watching her on stage made the experience feel even more magical for the children and was such a lovely way to end the morning. There was also some merchandise available after the performance near the feedback table including: 📚 The Detective Dog Special Edition Book – £7.99 📚 Gozzle Paperback – £7.99 📚 Gozzle Hardback – £12.99 Once we had finished meeting Nell, my dad picked us up from Z-arts as Lawrence needed to head straight to work afterwards. Final Thoughts ✨ Overall, The Detective Dog at Z-arts was such a lovely family theatre trip and a brilliant introduction to theatre for younger children. From the thoughtful pre-show activities and accessibility features to the engaging puppetry, interactive moments and warm storytelling, everything about the experience felt carefully designed with families in mind. It’s imaginative, inclusive, full of charm and beautifully captures the spirit of Julia Donaldson’s much-loved story. Alice and Leo both came away smiling, and it was one of those theatre trips that simply felt easy, relaxed and genuinely enjoyable from start to finish. 🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #453 If you’d like to see what we got up to during our visit to see The Detective Dog, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #453 below. Our trip to the show begins at 23:29 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. 🎭 At A Glance 📍 Venue: Z-arts Manchester 📅 Date Visited: Saturday 16th May 2026 ⏰ Show Time: 11am ⌛ Running Time: 50 minutes (No Interval) 👶 Recommended Age: Ages 3–10 🎟️ Ticket Prices: £10(20% discount for Bright Sparks & M15 members) 🪑 Our Seats: Row D Seats 10–13 🚌 Getting There: Easy to reach by bus or car. Our bus stopped directly opposite the venue. 👃 Pre-Show Activities: Interactive “guess the smell” stations, cast boards and feedback activities 🎧 Accessibility: Integrated BSL, projected captions and ear defenders available to borrow 🐶 Best Bit: Meeting Nell after the show and all the audience interaction moments

The Karate Kid The Musical Review – A Fun Afternoon at Palace Theatre Manchester On Thursday 14th May, Lawrence and I headed into Manchester to see The Karate Kid The Musical at Palace Theatre Manchester. We got the tram into St Peter’s Square before making the short walk down to the theatre, arriving at around 2pm ahead of the 2:30pm matinee performance. As always, one of the first things I did after arriving was head straight over to the merchandise stand to see what was available. There was quite a good selection of merchandise on sale including: 📖 Programme – £6.50 👕 The Karate Kid The Musical Logo Tee – £25 🧥 Karate Kid Strike First Hoodie – £55 👜 Karate Kid Wax On Wax Off Tote – £15 🔑 Karate Kid The Musical Spinner Keychain – £10 📍 Karate Kid The Musical Pin Set – £10 🖊️ Karate Kid The Musical Logo Pen – £5 🧲 Karate Kid The Musical Key Art Magnet – £5 They also normally stock two different headbands — the Balance is Key Headband and the Strike First Headband — both priced at £10, although unfortunately both designs had sold out by the time we arrived. I ended up purchasing the programme and one of the magnets before we headed into the auditorium. Our Seats at Palace Theatre Manchester We were seated in Row A Seats 29 and 30 in the stalls, with Seat 30 being the aisle seat. Although Row A initially sounds extremely close to the stage, it was actually the third row back and gave us a fantastic view of the production throughout. The seats were comfortable with plenty of legroom, and I never felt too close to the action despite being seated near the front. As we waited for the show to begin, there was already a real buzz around the theatre, with lots of audience members excitedly chatting and looking through their programmes before the lights went down. The first act lasted approximately 1 hour 15 minutes before a 20-minute interval, while the second act ran for around 55 minutes, bringing the total runtime to approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including the interval. The Story of The Karate Kid The Musical Before seeing the musical, I had actually never watched any of the Karate Kid films before, so I went into the production completely fresh. Lawrence, however, is a fan of the original movies and afterwards said the musical stayed very faithful to the spirit and story of the film. The story follows teenager Daniel LaRusso after he moves to California with his mum and struggles to fit in at his new school. Things quickly become difficult when he finds himself targeted by Johnny Lawrence and the intimidating Cobra Kai karate students. However, after forming an unlikely friendship with Mr Miyagi, Daniel slowly begins learning not only karate, but also important lessons about balance, patience, discipline and self-belief. Even without any previous connection to the films, I found the story really easy to follow and genuinely engaging throughout. The emotional relationship between Daniel and Mr Miyagi becomes the real heart of the production, giving the show much of its warmth and emotional depth. Set Design, Music & Choreography One of the biggest highlights of The Karate Kid The Musical is undoubtedly the choreography by Keone Madrid and Mari Madrid. The fight scenes were incredibly slick and exciting to watch, blending martial arts and contemporary dance together in a way that felt both visually impressive and full of energy. I particularly loved the training scenes between Daniel and Mr Miyagi. Some of these moments felt almost dreamlike, with the ensemble becoming extensions of the movement around them as Daniel slowly learned balance, focus and control. Visually, these scenes were some of the strongest moments in the entire production. The set design also worked really well, using Japanese-inspired screens, projections and moving panels to transition smoothly between locations including the school, Cobra Kai dojo and the final tournament scenes. Lighting played a huge role in creating atmosphere throughout the production too. The bold reds used during the Cobra Kai scenes contrasted beautifully against the calmer blue tones during Mr Miyagi’s teaching moments. Costumes also helped firmly establish the 1980s setting without ever feeling overly exaggerated. Musically, the show took a little while to fully settle in for me during parts of the first half, but by the second act I was completely invested in the story and characters. The final tournament scenes in particular brought real excitement to the theatre, with dramatic lighting, impressive choreography and a genuine sense of tension throughout the auditorium. Performances Adrian Pang was excellent as Mr Miyagi, bringing warmth, humour and wisdom to the role without ever feeling like an imitation of the original film character. His chemistry with Gino Ochello as Daniel LaRusso was genuinely lovely to watch, and together they created the emotional heart of the production. Gino Ochello made Daniel instantly relatable and easy to root for throughout, while also delivering some really impressive vocals. Sharon Sexton also stood out as Daniel’s mum Lucille, bringing warmth and emotional depth to the role. Meanwhile, Matt Mills commanded attention whenever he appeared on stage as the intimidating Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese. Abigail Amin and Joe Simmons were also both strong as Ali and Johnny Lawrence, helping bring plenty of energy and tension to the story throughout. Final Thoughts on The Karate Kid The Musical The Karate Kid The Musical may take a little time to fully find its rhythm, but once it does, it becomes a genuinely uplifting and entertaining theatre experience. Even as someone completely new to the story, I found myself fully invested in the characters and emotional journey by the second half. The combination of strong performances, exciting choreography, nostalgic 1980s atmosphere and heartfelt storytelling creates a production that feels both fun and surprisingly emotional at times. I genuinely had a lovely afternoon at the theatre and would happily see the show again. Whether you’re already a fan of the original films or discovering the story for the first time like I was, The Karate Kid The Musical at Palace Theatre Manchester delivers plenty of humour, heart and feel-good energy. Sometimes the strongest lessons come not from fighting harder, but from finding balance, confidence and believing in yourself. Further Information & Tour Dates The Karate Kid The Musical is at Palace Theatre Manchester until Saturday 23rd May 2026. Tickets are available to purchase through the ATG Tickets website. The production is also continuing to tour across the UK throughout 2026. For more information and full tour dates, visit the official The Karate Kid The Musical website. If you’d like to read my more theatre-focused review, you can also head over to All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch My Theatre Trip in Weekly Vlog #453 If you’d like to see what I got up to during my trip to see The Karate Kid The Musical you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #453. Our trip to the show begins at 16:45 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. At a Glance 📍 Venue: Palace Theatre Manchester 📅 Date Visited: Thursday 14th May 2026 ⏱️ Runtime: Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes including interval ☕ Interval: 20 minutes 🎟️ Seats: Stalls Row A Seats 29 & 30 💺 Seat Review: Excellent view, comfortable seats and plenty of legroom 🚋 Travel: Tram to St Peter’s Square 🛍️ Merch Purchased: Programme (£6.50) & Magnet (£5) 📖 Programme Price: £6.50 🎭 Genre: Musical / Martial Arts / Coming-of-Age Story 👫 Visited With: Lawrence 🌍 Further Dates: Touring the UK throughout 2026 🔗 Official Website: Visit the official The Karate Kid The Musical website for tour dates and show information. Watch The Trailer

Family Weekly Update This week was a lovely mix of family theatre trips, shopping days, blogging and quieter family time at home. We also had two very different theatre trips this week with The Karate Kid The Musical at Palace Theatre Manchester and The Detective Dog at Z-arts, both of which ended up being such enjoyable experiences in completely different ways. Here is this week’s family weekly update, sharing everything we got up to throughout the week. 🧹 Housework, Editing & A Quiet Start to the Week Monday was quite a quiet day at home. I spent most of the day catching up on housework and editing some YouTube videos before the week became busier later on. Sometimes it’s nice having a slower start to the week, especially when there are theatre trips and family plans coming up. 💻 Blog Posts & Catching Up On Tuesday, I wrote a few blog posts and finished off some of the housework that I hadn’t managed to get done on Monday. It felt good to have a bit of a catch-up day and get some things ticked off my list before the rest of the week got busy. 🛍️ Trafford Centre, Primark Disney Finds & A Come Shop With Me Video On Wednesday, after dropping the kids off at school, I got the bus to the Trafford Centre. When I arrived, I started with breakfast from Greggs — a bacon roll and a bottle of orange juice — before heading to the Haribo shop to pick up some of our favourite sweets that you don’t usually see in other shops. After that, I walked across the bridge to Trafford Palazzo to have a look in Primark. I really enjoyed seeing all the Disney items they had in, so I decided to film a Disney come shop with me video for YouTube while I was there. I did end up buying a few bits for the kids before having a look around Primark Home and then walking across to ASDA, where I picked up a few clothing items for Alice. After that, I headed back to the Trafford Centre for lunch at KFC before buying some Krispy Kreme doughnuts, as I had a coupon for 12 for £12. Once I’d finished, I got the bus home. Lawrence had got home at 2pm and picked the kids up from school, so when I got back I showed them what I’d bought for them, and then we played on the Nintendo Switch together for a bit. 🎭 Speech Therapy & The Karate Kid The Musical On Thursday morning, I took Alice to school and then took Leo to speech therapy before taking him to school afterwards. Later that day, Lawrence and I went to the matinee performance of The Karate Kid The Musical at Palace Theatre Manchester, so my parents picked the kids up from school for us. We got the tram into St Peter’s Square before making the short walk down to the theatre, arriving at around 2pm ahead of the 2:30pm matinee. As always, one of the first things I did when we arrived was head straight over to the merchandise stand. There was quite a good selection available, including T-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, keyrings, pins, pens, magnets and programmes. I ended up buying a programme and a magnet for my collection before we headed into the auditorium. We were seated in Row A, seats 29 and 30 in the stalls, with seat 30 being the aisle seat. Although Row A sounds extremely close to the stage, it was actually the third row back and gave us a fantastic view throughout the show. The seats were comfortable, there was plenty of legroom, and I never felt too close to the action. Before seeing the musical, I had never actually watched any of the Karate Kid films, so I went into the production completely fresh. Lawrence, however, is a fan of the original movies and said afterwards that the musical stayed very faithful to the spirit and story of the film. The story follows teenager Daniel LaRusso after he moves to California with his mum and struggles to fit in at his new school. Things become even harder when he finds himself targeted by Johnny Lawrence and the Cobra Kai karate students. But after forming an unlikely friendship with Mr Miyagi, Daniel starts learning not only karate, but also lessons about balance, patience, discipline and believing in himself. Even without any previous connection to the films, I found the story really easy to follow and genuinely engaging. It did take a little while to fully find its rhythm, but once it did, it became a really uplifting and enjoyable theatre experience. I loved the relationship between Daniel and Mr Miyagi, and the mix of strong performances, exciting choreography, 1980s atmosphere and heartfelt storytelling made it such a lovely afternoon at the theatre. 👉 You can read more about our visit and my shorter review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre HERE 🎮 A Quiet Friday Evening at Home On Friday, I spent the morning tidying the kids’ rooms before writing some blog posts and doing a bit of video editing. Once the kids were home from school, we had a relaxed evening playing games and watching TV together, which was just what we needed after a busy few days. 🐶 The Detective Dog at Z-arts On Saturday, we headed to Z-arts Manchester to see The Detective Dog. We’ve always loved Julia Donaldson books in our house, and The Detective Dog has been one of Alice and Leo’s favourites for a long time, so we were really excited to see the stage adaptation again after previously enjoying it at Waterside Arts last year. The show started at 11am, and we decided to get the bus there as it stops almost directly opposite the venue, which makes Z-arts really easy to get to with children. We arrived at around 10:15am, which gave us plenty of time before the performance started. One of the children’s favourite things about visiting Z-arts is the downstairs play area with the giant red bus that children can climb inside. As soon as we arrived, Alice jumped straight into the driver’s seat. It’s such a lovely little feature and always helps make visits to Z-arts feel like more than just a theatre trip. Before the show, there was a fun “guess the smell” activity inspired by Nell’s incredible detective nose, and Leo absolutely loved moving between the scent boxes trying to work out each smell. There were also ear defenders available to borrow, feedback forms and a colourful post box for children to post their responses after the show, which all helped make the experience feel really thoughtful and family-friendly. We were sat in Row D, seats 10–13, and had a really good central view of the stage. The seating is nicely raked too, so the children could see really well. The show itself was imaginative, warm and full of charm. Based on the Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie book, it follows Nell, a clever little detective dog with an amazing sense of smell and a love of books. When all the books mysteriously disappear from school, Nell sets out to solve the mystery. The production used puppetry, music, projection, British Sign Language and scent technology to create a really creative and accessible show for younger audiences. Alice and Leo were completely engaged throughout, and they especially loved the moments when Nell came into the audience. One of the funniest parts for them was when Nell bounced a ball into the audience and accidentally hit Daddy on the head — they thought that was hilarious. After the performance, the children were able to meet Nell in the foyer, which Alice and Leo absolutely loved, especially Alice as she has always adored puppets. Seeing Nell up close made the whole experience feel even more magical for them. Afterwards, my dad picked us up from Z-arts because Lawrence had to go straight to work. When we got home, I made us all lunch, and then we played on the Switch, played with the kids’ toys and watched a movie before bed. 👉 You can read more about our visit and my shorter review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre HERE ✍️ Reviews, Reels & Homework On Sunday, I spent time writing my review for The Detective Dog and creating the social media posts to go with it. I also edited my Disney come shop with me video and helped the kids with their homework, so it ended up being a fairly productive end to the week. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week, including our trips to The Karate Kid The Musical and The Detective Dog, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog over on YouTube.

The Choir of Man Review – A Fun and Unique Theatre Trip to Manchester Opera House On Friday 8th May, I headed into Manchester with my parents to see the 4pm performance of The Choir of Man at the Opera House Manchester. I got the tram into St Peter’s Square where I met up with my mum and dad before heading for lunch at Bishopsgate Table Table. My mum and I both ordered the smothered chicken and chips with garlic bread, whilst my dad went for the steak. After lunch, we made our way over to the theatre, arriving at around 3:15pm. Even outside the theatre, there already felt like there was a real buzz surrounding the show, with plenty of people arriving early and chatting excitedly before doors opened. Arriving at Manchester Opera House for The Choir of Man Before heading into the auditorium, I stopped to look at the cast list displayed on the TV screens near the box office before naturally making my way over to the merchandise stand. There was quite a good range of merchandise available including: 📖 Programme – £6.50 👕 Logo T-Shirt – £30 👕 “I Sang” T-Shirt – £30 🧥 “No Judgement” Hoodie – £55 🧢 “No Judgement” Cap – £25 👜 Tote Bag – £25 📍 Pin Badge – £9 🧸 Beast Bear – £16 ☕ Mug – £16 Unfortunately the magnets had already sold out by the time I arrived, which was disappointing as they are usually what I collect from shows. They would have been £10. I did however pick up a programme before heading inside. Our Seats at Manchester Opera House Once the auditorium opened at 3:30pm, we headed down towards our seats. My parents were seated together in the stalls in Row T Seats 8 and 9, whilst I initially thought I was seated in Stalls Row F Seat 9 — only to realise I was actually in the Circle! Although the view itself was still very good, I did find the legroom a little tight and the seats felt quite close together, meaning I felt a little squashed during the first half. One of the most unique things about The Choir of Man is that audience members are allowed up onto the stage both before the show and during the interval. My dad and I headed up onto the stage before the performance started to take some photos and soak up the atmosphere inside “The Jungle”, the show’s fully working on-stage pub. Audience members could also buy drinks directly from the bar whilst on stage, which really helped blur the line between theatre and immersive experience. Before the show started, one of the cast members also came into the Circle chatting with audience members, which immediately helped create a really relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. What is The Choir of Man About? Created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay, with musical supervision by Jack Blume, The Choir of Man first premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017 before becoming an international hit with a hugely successful West End run and performances around the world. Now touring the UK for the very first time, the Olivier-nominated production transforms the stage into a lively local pub called The Jungle, where a group of men come together through music, storytelling and friendship. Rather than following a traditional storyline, the show focuses more on themes of community, connection, loneliness and friendship, all brought together through live music, spoken word and audience interaction. Whilst there is plenty of humour and pub-style chaos throughout the evening, there are also several surprisingly emotional and reflective moments woven into the show. Set Design, Music & Atmosphere The set design is absolutely brilliant and easily one of the production’s biggest strengths. The Jungle genuinely feels like a real pub rather than a theatre set, helping audiences feel immediately immersed in the world of the show from the moment they walk into the auditorium. From beer mats flying through the audience to cast members casually pouring pints behind the bar, the entire production feels lively, welcoming and full of energy. Musically, the show is an absolute crowd-pleaser. Featuring songs from artists including Queen, Katy Perry, Sia and Paul Simon, the arrangements feel fresh and exciting whilst showcasing the cast’s incredible harmonies. The choreography throughout is energetic and inventive, blending tap dancing, live instruments and clever movement seamlessly together. The first act lasted around an hour before a 20-minute interval. During the interval, audience members were once again allowed back up onto the stage whilst the cast encouraged everyone to sing and dance along to performances including “The Wild Rover” and Livin' on a Prayer. Although I didn’t head back up onto the stage during the break, I did move seats and joined my parents in the stalls where there happened to be a spare seat next to them in Row T Seat 7. I actually enjoyed the second half much more from this seat as the extra legroom made things much more comfortable, and the atmosphere in the stalls felt much more immersive. With cast members regularly moving through the audience and bringing people up onto the stage during the performance itself, it really felt like you became part of the experience. The second act lasted approximately 40 minutes, with the show finishing at around 6pm. Performances The cast of The Choir of Man are genuinely exceptional and the chemistry between them feels completely authentic throughout. Oluwalonimi Owoyemi is outstanding as the Poet, delivering the show’s spoken word narration with warmth, sincerity and emotional depth. Gustav Melbardis brings huge energy to the stage as Maestro, whilst Rob Godfrey delivers some wonderfully intimate musical moments throughout the evening. Every cast member gets their own opportunity to shine and it is impossible not to be impressed by just how multi-talented they all are. Not only do they sing brilliantly, but they also play instruments, dance, tap dance and interact effortlessly with the audience throughout the performance. More importantly though, the camaraderie between the cast feels completely genuine, and that real sense of friendship becomes the emotional heart of the production. Lawrence’s Evening Performance Experience After the show finished, I had to rush home so that Lawrence could head back into Manchester to see the evening performance which started at 8pm. Lawrence was seated in the stalls in Row B Seat 9 and said he had an excellent view with plenty of legroom. He also headed up onto the stage both before the show and during the interval, getting some lovely photos with members of the cast whilst joining in with the singing and dancing during the interval performances. Hearing how much Lawrence enjoyed the evening performance honestly made us both even more excited for the show’s upcoming run at The Lowry later this year. Final Thoughts on The Choir of Man The Choir of Man is unlike any traditional musical theatre experience I’ve seen before. It feels far more like spending the evening inside a lively local pub with live music, audience interaction and a huge sense of community running throughout. Whilst the show is packed with humour, singalongs and high-energy performances, it also carries a genuinely heartfelt message about friendship, connection and looking out for one another. The immersive atmosphere, incredible musical talent and infectious energy of the cast make it almost impossible not to get swept up in the spirit of The Jungle. Warm, lively and packed with personality, The Choir of Man delivers a wonderfully feel-good theatre experience from start to finish. Packed with heart, harmony and plenty of pub spirit, The Choir of Man is feel-good theatre worth raising a glass to. Further Information & Tour Dates The Choir of Man will be at The Lowry from 13th – 17th October 2026. Tickets are available to purchase through The Lowry website. For more information about the show, including future tour dates, visit the official The Choir of Man tour website. If you’d like to read my more theatre-focused review, you can also head over to All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #450 If you’d like to see what we got up to during our visit to see The Choir Of Man, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #452 below. Our trip to the show begins at 22:04 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. At a Glance 📍 Venue: Opera House Manchester 📅 Date Visited: Friday 8th May 2026 ⏱️ Runtime: Approx. 2 hours including interval ☕ Interval: Approx. 20 minutes 🎟️ Seat: Circle Row F Seat 9 / Stalls Row T Seat 7 🛍️ Merchandise Purchased: Programme (£6.50) 🚋 Travel: Tram to St Peter’s Square 🍴 Lunch: Bishopsgate Table Table 🎭 Genre: Musical / Live Music / Immersive Theatre 🌍 Further Dates: The Lowry, October 2026

Family Weekly Update This week was a nice mix of family time, theatre trips and trying to get organised for some upcoming shows and holidays. We had a quieter start to the week with the bank holiday before things became much busier later in the week with Bank of Dave: The Musical at The Lowry and The Choir of Man at Manchester Opera House. Here is this week’s family weekly update, sharing everything we got up to throughout the week. 🎬 A Quiet Bank Holiday Monday Monday was a bank holiday, so the children were off school, although Lawrence was still working. We ended up having quite a relaxed day at home. The children spent most of the day playing with their toys, and later on we watched the Matilda The Musical movie together, which is one of my favourites. After such a busy few weeks recently, it was actually really nice to have a slower day at home. 🛍️ Trafford Centre Trip, Haribo Shop & Krispy Kreme On Tuesday, Lawrence had the day off work, so while the kids were at school we got the bus to the Trafford Centre. The first place we headed to was the Haribo shop because I wanted to pick up some sweets that you can’t usually find in the supermarkets. After that, we stopped at Krispy Kreme and bought a dozen doughnuts as I had a voucher for 12 for £12, which felt like a really good deal. We then had a look around Primark to pick up a few T-shirts for the children ready for our holiday in June before having a quick browse around the Primark Home store as well. Once we’d finished shopping, we headed home and made some lunch before it was time to collect the children from school. 🎟️ Paddington Tickets & Beetlejuice Booking Success Wednesday morning was surprisingly stressful because I was trying to get tickets for Paddington The Musical. On the first Wednesday of every month, Mastercard customers can access special front-row tickets for selected performances through Mastercard Priceless, and they sell incredibly quickly. The tickets went on sale at 10am and included an ice cream voucher as part of the booking. Luckily, I managed to get tickets for the exact date we wanted, which I was really pleased about. Afterwards, I spent the rest of the day uploading seat-view photos onto the website SeatPlan so I could earn enough reward points to get vouchers towards tickets for Beetlejuice The Musical. Thankfully, I managed to earn enough points to get £40 worth of vouchers, which we then used towards booking our tickets. 🎭 Leo’s Parents Evening & Bank of Dave: The Musical Thursday was definitely the busiest day of the week. In the morning, Lawrence and I took Leo to speech therapy before dropping him back off at school afterwards. We then spent the afternoon catching up on house jobs before collecting the children from school. Later that evening, the kids went to my parents’ house while Lawrence and I attended Leo’s parents’ evening before heading straight over to The Lowry for the press night of Bank of Dave: The Musical. As always, my dad dropped us off at our usual spot opposite the Imperial War Museum North before we made the familiar walk across the bridge towards the theatre. After arriving, we stopped to take some photos outside in front of the show posters before heading towards the special press entrance through the old Pier 8 restaurant entrance, where a red carpet had been set up for invited guests and press. Just inside the entrance was the press desk where we collected our tickets, programmes and wristbands for the interval drinks reception. There was also a fun little photo opportunity area set up with props inspired by the show, so Lawrence and I took turns taking photos for each other before heading back outside. The atmosphere around the theatre already felt really exciting, with lots of people gathering outside waiting for the arrival of Dave Fishwick himself. Dave Fishwick arrived outside The Lowry in one of his famous minibuses alongside his wife Nicky and a live brass band, which instantly created a real sense of occasion around the world premiere. The band played several songs while Dave and Nicky posed for photos before walking the red carpet into the theatre. Afterwards, creators Rob Madge, Pippa Cleary and Nikolai Foster also posed for photos alongside the band and minibus, which added even more excitement surrounding the production. We stayed outside watching the band for a while before eventually heading back inside to take our seats. Once inside the auditorium, the pre-show soundtrack was presented as a local Burnley radio station complete with adverts for local businesses, which was such a clever touch and instantly helped immerse the audience into the world of the show. We were seated in Row P in the stalls and had a fantastic central view of the stage. Bank of Dave: The Musical tells the true story of Burnley businessman Dave Fishwick and his fight to create a community-focused bank after seeing ordinary people repeatedly failed by traditional banks. One of the things I really loved about the production was how naturally it balanced humour, warmth and emotion throughout. Although the musical touches on bigger themes like class divides and financial struggles, it never feels too heavy. Instead, it stays uplifting, funny and genuinely heartfelt throughout. During the interval, Lawrence and I headed to the press area for drinks before returning for the second act. By the end of the evening, the audience inside The Lowry were cheering loudly, and when the real Dave Fishwick and his wife Nicky came onto the stage after curtain call, it made the whole evening feel even more emotional and special. It really was such a lovely theatre trip together. 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 🍽️ Lunch with My Parents & The Choir of Man On Friday morning, I spent some time writing up my review for Bank of Dave: The Musical before heading out for lunch with my parents. We went to a Table Table restaurant in town where I ordered smothered chicken with chips, garlic bread and a Diet Coke. After lunch, we headed over to the Manchester Opera House for the 4pm performance of The Choir of Man. We arrived at around 3:15pm, which gave us enough time to have a look at the merchandise before the auditorium opened. I picked up a programme for £6.50, although unfortunately they didn’t have any magnets, which is usually what I collect from theatre trips. One of the most unique things about The Choir of Man is that audience members can actually go up onto the stage before the show and during the interval. Before the performance started, my dad and I went up onto the stage and took some photos while people around us enjoyed drinks from the on-stage bar. The atmosphere inside the theatre was brilliant and the whole show felt really fun and interactive. After the performance finished, I had to rush home quickly so Lawrence could head out to see the evening show himself. He ended up having such a good time too — he got photos with the cast and even joined them on stage during the interval while they sang songs together. 🛋️ A Quiet Weekend at Home After such a busy few days, I decided to keep the weekend fairly quiet. We spent most of the time at home watching movies, playing on the Nintendo Switch and playing with toys while I also tried to catch up on little bits of housework around the house. Sometimes quieter weekends are definitely needed after such busy weeks. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week, including our trips to Bank of Dave: The Musical and The Choir of Man, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog over on YouTube

Bank of Dave: The Musical Review – A Funny, Heartfelt and Proudly Northern Night at The Lowry On Thursday 7th May, Lawrence and I headed to The Lowry for the press night of Bank of Dave: The Musical — the brand new British musical based on the true story of Burnley businessman Dave Fishwick. With the Netflix films already proving hugely popular, there has been so much excitement surrounding this world premiere production, particularly here in the North West where Dave’s story already feels so well known. As someone who loves new British musicals, I had been really looking forward to finally seeing how the story would translate to the stage. As always, my dad kindly dropped us off at our usual spot opposite the Imperial War Museum North before Lawrence and I made the familiar walk across the bridge towards The Lowry. Even before we reached the theatre itself, there already felt like there was a real buzz surrounding the evening. Arriving at The Lowry for Bank of Dave: The Musical After arriving, we stopped to take some photos outside in front of the show posters before heading towards the special press entrance through the old Pier 8 restaurant entrance, where a red carpet had been set up for invited guests and press. Just inside the entrance was the press desk where we collected our tickets, programmes and wristbands for the interval drinks reception. There was also a fun little photo opportunity area set up with props inspired by the show, so naturally Lawrence and I took turns taking photos for each other before heading back outside. The atmosphere around the theatre already felt really exciting, with lots of people gathering outside waiting for the arrival of Dave Fishwick himself. Dave Fishwick’s Arrival & Brass Band Atmosphere And honestly, this was such a fun way to begin the evening. Dave Fishwick arrived outside The Lowry in one of his famous minibuses alongside his wife Nicky and a live brass band, instantly creating a real sense of occasion around the world premiere. The band played several songs while Dave and Nicky posed for photos before walking the red carpet into the theatre. Afterwards, creators Rob Madge, Pippa Cleary and Nikolai Foster also posed for photos alongside the band and minibus, which added even more excitement surrounding the production. We stayed outside watching the band for a while before eventually heading back inside to take our seats. There didn’t appear to be a full merchandise stand for the production, although programmes were available to purchase, which I believe were around £6. Our Seats at The Lowry We entered the Lyric Theatre through Door A and headed to our seats in Row P, Seats 28 and 29. The view from our seats was absolutely excellent. We had a really clear central view of the stage, and despite being slightly further back in the stalls, we still felt very connected to the production throughout. It’s definitely a seating area we would happily choose again. As we entered the auditorium, a pre-show soundtrack presented as a local Burnley radio station was already playing, complete with adverts for local businesses. It was such a clever touch and immediately helped immerse the audience into the world of the musical before the show had even begun. The Story of Bank of Dave: The Musical Bank of Dave: The Musical tells the true story of Burnley businessman Dave Fishwick and his fight to create a community-focused bank after seeing ordinary people repeatedly failed by traditional banks. After spending years helping struggling local businesses and residents by offering loans himself, Dave decides to take on Britain’s banking system and attempt the seemingly impossible — opening his own bank designed to help people rather than profit from them. However, standing in his way are banking laws, financial regulators and the powerful elite determined to stop him. When London lawyer Hugh is sent north to investigate Dave’s operation, he initially arrives expecting failure, but quickly finds himself drawn into both Dave’s mission and the Burnley community surrounding him. One of the things I really loved about Bank of Dave: The Musical was how naturally it balanced humour, warmth and emotion throughout. Although the show explores class divides, financial struggles and the north-south divide, it never feels overly heavy or preachy. Instead, it remains consistently funny, uplifting and genuinely heartfelt, with the audience regularly switching between laughter and emotional moments throughout the evening. Set Design, Music & Atmosphere Amy Jane Cook’s set design does such a fantastic job of bringing Burnley to life on stage while constantly reinforcing the strong sense of community running throughout the production. Much of the action takes place inside the local pub, The Talbot, which instantly feels warm, lively and lived-in. Above the stage, the Burnley skyline looms over the set, helping establish the musical’s working-class roots from the very beginning. The digital screens surrounding the set are also used incredibly effectively throughout the evening, helping transition smoothly between locations while adding humour, movement and atmosphere to the production. The music and lyrics by Rob Madge and Pippa Cleary are packed with personality, humour and heart. Opening number Burnley Born and Bred immediately establishes the strong sense of northern pride running throughout the show, while songs like Past the M25 bring huge laughs through their observations about the north-south divide. While many of the songs are huge fun, the musical also knows exactly when to slow things down emotionally. Lauryn Redding’s Patience becomes one of the standout moments of the evening, while Lucca Chadwick-Patel shines during What Heroes Do. The choreography adds even more energy and personality to the production, with the larger ensemble numbers helping create the lively atmosphere that runs throughout the show. Performances Sam Lupton is absolutely superb as Dave Fishwick and completely anchors the emotional heart of the production. He brings warmth, humour and vulnerability to the role, making Dave instantly likeable and incredibly easy to root for throughout. Rather than portraying Dave as some larger-than-life hero, Lupton keeps the character grounded and relatable, which makes the emotional moments connect even more strongly. Hayley Tamaddon is wonderful as Nicky, bringing warmth and sincerity to Dave’s wife while helping ground many of the show’s more heartfelt moments. Lucca Chadwick-Patel is hugely charming as Hugh, the London lawyer who slowly finds himself emotionally invested in both Dave’s mission and the Burnley community surrounding him. His character arc becomes one of the strongest parts of the story. Lauryn Redding also delivers one of the evening’s standout performances as Alex, with stunning vocals throughout, particularly during some of the show’s more emotional moments. Samuel Holmes is also a real scene-stealer throughout the production, perfectly capturing the arrogance and elitism of Sir Charles Denbigh. The ensemble deserve enormous credit too, constantly filling the stage with energy, humour and personality while helping create the strong sense of community that makes the production feel so special. Interval & Curtain Call Atmosphere Act One ran for approximately 70 minutes before a 20-minute interval. During the break, Lawrence and I headed to the press and guest area of the bar where we both got an orange juice while discussing how much we were enjoying the show so far before heading back to our seats for Act Two. The second act ran for around 65 minutes, bringing the total running time to approximately 2 hours 35 minutes including the interval. By curtain call, the audience inside The Lowry were cheering loudly and completely invested in Dave’s story. Following the curtain call, the real Dave Fishwick and his wife Nicky came onto the stage, where Dave gave a short speech to the audience, which made the evening feel even more special and emotional as the production acknowledged the real people behind the story. After the show, my dad picked us up and drove us home after such a genuinely lovely night at the theatre. Final Thoughts on Bank of Dave: The Musical What makes Bank of Dave: The Musical work so well is that, despite the larger themes surrounding banking, politics and class divides, the production never loses its warmth, humour or strong sense of community. Combined with fantastic performances, memorable songs and a huge amount of northern charm, the musical creates a feel-good theatre experience that leaves audiences smiling long after the curtain call. It’s funny, heartfelt, uplifting and proudly northern from start to finish. And honestly, by the end of the evening, it really did feel like the audience inside The Lowry had become one big community themselves. If you enjoy uplifting British musicals filled with humour, heart and community spirit, Bank of Dave: The Musical is absolutely worth banking on. Further Information & Tour Dates Bank of Dave: The Musical is at The Lowry until Saturday 16th May 2026. Tickets are available to purchase through The Lowry website. If you can’t catch it in Salford, the good news is that the production then heads to Curve Leicester from 20th – 30th May 2026. For full tour information and updates, visit the official Bank of Dave: The Musical website. If you’d like to read my more theatre-focused review, you can also head over to All About Theatre. 🎥 Watch My Theatre Trip in Weekly Vlog #453 If you’d like to see what Lawrence and I got up to during our press night trip to see Bank of Dave: The Musical at The Lowry, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #453 below. Our Bank of Dave: The Musical theatre trip begins at 7:11 in the vlog, although the video also includes some other family moments from our week. At a Glance 📍 Venue: The Lowry, Salford Quays 📅 Dates: Until 16 May 2026 🎟️ Tickets: Available via The Lowry website 💺 Seats: Stalls Row P seats 28 & 29 (excellent central view) 📖 Programme: Approx. £6 ⏱️ Running Time: Approx. 2 hours 35 minutes including interval ☕ Interval: Approx. 20 minutes 🎭 Genre: British Musical / Comedy Drama 👦 Recommended Age: 12+ 🚋 Getting There: Easily accessible by tram, bus or car. Nearby parking is available at Quayside MediaCityUK. 🌍 Further Dates: Playing at Curve Leicester from 20th – 30th May 2026 🔗 Official Website: Visit the official Bank of Dave: The Musical website for full show information and updates.

Family Weekly Update This week definitely didn’t go to plan and ended up being a much slower week than usual. After having some dental work done at the start of the week, I started feeling really unwell and spent most of the week trying to rest and recover while juggling normal family life at home. Here is this week’s family weekly update, sharing everything we got up to throughout the week. 🦷 Dentist Appointment & A Rough Start to the Week On Monday, I had a dentist appointment to have a filling done as well as a tooth extraction. I was already quite nervous about going, so I was relieved once it was finally over and I could head home and try to relax for the evening. Unfortunately, later that night the filling fell out completely, which definitely wasn’t what I wanted after already having such a stressful appointment earlier in the day. 📞 Trying to Get Back Into the Dentist The next morning, I rang the dentist to explain what had happened. Unfortunately, because I needed to see the same dentist who had done the filling, they couldn’t fit me back in until Saturday as she only works Mondays and Saturdays. At that point, I was already starting to feel quite unwell, and the gum where the tooth had been extracted was becoming really painful. 🛋️ A Very Quiet Week at Home As the week went on, I started feeling worse and worse. The pain in my gum was horrible, and on top of that I also seemed to develop what felt like a sinus infection, with a really blocked nose and a lot of pressure in my face — which may well have been connected to the tooth extraction. I just felt completely run down and exhausted, so I spent most of the week on the sofa watching TV and trying to rest as much as possible. It definitely ended up being a much quieter week than usual, but sometimes your body really does force you to slow down. Thankfully, the kids were really good while I was feeling rough, and Lawrence helped out where he could around work. 💊 Back to the Dentist & Finally Getting Antibiotics By Saturday, I was feeling really fed up and relieved that my dentist appointment had finally arrived. When I went back, the dentist confirmed what I had suspected — the gum where the tooth had been extracted had become infected. She prescribed me some antibiotics straight away, but because it was a Saturday and the Monday was a bank holiday, my usual pharmacy wasn’t reopening until Tuesday. Lawrence was at work and I had the kids with me, so I rang my parents to see if they could help find an open pharmacy because I really didn’t feel like I could wait several more days for the medication. Thankfully, they managed to find one that was open and picked the prescription up for me, which I was so grateful for. 🌿 Starting to Feel Better By Sunday, after starting the antibiotics, I was finally beginning to feel a little bit better. I was still tired and not fully back to normal, but it definitely felt like things were starting to improve again. After such a rough week, it was honestly just a relief to finally start feeling a bit better again.

Family Weekly Update This week was such a busy one as we celebrated both Leo’s birthday and my mum’s birthday, so most of the week ended up revolving around party prep, baking, crafting and family celebrations. Leo had asked for a Super Mario themed birthday party this year, so I spent a huge amount of time creating decorations, themed treats and personalised party bits to make it really special for him. Here’s everything we got up to this week. 🎬 Editing, Birthday Shopping & Late-Night KFC Monday started with some editing as I spent the morning working on YouTube videos and wrapping Leo’s birthday presents. Later that evening, my dad took me to ASDA to pick up everything I needed to make Leo’s birthday cake. I also ended up finding a few last-minute birthday presents for him because loads of the Claire’s Accessories items had been reduced to just £1. I managed to pick up a Pikachu backpack and a matching Pikachu water bottle for £1 each, which felt like such a bargain. The backpack was supposed to include stationery, but even without it I still thought it was an amazing deal. I also bought him a Super Mario Shake Tower game for around £20. By the time we finished shopping it was getting quite late, so on the way home we stopped at KFC for dinner before heading home. 🎂 Mario Birthday Cake & Party Prep Begins Tuesday was all about birthday prep. I started making Leo’s birthday cake, which was a two-tier Mario-themed cake with an 8-inch Madeira cake on the bottom tier and a 6-inch Madeira cake on top. I layered both cakes with buttercream and strawberry jam before giving them a buttercream crumb coat and leaving them in the fridge overnight ready to decorate the next day. While the cakes were chilling, I made some Super Mario themed shortbread biscuits using cookie cutters shaped like Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Bowser, Princess Peach and Toad. Once cut out, I chilled the biscuits in the fridge before baking them, which helps them keep their shape better. I also made a batch of vanilla cupcakes and started working on Leo’s piñata, which he wanted to look like one of the yellow question mark blocks from the Mario games. By the end of the day, the kitchen looked like complete chaos, but it felt good getting so much done. ✂️ Cricut Crafts, Party Decorations & Feeling Run Down By Wednesday, I’d developed quite a bad cold and was feeling really run down, which honestly wasn’t ideal with still so much left to do before the party. As I wasn’t feeling great, I decided not to work on the food that day and instead focused on some of the Cricut projects and decorations. Making personalised birthday T-shirts has become a bit of a tradition for the kids’ birthdays now, so I started by designing Leo’s Mario birthday T-shirt in Photoshop before cutting it out using my Cricut machine and pressing it onto the shirt with my heat press. I then designed his birthday banner using a font similar to the Super Mario logo before cutting all the letters out and assembling it together. After that, I finished the piñata by adding the question marks and hanging string, before moving on to making party bag extras including Mario and Luigi slap bands, personalised pens and sticker sheets. It ended up being one of those days where I spent hours crafting and creating things, but I was really happy with how everything turned out. 🍄 Decorating the Cake & Making Party Treats Thursday was another full day of party prep. I started the morning by decorating Leo’s birthday cake, covering it in blue fondant before adding edible images, fondant characters and little background decorations. Once the cake was finished, I moved on to decorating the cupcakes. Some had blue buttercream and sprinkles, while others featured edible toppers with Mario characters and “Happy 7th Birthday Leo” printed onto them using my edible printer. I then made star-shaped Rice Krispie treats, Mario hat treats, chocolate-covered breadsticks and chocolate lollies. Everything looked so colourful and fun once it was all finished. 🎉 Leo’s 7th Birthday Party Friday was finally Leo’s birthday 🎂🍄 While he was at school, Lawrence and I spent the day getting everything ready for the party. I wrapped the last few presents that had arrived late, while Lawrence focused on putting up streamers and balloons. Meanwhile, I worked on the party bags and created a Pin the Moustache on Mario game. Once everything was ready, I filled the helium balloons and set out Leo’s presents ready for when he got home. He was so excited when he walked through the door and saw everything set up for him, and he absolutely loved the birthday T-shirt I had made. We then sat down together while Leo opened all of his presents, which was such a lovely moment to watch. He was so excited about everything he got, and it was really nice seeing both him and Alice playing together with all the new toys afterwards. While the children played, I got started on the party food. I made chicken and chorizo skewers, potato wedges, chicken goujons, sausage rolls, pizza, cheesy garlic bread and fruit skewers designed to look like Mario piranha plants using grapes and strawberries. Once the guests arrived, Leo opened more presents before we all tucked into the food. Afterwards, we played lots of party games including: ❓ The question mark block piñata 🪙 Find the coin game 🎁 Pass the parcel 👨 Pin the Moustache on Mario 🎵 Musical statues Once the games finished, I brought out all the themed treats including the cupcakes, biscuits, Rice krispie treats, chocolate sticks and Mario hats. We then all sang Happy Birthday before Leo blew out the candles on his cake. By the end of the night everyone was exhausted, so the kids went straight to bed while I stayed up tidying before finally heading to bed myself. 🍔 Family BBQ for My Mum’s Birthday Saturday was my mum’s birthday, so we headed over to my parents’ house for a family BBQ. The kids rode their scooters there, which they loved, and my dad was very excited to try out his new BBQ. We had burgers, sausages, chicken and peppers before spending the afternoon chatting and catching up together. After such a busy week, it was nice having a slower afternoon with family. 🐱 Gabby’s Dollhouse Live in Liverpool Sunday was another really special day as we travelled to Liverpool to see Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! as one of Leo’s birthday treats. We kept the trip a surprise until his birthday, which made it even more exciting for both kids. We got the tram into Manchester before catching the train to Liverpool, and thankfully managed to grab a table seat which made travelling much easier with the children. Once we arrived in Liverpool, we headed towards the M&S Bank Arena, although we did have a small detour when Leo suddenly needed the toilet! Inside the arena, the kids were immediately drawn to the merchandise stand. Alice chose a cuddly Pandy plush, while Leo desperately wanted one of the light-up bubble wands. Unfortunately they sold out just before we reached the front of the queue, which definitely caused a few tears. Luckily, we managed to save the day with a light-up baton instead. The show itself was bright, colourful and full of energy. Alice especially loved CatRat, while Leo’s favourite part was Cakey’s Sprinkle Party. And when Dance Like a Gabby Cat started, the whole arena was up dancing. After the show, we headed to St John’s Shopping Centre for dinner before making our way home after such a busy but lovely week. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog below — including Leo’s Super Mario birthday prep and our trip to see Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!.

Family Weekly Update Some weeks feel really full, and this was definitely one of them. Between catching up on editing, a lovely theatre night with my mum, Easter prep, and a busy weekend of baking and celebrating, it ended up being a week packed with both productive moments and really special family time. Here’s everything we got up to this week. 🎬 Editing Catch-Up & A Late Night Monday was all about catching up on editing. I spent most of the day finishing the weekly vlog that should have gone up the week before, along with writing the blog post to go with it. Once that was done, I made a start on editing the next weekly vlog, which ended up taking much longer than expected. I didn’t finish until around 11pm, so I decided to leave uploading it until the next day so I could get everything ready properly. 🤒 A Poorly Day & Theatre Night at The Lowry Tuesday was a bit of a mixed day. Leo was poorly with what seemed like the same stomach bug Alice had the week before, so the morning was spent looking after him and keeping him comfortable on the sofa. As he was too ill to walk to school, my parents kindly stepped in to take Alice, which was such a big help. While Leo rested, I managed to finish writing my weekly update blog post and got everything ready to go live just in time before heading out. That evening, my mum and I went to the press night of Top Hat The Musical at The Lowry, and it was such a lovely night. We were dropped off near the Imperial War Museum North and did our usual walk across the bridge, which always feels like the perfect start to a theatre trip. Once inside, I collected our programme and drinks vouchers, had a quick look at the merch stand (and added another magnet to my collection!), and then we headed into the auditorium. Our seats were brilliant — really central and a great distance from the stage, which worked perfectly for the tap numbers. The show itself completely surprised me. It’s such a light, glamorous and feel-good musical, full of incredible dancing, classic songs and plenty of humour. The storyline is simple and easy to follow, which makes it perfect for just sitting back and enjoying the experience. What made it even more special was sharing it with my mum — she absolutely loved it, and it was just such a lovely evening together. 👉 You can read more about our visit HERE 👉 And my full review HERE When I got home, I attempted to start writing my review but ended up falling asleep on the sofa and finally heading to bed at around 5am! ✍️ Reviews, Reels & Easter Hat Making On Wednesday, Leo was still off school as he needed to stay home for 48 hours, but he was starting to feel much better. I spent the morning finishing my Top Hat review for All About Theatre, then wrote up my Sarah Monaghan blog review and created a reel to go with it. After school, Alice and I started working on her Easter hat for a school competition. We made pom pom chicks and rabbits, and she absolutely loved getting involved. We didn’t quite finish it before bedtime, so I carried on working on it afterwards… and didn’t realise quite how long it would take! I ended up finishing it at around 5am. 🛍️ Shopping Struggles & Piñata Prep Thursday was the kids last day at school before the Easter holidays, and I headed out to B&M with my parents. Getting there was a bit of a nightmare with roadworks, and unfortunately they didn’t have what I was looking for. I was hoping to find some Mario Hot Wheels cars for Leo’s birthday, but there wasn’t much choice. We then tried Home Bargains, where I had a bit more luck picking up some Easter party bits like plates, napkins and balloons. Once I got home, I started working on the Easter piñata, which this year was a chick hatching from an egg. 🧁 Easter Holidays, Baking & Party Prep Friday marked the start of the Easter holidays, so the kids and I spent the day baking cupcakes and biscuits while I continued working on the piñata. On Saturday, we carried on with the baking, making cornflake cakes, chocolate pretzel nests and chocolate-covered breadsticks, as well as decorating everything we had made the day before. It felt like full-on Easter prep mode, but the kids were loving it. 🐰 Easter Sunday & Family Celebrations Easter Sunday was such a lovely day from start to finish. The kids woke up to a surprise from the Easter Bunny, and while they were busy playing, I finished off the piñata and got everything ready for the day. While they had lunch, I filled all the eggs for the Easter egg hunt, and later the kids helped me fill the piñata with sweets, which they were very excited about! Lawrence got busy tidying the house and putting up decorations while I prepared the food, and by the time our guests arrived, everything was ready. The afternoon was filled with food, games and lots of fun. We had an Easter egg hunt in the garden, did egg and spoon races, played party games, and of course finished with the piñata — which was definitely a highlight. It was such a lovely way to spend Easter together as a family. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog below — including our theatre trip, Easter prep and party fun..

Family Weekly Update This week was the second week of the Easter holidays, so things ended up feeling very busy — but in the best possible way. We had lots of family theatre trips, days out across Manchester and Liverpool, and some genuinely special moments that I know we’ll remember for a very long time. From dragon-sized adventures at The Lowry and magical puppets at Z-arts to an unforgettable backstage tour at Manchester Palace Theatre, this week honestly felt packed from start to finish. Here’s everything we got up to this week. 💻 Editing, Blogging & A Quiet Start to the Week Monday ended up being a fairly quiet day at home after such a busy first week of the Easter holidays. While the children spent most of the day happily playing with their toys and watching Toy Story films together, I spent the day catching up on video editing for YouTube alongside writing blog posts and social media content. Honestly, it felt like one of those much-needed slower days before the rest of the week became incredibly theatre-heavy. 🛹 Sisters 360 at Waterside Arts On Tuesday, Lawrence joined me and the children for a family theatre trip to see Sisters 360 at Waterside Arts before heading into work for his late shift. We got the tram there, which honestly makes Waterside Arts such an easy venue for us to visit as it’s only two stops away and directly opposite the tram stop. We arrived around 11:15am for the 11:30am performance and picked up one of the free little programmes from the box office before heading inside. We were seated on the front row (Seats 13–16), which meant the children got some lovely interaction during the performance. Alice and Leo both received a handshake from Salima at the start of the show, while Alice also got a fist bump at the end, which she absolutely loved. The show itself was so much fun and both children were completely engaged throughout. After the performance, Lawrence headed off to work while I planned to grab lunch nearby with the kids. We originally tried KFC close to the theatre, but as there were no seats available we ended up getting the tram back home and going to McDonald’s instead. The children were VERY excited because the Happy Meals currently included Mario Galaxy toys, and they both ended up getting little Luma figures. 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 🐉 A Roaring Day at The Lowry Wednesday ended up being a very busy theatre day as Alice and I had not one but two separate trips to The Lowry. Zog at The Lowry In the afternoon, my mum joined me and the children for the press performance of Zog in the Quays Theatre. We had previously seen and loved the show back in 2023, so everyone was very excited to return for more dragon-sized fun. Before the show began, the children were each given a free programme and sticker, which was such a lovely touch, and while we waited for the auditorium to open they enjoyed some of the free activity sheets. Alice proudly brought along her pink dragon plush from our previous visit, while Leo picked out a little Zog keyring from the merch stand so he could hold his own dragon during the performance. The show itself was every bit as fun, lively and heartwarming as we remembered. Alice especially loved roaring along during dragon school, while Leo’s favourite moment was seeing Zog finally earn his golden star. One of the standout moments came right at the end when invited guests were given the opportunity to meet members of the cast and puppets, including Zog himself and the pink dragon. Alice absolutely loved this and gave the Zog puppet a huge hug afterwards before proudly announcing it was “the best day ever.” 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 📚 An Emotional Evening at The Lowry Later that evening, Alice, my brother and I headed back to The Lowry to see The Boy at the Back of the Class. I had seen the production previously in 2024 and remembered just how emotional and impactful the story was, so finally being able to bring Alice this time felt really special. From the moment the show began, Alice was completely transfixed by the stage and followed the story really closely throughout. By the interval, she was already telling me how much she loved the show and how kind the children were being towards Ahmet. Watching her connect so strongly with the themes of kindness, empathy and friendship genuinely made the whole theatre trip feel even more meaningful. During the interval, we also queued for ice cream after discovering the nearby concession stand had closed — and the queues were definitely very busy! 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 💖 A Solo Theatre Trip to Liverpool for Legally Blonde On Thursday, I travelled to Liverpool Empire for a solo theatre trip to see Legally Blonde The Musical. As someone who absolutely loves this musical, this was a show I had been looking forward to for such a long time. I first saw Legally Blonde back in 2010 in London’s West End starring Sheridan Smith and Richard Fleeshman, and it has remained one of my all-time favourite musicals ever since. After getting the tram into Manchester Victoria, I travelled over to Liverpool Lime Street before grabbing lunch at The North Western Wetherspoons inside the station. I was especially pleased to see that Hannah Lowther had returned to the role of Elle Woods after being off sick the previous day with tonsillitis. Thankfully she was back for this performance and honestly she was absolutely sensational. The production itself was so much fun, with brilliant choreography, fantastic performances and all the pink chaos and energy you could possibly want from Legally Blonde. Before heading home, I also managed to pick up a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts using a voucher, which definitely felt like a nice little bonus treat after such a lovely theatre day. 👉 You can read more about my visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 🍽️ Family Lunch & A Very Special Matilda Theatre Trip Friday started with lunch at Coppice Wood Farm with my parents. The children spent lots of time in the little play area while waiting for food and made the most of the free kids meals available during half term. Later that evening, Lawrence and I took Alice to see Matilda The Musical at Manchester Palace Theatre while Leo stayed overnight with my parents. This theatre trip honestly felt incredibly special because Lawrence and I have loved Matilda for years and had wanted to bring Alice for such a long time. The production itself was fantastic, but what made the evening completely unforgettable was the backstage tour Richard Hurst very kindly arranged for us afterwards. Meeting Richard was such a lovely experience and he was absolutely wonderful with Alice throughout. He showed us around backstage, including Trunchbull’s desk, wigs, costumes, quick-change areas and even explained how the famous blackboard trick works. Alice also got to hold Trunchbull’s magnifying glass and stand on stage itself looking out into the auditorium, which honestly felt surreal. Before we left, Richard also signed Alice’s souvenir brochure, making the whole evening feel even more magical. It genuinely became one of those theatre memories I know we’ll treasure forever. 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 🐻 Mika and the Polar Bear at Z-arts On Saturday, the children and I headed to Z-arts to see Mika and the Polar Bear. As soon as we arrived, the children spotted the adorable “Today I Met the Bear” photo board in the foyer, which immediately added to the excitement of the day. Inside the auditorium, the performance had already gently begun before we’d even fully settled into our seats, with a performer quietly writing beside softly lit icy set pieces. The show itself was absolutely beautiful and combined puppetry, dance, animation and music to tell such a lovely, hopeful story. Both Alice and Leo were completely transfixed throughout and audibly gasped when the polar bear first appeared on stage. After the show, children were invited to meet Mika and the polar bear puppet in the café area, which completely made the experience for Alice, who absolutely loves puppets. Before heading home, we also spent some time playing on the big red bus downstairs — something the children always love whenever we visit Z-arts. 👉 You can read more about our visit and a short review HERE 👉 And you can find my full review on All About Theatre 🍝 Birthday Meal at Pesto We finished the week on Sunday with a meal at Pesto to celebrate one of our friend’s birthdays. After such a busy week filled with theatre trips, travelling and late nights, it felt like a lovely relaxed way to round off the Easter holidays. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog If you’d like to see everything we got up to this week, you can watch this week’s family weekly update vlog below — including our theatre trips, family days out and Easter holiday moments.