🍿 Getting into the High School Musical Spirit On Monday afternoon, Lawrence and I headed over to The Lowry for the exclusive press launch of Disney's High School Musical. I'd been looking forward to this event ever since the invitation arrived, especially after hearing that we'd be getting an exclusive first look at the UK premiere of the first-ever non-replica production. As a long-time fan of the films, I couldn't wait to see what Hope Mill Theatre had planned. We arrived at The Lowry at around 3.45pm, giving us plenty of time before the main presentation, which was due to begin at 4.30pm. Walking into the Circle Bar, we were greeted by red and white balloons while the soundtrack from the original High School Musical film played in the background. It immediately got everyone in the High School Musical mood While everyone gathered, refreshments were available for guests. There was a selection of teas, coffee and water, alongside bright red slushies that felt perfectly on theme for High School Musical. Naturally, I couldn't resist trying one! Lawrence opted for two cups of tea while we waited—an English Breakfast followed by a Ginger & Lemon tea. There was also a popcorn stand and a freshly made candyfloss station. Lawrence and I both picked up a bag of popcorn, while I couldn't leave without treating myself to some candyfloss as well. It was freshly spun and really tasty, and all the little themed touches made the afternoon feel much more like an experience than a typical press launch. At around 4.30pm, an announcement invited everyone through to The Lowry's Compass Room, where the main event was about to begin. 👀 Exploring the Compass Room Walking through the doors genuinely felt like stepping into East High. Large round tables dressed in crisp white tablecloths filled the room, each styled in the show's iconic red and white colour scheme. Lawrence and I made a beeline for one of the tables right at the front so I'd have the best possible view for filming the presentations and interviews for my vlog. Each table had been carefully dressed in the show's iconic red and white colour scheme. Every place setting included an East High Year Book notebook, a mini basketball keyring, an East High drinks bottle, red napkins and glassware. Red and white balloon centrepieces added height and colour to the tables, while buckets filled with bottled soft drinks and jugs of iced water sat in the centre, ready for guests throughout the afternoon. It immediately created a warm, welcoming atmosphere and showed just how much thought had gone into every detail. Before taking our seats properly, Lawrence and I wandered around exploring everything that had been set up. One of my favourite displays was the row of East High Wildcats lockers. Some of the locker doors could actually be opened, revealing basketballs, costumes, school books, photographs and personal belongings inspired by different characters from the show. It was such a clever idea and really helped bring the world of East High to life. Another standout display was Sharpay Evans' dressing table. Complete with a glamorous Hollywood-style mirror surrounded by glowing bulbs, pink feather boas, jewellery and beauty accessories, it perfectly captured Sharpay's larger-than-life personality. Unsurprisingly, it became one of the most popular photo opportunities of the afternoon, and of course Lawrence and I couldn't resist sitting at the dressing table for a photo ourselves. There was even a basketball arcade game where guests could test their shooting skills and channel their inner Troy Bolton. Lawrence and I both had a go and probably spent longer there than we intended! It was such a fun interactive addition and kept everyone entertained while people chatted, took photographs and explored the room. What impressed me most was how immersive the whole experience felt. Rather than simply decorating a function room, the team had created an environment that celebrated everything people love about High School Musical. Every prop, every display and every little detail felt carefully considered, building excitement for the presentation before a single member of the cast or creative team had even taken to the stage. Eventually, it was time to take our seats. I helped myself to a bottle of rose lemonade from the table while Lawrence chose a bottle of dandelion and burdock. Once everyone was settled, Matthew Eames, Director of Theatre & Performance at The Lowry, welcomed guests before introducing Michelle Eagleton, who would host the afternoon's presentation. The Presentation Begins After Matthew Eames welcomed everyone and introduced host Michelle Eagleton, the afternoon got underway with a short video montage celebrating the original High School Musical films. It was a lovely way to start the event and instantly brought back memories of watching the movies. Although I certainly didn't grow up with them, I remember watching all three films when they were released and completely understanding why they became such a huge phenomenon. Even twenty years later, they still have that same feel-good energy. Michelle then welcomed Joseph Houston and William Whelton, founders of Hope Mill Theatre and co-directors of the production, to the stage. It was clear from the way they spoke about the production just how much the project means to them. They explained that this isn't a recreation of previous productions but the first-ever UK non-replica production, giving them the opportunity to create something completely new while remaining faithful to the heart of the much-loved Disney story. One quote that really stood out to me came from Joseph Houston, who said: "The world right now needs High School Musical. It's a show that is so much love and joy. It's about being your true authentic self and not sticking to the status quo." It really summed up why the story continues to resonate with audiences all these years later. William Whelton also spoke about how the films have found a whole new audience through Disney+, meaning the production isn't just for those who remember watching the original films when they first came out, but also for younger fans discovering East High for the very first time. A First Look at the Production One of the most exciting parts of the afternoon was getting an exclusive first look at the production's set and costume designs. Concept artwork was projected onto the screen, giving us an early glimpse of what audiences can expect when the show opens at The Lowry. The set immediately caught my attention. At its heart is a full-size basketball court complete with the Wildcats branding, surrounded by towering lockers, huge LED screens and digital scoreboards. Even from the concept artwork, it looked incredibly ambitious. What impressed me most, though, was hearing just how immersive the production is going to be. Around 100 audience members will actually be seated on specially created courtside seats built directly onto the stage, while the orchestra pit is being transformed into a runway extending out into the auditorium. It sounds like audiences really will become part of the action rather than simply watching it from their seats. The costume artwork was equally exciting. Rather than modernising the story, the creative team have fully embraced the early 2000s style that made the original films so recognisable. Looking at the designs, you could immediately see familiar nods to the characters everyone knows and loves, while still giving this production its own identity. They even revealed a bespoke Wildcats logo created especially for this production. Seeing both the set and costume artwork together really helped bring the directors' vision to life. Hearing From the Cast Next, it was time to meet two of East High's most iconic students. Tobias Turley, who will play Troy Bolton, and Leonor Correia, who takes on the role of Gabriella Montez, were welcomed onto the stage to perform Start of Something New. It was a brilliant way to introduce the pair. Their vocals sounded fantastic together and they already seemed completely at ease performing alongside one another. Judging by the applause around the room, everyone else was equally impressed. After their performance, Tobias and Leonor joined Michelle, Joseph and William for a chat about landing the roles. Leonor described High School Musical as simply "iconic," explaining that the films have been part of her life for as long as she can remember and that being cast as Gabriella still felt surreal. Tobias spoke about his own connection to the films and even revealed that he posted a basketball-themed audition video on social media before landing the role of Troy. It was a fun story and showed just how much enthusiasm he has for the character. Once the interview had finished, Tobias and Leonor headed backstage to prepare for another performance later on. With them off stage, the focus returned to Joseph and William, who spoke about some of the other casting choices for the production, including Caitlin Tipping as Sharpay Evans and Luke Bayer as Ryan Evans. They also discussed the exciting news that KayCee Stroh, who famously played Martha Cox in the original High School Musical films, will be returning to the franchise as Ms Darbus. Although KayCee wasn't able to attend the press launch in person, she appeared via a specially recorded video message that was played to everyone in the room. It was a lovely surprise and a wonderful way to connect this new production with the films that so many fans know and love. The afternoon wasn't over yet, though, as there was still another very special guest waiting in the wings... Jason Donovan Takes to the Stage The next guest to join Michelle Eagleton on stage was Jason Donovan, who will be playing Coach Bolton. As someone who's enjoyed watching Jason in numerous stage productions over the years, it was lovely to hear him talk about why he wanted to be part of High School Musical. He explained that his own children grew up watching the films, making the opportunity to join the cast particularly meaningful. One thing that really stood out during the interview was how thoughtfully he spoke about Coach Bolton. Rather than seeing him simply as the strict basketball coach, Jason explained that he wanted to explore the relationship between Coach Bolton and Troy, showing a father who genuinely wants the best for his son, even if they don't always see eye to eye. Listening to him speak, it was clear he's approaching the role with real warmth, and I think audiences are going to enjoy seeing his take on the character. A Perfect Finale To bring the presentation to a close, Tobias Turley and Leonor Correia returned to the stage for one final performance. This time they sang Breaking Free, one of the most iconic songs from the entire High School Musical franchise. It was a brilliant way to end the afternoon. Their voices blended beautifully, and although we'd only heard two songs, they left me excited to see them perform the full score when the production opens. Judging by the reaction in the room, I don't think I was the only one who wanted to hear more. With Michelle Eagleton thanking everyone for coming, the formal presentation came to an end. Time for Food... and a Chat Afterwards, guests were invited to stay for food and drinks while chatting with one another about everything we'd seen. The catering continued the relaxed, informal atmosphere, with trays of mini burgers, hot dogs, nachos and French fries being served around the room. I'll happily admit I'm quite a fussy eater, especially when it comes to sauces! The hot dogs were served with ketchup and mustard, so I spent a few minutes carefully scraping it off before I could eat it. Once I'd done that, though, it was very nice. Lawrence, on the other hand, had no such problems! He thoroughly enjoyed the food and managed to work his way through the nachos, a hot dog and no fewer than three mini burgers, so I think it's fair to say he definitely left happy. It was also nice having the opportunity to chat with some of the other guests after the presentation. Everyone seemed genuinely excited by what they'd seen, particularly the ambitious set design and the immersive staging, and it was interesting hearing everyone's thoughts before we all headed home. Heading Home As the event drew to a close, Lawrence and I made our way back to the tram stop and began the journey home, arriving back at around 7.30pm. The journey gave us plenty of time to chat about everything we'd seen during the afternoon. We both agreed that so much care had gone into every aspect of the event, from the themed decorations and interactive displays to the presentations themselves. It was clear just how much love there still is for High School Musical twenty years on, and the launch felt like a fitting celebration of that. I also came away feeling genuinely excited about the production itself. The concept artwork, immersive staging and passion shown by the creative team suggest that this isn't simply trying to recreate the Disney films on stage. Instead, they're putting their own stamp on the story while keeping everything that has made High School Musical such a beloved favourite. I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished production when it opens at The Lowry this August, and it'll be fascinating to see how everything we saw during the press launch translates to the stage. 🏀 Planning Your Visit to East High Following its world premiere at The Lowry, Disney's High School Musical will transfer to London for a festive run at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. The Lowry, Salford 📅 22 August – 13 September 2026 Tickets are available from the official The Lowry ticket page. Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London 📅 12 October 2026 – 3 January 2027 Following its Salford run, the production will transfer to London for a limited season at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. Tickets are available from the official London ticket page. For more information about the production, cast and creative team, visit the official High School Musical website. 🎥 Watch the Vlog If you'd like to see even more from the afternoon, I've filmed a full vlog from the High School Musical Press Launch at The Lowry. Join Lawrence and me as we explore the East High-themed décor, take a closer look at the interactive displays, hear from the cast and creative team, see the exclusive set and costume reveals and experience all the highlights from this exciting launch event. 🎶 Start of Something New One of the highlights of the afternoon was hearing Tobias Turley and Leonor Correia perform Start of Something New. It was our first chance to hear the pair sing together as Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, and judging by the reaction in the room, audiences are in for something very special when the production opens. 🎵 Breaking Free The presentation concluded with a performance of one of the musical's most iconic songs, Breaking Free. It was the perfect way to end the afternoon and left everyone excited to see the full production this August. Read My Full Feature If you're looking for a closer look at everything revealed during the press launch, including the exclusive set reveal, costume concepts, interviews with the cast and creative team, and my thoughts on what audiences can expect from the production, you can also read my full feature over on All About Theatre.

Family Weekly Update This week was a lovely mix of theatre, family time, shopping and cinema fun. We started the week with something really exciting as Lawrence and I headed to The Lowry for the press launch of High School Musical, then later in the week I took Alice and Leo to see The Gruffalo, before finishing the week with a family cinema trip to see Toy Story 5. Here is this week’s family weekly update, sharing everything we got up to throughout the week. 🎭 High School Musical Press Launch at The Lowry On Monday morning, Lawrence and I spent some time catching up on housework before heading to The Lowry in the afternoon for the High School Musical press launch while my parents watched the children. We arrived at around 3:45pm and headed to the Circle Bar, which had been decorated with red and white balloons. The High School Musical soundtrack was playing as we arrived, which instantly made the whole event feel fun and nostalgic. There were refreshments available while everyone waited for the main event to begin. Lawrence tried a couple of teas, while I had to go for one of the red slushies because it felt very on theme. There was also popcorn and candy floss, so of course we had to try those too. When it was time for the presentation, everyone was taken through to the Compass Room. The room looked fantastic with red and white decorations, balloon centrepieces and tables set up with East High themed items including notebooks, mini basketball keyrings and branded drinks bottles. Lawrence and I chose a table near the front so I could get a good view for filming the interviews and performances for my vlog. Before the presentation started, we had a look around at all the different themed areas. There were East High lockers filled with props and costume pieces, Sharpay Evans’ dressing table, and even a basketball arcade game where guests could have a go at shooting hoops. It was such a fun way to bring the world of East High to life and Lawrence and I really enjoyed looking around and taking photos before everything began. The presentation included an exclusive first look at the set design and costume concepts, plus performances from Tobias Turley and Leonor Correia, who will be playing Troy and Gabriella. They sang The Start of Something New and Breaking Free, which was such a lovely preview of what’s to come. There were also interviews with the creative team, including Joseph Houston and William Whelton from Hope Mill Theatre, and we heard more about the casting of Caitlin Tipping as Sharpay, Luke Bayer as Ryan, KayCee Stroh as Ms Darbus and Jason Donovan as Coach Bolton. Jason Donovan was also interviewed during the event, which was a really exciting moment. After the presentation, food was served including nachos, mini burgers, hot dogs and fries. As I’m a fussy eater, I stuck with a hot dog after scraping the sauce off, but Lawrence enjoyed trying a bit of everything. After chatting to a few people and taking everything in, we headed home on the tram and got back around 7:30pm. Once the children were home and in bed, I transferred all the footage onto my computer ready to start editing the next day. 👉 You can read more about the High School Musical press launch HERE. 🍝 Trafford Centre Lunch & Shopping Lawrence had the day off on Tuesday, so we decided to get the bus to the Trafford Centre and go for a nice lunch at Pesto. We arrived a little before Pesto opened, so we had a look around ASDA first. They had lots of lovely Toy Story home items in, including bedding, plates, bowls and glasses, as well as some nice children’s clothes, although we didn’t buy anything this time. We then had a quick look around the toys in Selfridges and found the new Disney Store section, which was really nice to browse. After that, we headed to Pesto for lunch. We chose from the £13.99 lunch menu where you can pick three dishes each. I went for my usual favourites, including the chicken wings, spicy sausage and pepperoni pizza, while Lawrence chose the spicy sausage, arancini and lasagne. We also shared garlic bread with cheese and had a Diet Coke each. Lunch was delicious and it was really nice having some time together while the children were at school. After lunch, we headed into Primark to pick up some leggings for Alice for school and pyjamas for Leo. We ended up getting Leo some Mario pyjamas, which I knew he would love. While Lawrence queued to pay, I popped across to Primark Home to have a quick look. They had a new Minions range in, as well as some Ratatouille items like plates, cups and bowls. There were also quite a few older Disney ranges in the sale, including some of the Bambi items. We then got the bus home in time to collect the children from school, and I spent the evening writing up my blog post about the High School Musical press launch. 💻 Editing the High School Musical Vlog Wednesday and Thursday were mainly spent working on the High School Musical content. On Wednesday, after taking the children to school, I finished off my blog post from the press launch and started editing the vlog from the event. On Thursday, I finished editing the High School Musical press launch vlog, which took quite a bit of time because I had filmed so much during the event. It always takes longer when there are interviews, performances and lots of different clips to go through, but I was really pleased to get it finished. 🐭 The Gruffalo at The Lowry On Friday, the children were off school for an inset day, so we went to see the 4:30pm performance of The Gruffalo at The Lowry. Lawrence had forgotten to book the day off work and my parents were away on holiday, so I had to take both children by myself. That might not sound like a big thing, but I realised I hadn’t taken both Alice and Leo out on my own like that since they were in a pram. I’ve taken them out one-to-one, but not both together for a theatre trip using public transport. We left the house at around 3pm and got the tram to The Lowry. We had to get two trams to MediaCity and arrived at around 3:45pm. Before heading into the theatre, we went into the Lowry Outlet Mall to visit the Cadbury shop. I bought the children a bag of Mini Eggs each, which were on offer at two bags for £3, and I got a pick and mix filled with my favourite Roses chocolates, the strawberry and orange creams. We then headed into The Lowry and made our way round to the Quays Theatre. On the way, the children were handed free little programmes that folded out into a poster, which was a nice touch. When we arrived at the press desk, the children were each given a Gruffalo activity book, a carton of juice and a little bag with activity sheets and crayons inside. We sat down at one of the tables while they worked on their activities and drank their juice before the auditorium opened. At around 4:15pm, we headed inside and found our seats in the stalls, Row G, seats 13–16. The view was excellent. Leo originally said he didn’t want a booster seat, but once someone sat in front of him he changed his mind, so I went and got one from near the stalls door. The show itself was fantastic. It was fun, funny and such a lovely family theatre trip. Alice and Leo both really enjoyed it and it was a great show to take them to on their inset day. Afterwards, we went to the main bar area because I had been given a drinks voucher, although the Quays bar wasn’t open. I got a lemonade while the children played with the little toy kitchen they have in the bar. I had hoped we might be able to get some food there, but they stop serving food at 4pm when there aren’t any evening shows on, so we headed home instead. We got the tram home at around 6:30pm and arrived back around 7:15pm. Once we were home, I made dinner and let the children play for a little while before bedtime. 👉 You can read more about our trip to see The Gruffalo HERE. ✍️ Reviews, Reels & Catching Up On Saturday, I spent most of the day writing my review for The Gruffalo. I also worked on creating reels for both The Gruffalo and the High School Musical press launch, so it ended up being another content-heavy day at home. It always feels good once the posts and social media content are finished, especially after a busy week of theatre trips and filming. 🎬 Toy Story 5 Cinema Trip On Sunday, Lawrence had the day off work, so we took the children to see Toy Story 5. We went to the Odeon in Manchester because it’s the only cinema Alice will really go to. She doesn’t like the recliner chairs that most cinemas seem to have now and refuses to sit on them, so the city centre Odeon works much better for us. It’s also much cheaper than the Trafford Centre Odeon, and it cost just £20.36 for all four of us for the 2pm showing, which I thought was really good value. We got the tram into town at around 1pm and arrived at Deansgate-Castlefield at around 1:20pm. As we were early, we popped into Sainsbury’s across the road to buy some drinks before heading into the cinema. Once we arrived, we bought popcorn because Alice absolutely loves getting popcorn at the cinema, then headed into Screen 4 to find our seats. The film finished around 3:55pm and we all absolutely loved it. Afterwards, we walked up to Market Street and went to the food court for dinner. I got KFC and everyone else chose McDonald’s before we walked to Piccadilly Gardens to get the tram home. We got home just after 6pm and then finished the evening watching The Wild Robot before bathing the children and getting them ready for bed. 💜 Final Thoughts Overall, this was such a lovely week with a really nice mix of theatre, family time and a little bit of work behind the scenes too. The High School Musical press launch was definitely a highlight for me, especially getting to hear the performances and see the creative team bring East High to life at The Lowry. I was also really proud of myself for taking both children to see The Gruffalo on my own. It felt like a big step, especially travelling by tram and managing everything without Lawrence or my parents there to help. Finishing the week with Toy Story 5 felt like the perfect family day out, especially as the children have been so excited about the film. It was one of those weeks that felt busy but full of really lovely memories. 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog This week’s vlog includes the High School Musical press launch at The Lowry, our lunch and shopping trip at the Trafford Centre, our family theatre trip to see The Gruffalo and our cinema trip to watch Toy Story 5. You can watch the full vlog below and come along with us for another week of family adventures.

Magic Gareth's Balloonatic – A Magical Family Theatre Trip at Z-arts On Saturday 6th June, we headed to Z-arts Manchester to see Magic Gareth's Balloonatic at the 2pm performance. This wasn't our first stop of the day though. Earlier in the afternoon we had been attending a family event at HOME Manchester, so once that finished we made our way across to Z-arts. Getting between the two venues was surprisingly easy. We caught the 256 bus from just around the corner from HOME at around 1:15pm and arrived at Z-arts at approximately 1:20pm. The two venues are only around a 15-minute walk apart, but as we already had bus tickets and Alice and Leo love riding on the bus, we decided to hop on rather than walk. One of the things I really like about Z-arts is how family-friendly the whole venue feels. Because we had arrived so early, we headed downstairs to the play area where Alice and Leo immediately made a beeline for the giant red bus. It's one of their favourite things about visiting Z-arts and they happily spent time climbing inside, pretending to drive and exploring before the show. By around 1:50pm we headed upstairs to see whether the auditorium was open yet and arrived just as staff were opening the doors. Our Seats at Z-arts Manchester 🎭 We were seated in Row E, Seats 15–18, which gave us a fantastic central view of the stage. One thing I've always liked about the theatre space at Z-arts is how well raked the seating is. Even with younger children sitting behind adults, everyone can still see comfortably over the heads in front. The stage itself looked colourful and inviting before the show began, with props, magic boxes and a large projection screen helping build anticipation. As the audience took their seats, funny animations and graphics played on the screen, including social media references and jokes that kept both children and adults entertained while we waited for the performance to begin. The atmosphere felt excited and relaxed, with lots of children chatting excitedly about what might happen during the show. The Show 🎈 The show began with a wonderfully silly voiceover explaining that Gareth had gained his magical powers after being bitten by a radioactive unicorn. That opening immediately set the tone for the fun and chaos that followed. Rather than telling a traditional story, Magic Gareth's Balloonatic is a fast-paced mix of magic, comedy, balloons and audience participation. There is always something happening, whether it's a magic trick, a visual gag, a balloon creation or an audience challenge, which meant the children around us remained completely engaged throughout. One thing that stood out was how good Gareth was at interacting with the audience. Throughout the performance he invited several children onto the stage to help with tricks and activities, but he also involved a few adults as well, which helped make the experience feel genuinely family-focused rather than simply a children's show. Even quieter children around us gradually became more confident about joining in and shouting out answers as the performance went on. My favourite moment was definitely the floating table illusion. It genuinely looked impossible from where we were sitting and had the whole audience completely captivated. Alice's favourite moment was when Gareth somehow managed to get a giant green balloon over his head, which she found absolutely hilarious. Leo was also fascinated by the floating table and spent much of the journey home talking about how he thought it might work. Meanwhile Lawrence's favourite moment involved Gareth swallowing one of the long modelling balloons like a sword swallower, which had the audience laughing and cringing in equal measure. Towards the end of the show, giant balloons were released into the audience and suddenly the theatre became a sea of bouncing balloons, laughter and excited children. For a few minutes it felt less like a theatre performance and more like one huge family celebration. The performance lasted around an hour with no interval and finished shortly before 3pm. After the Show 🎁 Afterwards, Gareth set up a merchandise stand in the foyer. Unfortunately we exited through the opposite side of the auditorium from where the stand was located and by the time we reached it there was already quite a large queue, so I wasn't able to get close enough to see everything that was available. During the show Gareth mentioned that he would be selling his book and magic wand slap bands, so I know those were available, although there may have been other items on sale too. As we had tickets for the Z-arts Access Day, our afternoon didn't finish when Balloonatic ended. Instead, we stayed at Z-arts and spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Adventures in Wonderland, where Alice and Leo had lots of fun before we eventually caught the bus home at around 4pm. Final Thoughts ✨ Overall, Magic Gareth's Balloonatic was a really enjoyable family afternoon and a great example of the kind of show that works just as well for adults as it does for children. The combination of magic, comedy, audience participation and balloon-based silliness kept the children entertained throughout, while Gareth's quick wit and easy-going stage presence ensured there was plenty for grown-ups to enjoy too. Alice, Leo and Lawrence all came away with completely different favourite moments, which probably says a lot about how much variety the show packs into its hour-long runtime. If your family enjoys interactive shows, visual magic and plenty of opportunities to laugh together, Magic Gareth's Balloonatic is definitely worth looking out for when it visits a venue near you. 🎈 A colourful, chaotic and thoroughly entertaining family show packed with magic, laughter and balloon-filled fun. 🎈 More Information About Magic Gareth's Balloonatic 🎈 Magic Gareth's Balloonatic is recommended for ages 5+ and has a running time of approximately 55 minutes with no interval. Tickets for our performance were £10, with discounts available for Bright Sparks and M15 members. For more information about the show and to find out where it will be visiting on tour, visit the official Balloonatic website. If you'd like to read my more theatre-focused review, you can also head over to All About Theatre. If you're looking for more fantastic family-friendly events, it's also worth taking a look at the Z-arts website to see what's coming up. From theatre shows and creative workshops to seasonal family activities and Adventures in Wonderland, there's always something fun happening for children and families to enjoy. 🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #456 If you’d like to see what I got up to during my trip to see Balloonatic you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #456. Our trip to the show begins at 05:00 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. 🎭 At a Glance 📍 Venue: Z-arts Manchester 📅 Date: Saturday 6th June 2026 ⏰ Performance Time: 2pm ⌛ Running Time: Approximately 55–60 minutes ☕ Interval: None 👶 Recommended Age: 5+ 🎟️ Tickets: £10 (discounts available for Bright Sparks & M15 members) 💺 Our Seats: Row E Seats 15–18 👀 Seat View: Excellent central view with well-raked seating 🚌 Travel: Easily accessible by bus, tram and train. The 256 and 263 buses stop almost directly outside the venue, while Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop and Deansgate railway station are both around a 15-minute walk away. ☕ Food & Drink: Ground floor café serving sandwiches, locally sourced cakes, fair trade coffee, tea, ice creams (including vegan options), vegan and gluten-free choices, plus Kids Picnic Boxes (£4.75). 📚 Library: Children's library and reading area available inside the venue. 🎁 Gift Shop: On-site gift shop selling books, craft kits, puzzles, cards, souvenirs and pocket-money treats. 🧸 Pre-Show Fun: Giant red bus play area at Z-arts 🛍️ Merchandise: Magic Gareth book and magic wand slap bands available after the show 🌍 Tour Dates: Visit the official Balloonatic website for future venues and dates *Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review Watch The Trailer

Something Rotten at Manchester Opera House On Wednesday 17th June 2026, I headed into Manchester to see Something Rotten at Manchester Opera House. I'd heard theatre fans talking about this musical for years and had seen countless people hoping it would eventually make its way to the UK. Despite all the excitement surrounding it, I'd somehow managed to avoid finding out too much about the plot beforehand. Apart from knowing it involved Shakespeare and featured lots of musical theatre references, I went in almost completely blind. Honestly, I think that was probably the best way to experience it. A Night At The Theatre I actually left home much later than I normally would for a theatre trip. Usually I'm already at the theatre by around 6:30pm, but recently I've been struggling quite a bit with anxiety and, if I'm honest, I've found some of my solo theatre trips harder than usual. It took me a little longer than normal to convince myself to leave the house and I also didn't particularly want to spend ages standing around on my own before the show started. I eventually caught the tram into Manchester at 6:35pm, arriving at St Peter's Square at around 6:50pm before making the short walk up to Manchester Opera House. I arrived at the theatre at 6:58pm, which actually turned out to be perfect timing. I had enough time to take a few photos and videos outside before heading inside. Being only the second preview performance, there was already a real buzz around the theatre. You could tell there were plenty of musical theatre fans in attendance, many of whom had been waiting years to finally see Something Rotten! arrive in the UK. Merchandise Before taking my seat, I had a look at the merchandise stand to see what was available. The merchandise on sale at this performance included: I Hate Shakespeare T-Shirt – £30 Bard T-Shirt – £30 Renaissance Hoodie – £55 Amazing Musical Tote Bag – £20 Wooden Magnet – £9 Bard Keyring – £12 Pin Badge – £9 Bottoms Up Mug – £20 I ended up buying a programme and a wooden magnet as a souvenir from the evening, which came to £17 altogether. My Seat At Manchester Opera House For this performance I was seated in the Circle, Row D, Seat 10. The seat was slightly off to one side rather than being completely central, but the view was excellent. The rake in the Circle is really good, which meant I could easily see over the person sitting in front of me and had no problems with sightlines throughout the performance. From this height I also felt like I got a fantastic view of the staging and choreography, particularly during some of the larger ensemble numbers. The only downside was that the Circle seats are a little more compact than those in the Stalls. Leg room is slightly tighter and the seats are closer together, so when the row is full it can feel a little cramped. As this was a preview performance, I managed to get a particularly good deal on my ticket. I believe this seat would normally cost around £60, which I still think would offer very good value given the quality of the view. The performance started at 7:30pm and finished at around 10:10pm. Act One lasted approximately 80 minutes, followed by a 20-minute interval, with Act Two running for around 60 minutes. The Story & My Thoughts 🎭 Set in the late 1500s, Something Rotten! follows brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, two struggling playwrights trying to make a name for themselves in a world completely dominated by William Shakespeare. While Shakespeare enjoys celebrity status and sells out theatres across London, the Bottom brothers find themselves desperately searching for an idea that will finally bring them success. When Nick seeks advice from a soothsayer named Nostradamus, he learns that the future of theatre involves something called a musical. Hoping to get ahead of Shakespeare, Nick attempts to discover what the Bard's greatest future masterpiece will be so he can write it first. Unfortunately, things don't quite go according to plan. What follows is one of the most ridiculous, chaotic and genuinely funny stories I've seen on stage in a very long time. Without giving too much away, let's just say eggs become surprisingly important. From the moment the show began, it was clear this wasn't going to be a traditional musical. The script is packed with jokes, puns, visual gags and clever references that come so quickly you almost don't have time to recover from one laugh before the next arrives. There were several moments throughout the evening where audience laughter completely drowned out the following line because people were still reacting to the previous joke. What impressed me most was how well the humour worked for a British audience. Although the show originally premiered on Broadway, it feels perfectly suited to UK audiences. The comedy has a wonderfully silly, almost pantomime-style energy at times while still managing to be incredibly clever. The show is also a complete love letter to musical theatre. References to famous musicals are woven throughout the entire production and theatre fans will undoubtedly spot far more than I managed during a single viewing. However, what I really appreciated was that you don't need to understand every reference to enjoy yourself. Even if you've never seen another musical before, the story and characters are funny enough to stand on their own. In fact, I honestly can't remember the last time I laughed this much at a musical. The Music, Staging & Performances 🎶 Musically, Something Rotten! is an absolute joy. The score has a classic Broadway feel, packed with memorable melodies, huge ensemble numbers and songs that stay in your head long after the curtain comes down. The standout number for me was undoubtedly A Musical. The song sees Nostradamus attempting to explain the concept of musicals to a thoroughly confused Nick Bottom and it quickly becomes one of the funniest sequences I've ever seen in a theatre. Every time I thought the number had reached its peak, another joke arrived and somehow made it even funnier. I also loved Hard To Be The Bard, which gives Shakespeare an opportunity to showcase his enormous ego, while the increasingly ridiculous Omelette storyline builds towards some of the funniest scenes of the entire evening. Visually, the production looks fantastic. The detailed Elizabethan set creates a lively world packed with staircases, balconies and multiple levels, while the costumes perfectly capture the period setting while still allowing the comedy to shine through. The choreography is equally impressive, particularly during the larger ensemble numbers which regularly earned applause before they had even finished. This cast is packed with talent from top to bottom. Jason Manford is perfectly cast as Nick Bottom. The role suits his natural comedy style and he brings a warmth and likeability to the character that makes it impossible not to root for him. Cassius Hackforth is excellent as Nigel Bottom, bringing heart and sincerity to a character who could easily get lost amongst the larger personalities around him. Marisha Wallace is, as expected, vocally sensational as Bea. However, what surprised me most was just how funny she was. She gets some huge laughs throughout the evening while delivering powerhouse vocals with apparent ease. Cory English is fantastic as Nostradamus. His comic timing is impeccable and some of the biggest laughs of the evening came during his scenes. He fully embraces the absurdity of the role and clearly relishes every moment on stage. For me though, the standout performance of the night came from Richard Fleeshman as Shakespeare. His Shakespeare is arrogant, flamboyant, self-obsessed and utterly hilarious. Every entrance felt like an event and he commanded attention whenever he stepped onto the stage. It's one of those performances where you can tell the actor is having an incredible time, and that enjoyment transfers directly to the audience. Final Thoughts Something Rotten! is clever without being pretentious, packed with references without feeling inaccessible and consistently funny from start to finish. Whether you're a lifelong theatre fan or simply looking for a fun night out, there's a very good chance you'll find something to enjoy here. It's gloriously silly, wonderfully self-aware and completely embraces the ridiculousness of its own premise. By the time the curtain came down, I completely understood why so many theatre fans have spent years hoping for a UK production. I left Manchester Opera House with a huge smile on my face and found myself still thinking about some of the jokes on the journey home. It's one of those shows that reminds you just how much fun live theatre can be when it doesn't take itself too seriously. I would happily book to see it again. A hilarious love letter to musical theatre that had me laughing harder than any show I've seen in years. More Information Something Rotten! is playing at Manchester Opera House until Sunday 19th July 2026. For tickets and show information, visit the official Something Rotten! 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 #457 If you’d like to see what I got up to during my trip to see Something Rotten! you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #457. My trip to the show begins at 11:09 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. At a Glance 📍 Venue: Manchester Opera House 📅 Manchester Run: Until Sunday 19th July 2026 ⏱️ Runtime: Approx. 2 hours 40 minutes including interval ☕ Interval: 20 minutes 👤 Age Guidance: Under 4s not permitted. Recommended 8+ due to some bawdy humour and language 🎭 Genre: Musical Comedy 🎵 Features Songs Including: A Musical, Hard To Be The Bard, Welcome to the Renaissance and Make an Omelette 🛍️ Merchandise Available: T-Shirts, Hoodies, Tote Bags, Mugs, Magnets, Keyrings and Pin Badges 📖 Programme Available: Yes ♿ Accessibility: Accessible performances available on selected dates 🚋 Travel: Easily accessible by tram, bus and train 🚊 Closest Tram Stop: St Peter's Square 🚆 Closest Train Station: Manchester Oxford Road 🚗 Parking: Several city centre car parks are available within walking distance 🔗 Official Website: Visit the official Something Rotten! website for show information Watch The Trailer

Family Weekly Update This week felt like a bit of a return to normal after spending so much time recently catching up on blog posts, videos and theatre reviews. Monday was a fairly quiet day at home. I spent most of the day editing the latest weekly vlog and writing up last week's Family Weekly Update. As anyone who follows my blog regularly will know, there always seems to be another video to edit or blog post to write, so it was nice to have a day to catch up on some admin before the rest of the week got busy. A Shopping Trip Into Manchester On Tuesday, Lawrence had the day off work, so after dropping the children off at school we decided to get the tram into Manchester for a bit of shopping. Our first stop was Manchester Arndale. Lawrence wanted to look for some new work shoes in Shoezone, so while he was doing that I headed into The Entertainer for a browse. I'm glad I did because I managed to find some of the Super Mario Hot Wheels cars that Alice and Leo had been looking for. I picked up Peach, Rosalina and Bowser Jr and was quite pleased with myself. When I met back up with Lawrence, he decided he wanted to have a look in The Entertainer too, so we ended up going back inside. This turned out to be a good thing because we found even more of the collection and ended up buying Red Yoshi and Baby Mario as well. They also had Toy Story 5 wrapping paper in stock. Alice has already informed me that she wants a Toy Story 5 themed birthday party in December, so although it might seem a little early, I decided to buy it while I had the chance. Experience has taught me that if I leave these things until closer to the time, they often disappear from the shelves. While paying, I was also tempted by a special offer on a Lotso plush and managed to add that to my basket as well. Afterwards we had a quick look around B&M but didn't find anything we wanted before heading over to Primark. As always, my favourite part of Primark was the Disney section. There was so much new Disney stock in that I ended up filming a Disney Come Shop With Me video for YouTube while I was there. I was very tempted by a reduced Bambi bag which had been marked down to £6, but unfortunately the strap was a little too short for me so I reluctantly left it behind. We did manage to find a few bargains for the children though. Leo got a Pokémon sweatshirt along with a Super Mario sweatshirt and jogging bottoms, all reduced to half price. Lawrence and I also picked up some phone straps ready for our upcoming London trip, and I found a My Chemical Romance t-shirt which I thought would make a nice Father's Day gift for him. Before heading home, we made one final stop at Krispy Kreme. I had a voucher for 12 doughnuts for £12 and Alice had been asking if we could get some, so it seemed rude not to. We arrived home just in time to collect the children from school, who were absolutely delighted with both the doughnuts and the new Super Mario cars. A Solo Theatre Trip To See Something Rotten! Wednesday morning was spent catching up on some housework before I headed into Manchester in the evening to see Something Rotten! at Manchester Opera House. If I'm honest, I nearly talked myself out of going. My anxiety has been quite bad recently and I've found some of my solo theatre trips harder than usual. Normally I'd arrive at the theatre nice and early, but this time I left much later than I usually would because I spent far too long trying to convince myself to leave the house. In the end, I caught the tram into Manchester and arrived at the theatre just before 7pm. Ironically, my later arrival turned out to be perfect timing. I still had enough time to take a few photos outside, browse the merchandise stand and find my seat before the performance started. I bought a programme and a wooden magnet as souvenirs and then settled into my seat in the Circle. The show itself was absolutely hilarious. Without turning this into a full review, it was honestly one of the funniest musicals I've seen in years. More importantly, I was really proud of myself for going. When anxiety is telling you to stay at home, even something you normally enjoy can feel difficult. By the time I left the theatre at the end of the evening, I was so glad I had pushed myself to go. Sometimes the things we worry about the most turn out to be the things we enjoy the most. 👉 You can read more about my visit and shorter review HERE Housework, Blogging & More Theatre Thursday was another fairly productive day. I spent some time catching up on housework and started working on a few new blog posts. That evening, Lawrence went to see Something Rotten! himself and he came home saying how much he had enjoyed it too. It's always nice when we both end up loving the same show. Father's Day Shopping On Friday, Lawrence was off work again, so we headed to some of our local shops to pick up Father's Day cards and presents. We stopped at Home Bargains where I found some Father's Day cards and chocolates for Lawrence's gift. We also picked up some handheld fans ready for our London trip. Afterwards we headed to Aldi to do a food shop before returning home. The rest of the afternoon was spent working on blog posts. One thing people often don't realise is how long blog writing can take me. I have dyslexia and dyspraxia, which means it takes me longer to process information and organise my thoughts. When I was at university I received 50% extra time in exams because it simply took me longer to complete written work. I genuinely love writing and creating content, but it's not unusual for a single blog post to take me most of the day to finish. It's one of the reasons I always appreciate everyone who takes the time to read, comment and support what I create. Alice's School Fair & An Early Father's Day Meal Saturday was Alice's school fair. The children had an absolutely brilliant time and spent most of the morning bouncing between the different inflatables. There were two traditional bouncy castles along with an obstacle course inflatable that ended with a slide, and I don't think Alice and Leo stopped moving for the entire time we were there. Of course, no school fair is complete without ice cream. I chose strawberry sauce on mine, Alice went for chocolate sauce and Leo picked an Oreo ice cream. Lawrence didn't get one because he already knew what would happen. Sure enough, the children only managed about half of theirs and he ended up finishing the leftovers. We also treated the children to a cookie each before heading off. We couldn't stay all afternoon because we had a table booked at Coppice Wood Farm for an early Father's Day meal. My parents and my brother joined us and we all enjoyed a lovely family lunch together. The children always enjoy visiting because of the play area and they happily disappeared off to play while the adults chatted. The food was lovely and it was nice to spend some time together before Father's Day. A Relaxing Father's Day Sunday was Father's Day. The children gave Lawrence his cards and presents in the morning and he was really pleased with everything they had chosen for him. Because it was such a warm day, we decided to keep things simple and enjoy a relaxing day at home. We stayed in our pyjamas for most of the day, watched television, played games on the Nintendo Switch and generally enjoyed doing very little. While everyone else relaxed, I did spend some time editing this week's vlog and working on another blog post, but overall it was a much slower pace than we've had recently. Final Thoughts Looking back, this week was a nice mix of family time, theatre trips, blogging and getting organised for the weeks ahead. I was particularly proud of myself for making it to Something Rotten! despite feeling anxious beforehand, and it was lovely seeing how much fun Alice and Leo had at the school fair. Sometimes the quieter weeks end up being just as enjoyable as the busy ones. With London coming up soon and plenty more theatre trips already booked, I don't think things will stay quiet for long though! 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog From shopping in Manchester to seeing Something Rotten! at Manchester Opera House, Alice's school fair and our Father's Day celebrations, it's been another busy week. You can watch the full vlog below.

Why We Returned To Mabledon Court Hotel We've stayed at Mabledon Court Hotel several times over the years and previously reviewed it very positively thanks to its friendly family-run atmosphere, convenient Bloomsbury location and excellent value for money. When we booked a Deluxe Double Room at Mabledon Court Hotel for another London theatre break at the end of June 2025, we were looking forward to returning to a hotel we'd genuinely enjoyed before. Our one-night stay cost £175.50 including breakfast and, since our last visit, the hotel had undergone significant changes, including refurbished rooms and ongoing renovation work. In this Mabledon Court Hotel review, I'll be sharing our experience staying in a recently refurbished Deluxe Double Room, looking at the room itself, the breakfast offering, the ongoing renovations and whether we'd still recommend the hotel today. As theatre lovers, our trips to London are usually packed with West End shows, meaning we spend very little time in our hotel room beyond sleeping and getting ready for the next performance. That's why location and value for money have always been more important to us than luxury facilities. Hotel Location One thing that hasn't changed about Mabledon Court Hotel is its excellent location. Situated in Bloomsbury, the hotel remains around a 10-minute walk from Euston Station and within easy reach of King's Cross and St Pancras. For theatre lovers like us, it's also within walking distance of many West End theatres, making it a convenient base for a London theatre break. The British Museum, Russell Square and numerous restaurants and cafés are all nearby, while Oxford Street can be reached on foot if you enjoy exploring the city as much as we do. For short London stays focused on theatre, sightseeing and attractions rather than spending time in the hotel itself, the location continues to be one of the property's biggest strengths. Check-In and First Impressions Check-in was quick and straightforward, and the member of staff working at reception was friendly and welcoming. One thing that hasn't changed is the hotel's luggage storage service. We arrived before check-in and were able to leave our bags safely at reception while we headed off to our first theatre show of the trip. After checking out the following day, we were also able to leave our luggage at the hotel while we explored London and attended a matinee performance before catching our train home. For theatre-goers and visitors wanting to make the most of their time in the city, this remains a very useful service. However, it quickly became clear that the hotel was undergoing significant renovation work. While refurbishment can ultimately improve a property, we were surprised that the work hadn't been mentioned when we booked. As we made our way through the hotel, we encountered unfinished walls, exposed wiring and visible construction work in some of the corridors and communal areas. The guest lounge that had previously been available during our earlier stays was also being used to store renovation materials and therefore wasn't accessible during our visit. The work didn't prevent us from enjoying our stay, but it did have a noticeable impact on the overall atmosphere and first impression of the hotel. The Room For this stay we booked a Deluxe Double Room and, in many ways, the room itself was the highlight of our visit. In fact, this was probably the nicest room we've stayed in at Mabledon Court Hotel. The room had clearly been recently refurbished and felt far more modern than the rooms we remembered from previous visits. While still compact, the layout made good use of the available space. The room included: Double bed En-suite bathroom Television Free Wi-Fi Desk and chair Safe Tea and coffee-making facilities Wardrobe space Fan Hairdryer The décor felt contemporary, with neutral tones, modern furnishings and a much more up-to-date appearance than the hotel's older rooms. The desk area provided plenty of space for charging devices and getting ready, while the large upholstered headboard and modern furniture gave the room a more premium feel. Like many central London hotels, space was limited, but for a one-night theatre break it provided everything we needed. One thing worth noting is that the room does not have air conditioning. A fan was provided, which helped during our stay, but the room was still noticeably warm due to the hot weather. Guests visiting during the summer months may want to bear this in mind when booking. Despite being compact, the room never felt uncomfortable for a one-night stay. We spent very little time there beyond sleeping and getting ready, but it provided everything we needed for our theatre trip. The bed was comfortable, the room felt clean and fresh, and the recent refurbishment gave it a much more modern feel than the rooms we had stayed in previously. Although the room had clearly been refurbished, there were still small signs that finishing touches were outstanding. Opposite the bathroom, near the light switches, there was a small hole in the wall through which cabling was visible. I can't say what the cable was for, but it did add to the feeling that the hotel was still very much mid-renovation during our stay. Overall, the room was clean, comfortable and well presented, and it was clear that the refurbishment programme has significantly improved the accommodation itself. The Bathroom The bathroom was another area that had clearly benefited from the renovations. Finished with modern tiling throughout, it felt bright, fresh and considerably more contemporary than the bathrooms we remembered from previous stays. Facilities included: Walk-in shower Toilet Sink Mirror Towels Toiletries The shower enclosure was modern and easy to use, and everything appeared clean and well maintained. Of all the improvements we noticed during our stay, the bathroom was probably one of the most impressive. Renovation Work As returning guests, this was perhaps the biggest change we noticed. During our previous stays, Mabledon Court Hotel felt like a cosy family-run hotel with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. This time, the ongoing renovation work was impossible to ignore. In the corridors we encountered exposed wiring, unfinished walls, missing fixtures and construction materials. Some areas were clearly still a work in progress, creating a very different first impression from the hotel we remembered. We also noticed a small unfinished area inside our room, which reinforced the feeling that the renovation work was still ongoing. The contrast between the newly refurbished bedroom and the unfinished communal areas was quite striking. Hopefully, once the renovation programme is complete, the rest of the hotel will reflect the same standard as the refurbished rooms. Breakfast Breakfast was included in the room rate and represented another significant change from our previous visits. When we stayed in 2022 and 2023, guests could choose between a cooked breakfast and continental options. Staff were present throughout breakfast service, taking order slips, bringing toast to tables and offering tea and coffee. It felt personal, friendly and very much in keeping with the family-run atmosphere of the hotel. This time, breakfast was continental only and entirely self-service. The selection included: Cereals Bread for toasting Croissants and pastries Cheese Cold meats Yoghurts Fresh fruit Jams and spreads Tea and coffee Fruit juice There was enough choice for a simple breakfast before heading out to explore London, and everything we tried was perfectly enjoyable. What stood out more was the difference in atmosphere. During breakfast there were no staff present in the dining room and, apart from the receptionist, we didn't encounter any other members of staff throughout our stay. The breakfast itself wasn't bad, but it felt much more basic than the service we had enjoyed on previous visits. Overall Thoughts Looking back on our latest stay at Mabledon Court Hotel, the biggest improvements were undoubtedly the refurbished rooms. This is quite a difficult review to write because, in many ways, the hotel is both better and worse than it used to be. The room itself was undoubtedly an improvement. Our Deluxe Double Room was modern, comfortable and well refurbished, while the bathroom felt fresh, contemporary and significantly upgraded from previous stays. In fact, this was probably the nicest room we've experienced at Mabledon Court Hotel. The refurbishment has created a more modern and comfortable space, and it's clear that money has been invested in upgrading the accommodation. At the same time, many of the qualities that originally made us recommend the hotel seem to have changed. The family-run atmosphere that we previously loved felt largely absent. The staff we did meet were friendly and helpful, but there was very little staff presence elsewhere in the hotel. The breakfast service had been simplified considerably, and the ongoing renovation work affected some of the communal areas. As returning guests, the biggest thing we noticed wasn't the physical changes to the building but the change in atmosphere. That doesn't mean Mabledon Court Hotel is a bad hotel. The location remains excellent, the refurbished rooms are a genuine improvement, and the staff we encountered were friendly and helpful. However, it no longer feels quite like the warm, family-run hotel we remembered from previous stays. Instead, it feels like a hotel in transition. Once the renovation work is complete, it will be interesting to see whether some of that character returns alongside the improved accommodation. Who Is This Hotel Best For? I would particularly recommend Mabledon Court Hotel for: Theatre-goers visiting London Visitors arriving via Euston or King's Cross Couples looking for a convenient central London base Short city breaks Travellers who prioritise location over hotel facilities If you're looking for a luxury hotel with extensive facilities, this probably won't be the right choice. However, if you need a well-located place to stay within walking distance of major transport links and many London attractions, it remains a practical option. Would I Stay Here Again? Possibly, but my answer isn't quite as straightforward as it would have been a few years ago. If I were choosing purely based on location, I'd certainly consider returning. The hotel remains within easy walking distance of Euston Station, King's Cross and many West End theatres, making it extremely convenient for the type of trips we enjoy. The refurbished Deluxe Double Room was also the best room we've experienced at the hotel, and it's encouraging to see investment being made in the accommodation itself. However, what made us return previously wasn't just the location or the rooms – it was the atmosphere. During our earlier stays, Mabledon Court Hotel felt welcoming, personal and genuinely family-run. Unfortunately, that was the aspect of the experience that felt most noticeably different during our latest visit. For first-time visitors, the renovated rooms and excellent location may be enough to make Mabledon Court Hotel a good choice for a short London stay. Returning guests, however, should be aware that the experience currently feels quite different from the hotel many of us remember. I'd be interested to return once the renovation work is complete to see how the hotel develops. For now, I'd describe it as a hotel with plenty of potential that is still very much a work in progress. If you're booking because of older reviews describing a cosy family-run atmosphere and cooked breakfast service, it's worth knowing that the experience has changed significantly in recent years. Hotel Information At A Glance Hotel: Mabledon Court Hotel Location: Bloomsbury, London Room Type: Deluxe Double Room Price Paid: £175.50 for one night (including breakfast) Breakfast: Continental breakfast included Free Wi-Fi: Yes Air Conditioning: No (fan provided) 24-Hour Reception: Yes Luggage Storage: Yes (available before check-in and after check-out) Lift: Yes Distance from King's Cross St Pancras: Approximately 5 minutes' walk Distance from Euston Station: Approximately 10 minutes' walk Distance from West End Theatres: Approximately 20-30 minutes' walk British Museum: Approximately 15-20 minutes' walk Renovation Work: Ongoing during our stay Watch My Full Room Tour & Review As part of this Mabledon Court Hotel review, I've also included my full room tour and hotel review video below, where you can see the refurbished room, breakfast offering and ongoing renovation work for yourself.

Mabledon Court Hotel Review When Lawrence and I visited London for our anniversary, we wanted somewhere affordable, comfortable and within walking distance of the West End theatres. As theatre lovers, our trips to London are usually packed with shows, so we rarely spend much time in our hotel room. Since we were planning to spend most of our time watching theatre and exploring the city, we were far more interested in location and value for money than luxury facilities. In this Mabledon Court Hotel Review, I'll be sharing my experience staying in a Standard Double Room at this family-run hotel in Bloomsbury, London, during an anniversary theatre break. After searching around and finding many London hotels surprisingly expensive, we booked a Standard Double Room at the Mabledon Court Hotel in Bloomsbury. We paid £121.50 for one night, including breakfast. Hotel Location One of the biggest selling points of the Mabledon Court Hotel is its location. The hotel is situated in Bloomsbury, just a short 10-minute walk from Euston Station, making it incredibly convenient if you're arriving in London by train. It was also around a 20-minute walk to the West End theatres we were visiting, meaning we didn't need to worry about navigating the Underground after a late-night performance. During our stay we also walked to Oxford Street to visit the Disney Store, which took around 30 minutes, and the British Library is only around a 10-minute walk away. The hotel itself was easy to spot thanks to its attractive frontage, complete with flower displays above the entrance, which gave it a welcoming feel from the moment we arrived. For the type of London trips we enjoy, where we're spending most of our time watching shows and exploring the city, the location really couldn't have been much better. Check-In and First Impressions Although check-in officially starts at 1pm, we arrived much earlier in the day as we already had theatre plans. The hotel offers a luggage storage service, allowing us to leave our bags safely at reception while we headed off to enjoy our first show. When we returned later that evening, checking in was quick and straightforward. By that point it was around 11pm and we'd already had a full day of travelling and theatre-going, so we were grateful that the process was so simple. The staff throughout our stay were friendly, welcoming and helpful. The Mabledon Court Hotel is a family-run hotel, and there was a warm, personal atmosphere from the moment we arrived. Everyone we spoke to was pleasant, and nothing seemed too much trouble. Although we only stayed for one night, the friendly service helped make the hotel feel welcoming and comfortable, which is something that can sometimes be missing from larger chain hotels. The following day, after checking out, we were also able to leave our luggage at the hotel until it was time to catch our train home that evening. This was incredibly useful as it meant we could continue exploring London without having to drag our bags around with us all day. The Room Our Standard Double Room was certainly compact, but that was exactly what we expected from a budget hotel in central London. As you entered the room, there was a small desk area with a chair, telephone, mirror and wall-mounted hairdryer. Tea and coffee-making facilities were also provided, including a kettle, mugs, tea bags and milk portions. The room included: Double bed En-suite bathroom Television Free Wi-Fi Telephone Hairdryer Tea and coffee-making facilities Wardrobe Desk and chair There was also a small wardrobe for hanging clothes, although as we were only staying for one night, we didn't bother unpacking. The room was definitely on the small side, but it was clean, tidy and well laid out. We arrived back at the hotel late in the evening after spending the day out in London and left again early the following morning, so all we really needed was somewhere comfortable to sleep. If you're planning a longer stay or prefer a spacious hotel room where you can relax during the day, you may find it a little small. However, for a short theatre break or overnight stay, it worked perfectly well for us. The Bathroom The en-suite bathroom was compact but functional. Inside there was: Shower Toilet Sink Mirror Towels Soap Shampoo Conditioner The shower cubicle was quite small, but everything was clean and well maintained. One thing I particularly liked was that the room had its own private bathroom. Some budget hotels in London still have shared facilities, so having an en-suite bathroom included was a definite plus. Breakfast Breakfast was included in the room price and was served in the hotel's dining room between 7:30am and 9:00am. The breakfast room itself was bright, clean and well maintained, providing a pleasant place to start the day before heading out into London. There was a good amount of choice available for a budget hotel. Guests could help themselves to cereals, fruit, yoghurts, fruit juice, tea and coffee, while cooked breakfast items were selected using an order card. Options included scrambled or fried eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans and tomatoes, allowing guests to create their own Full English Breakfast. Toast was also available. I opted for cereal, toast, bacon and sausage, while Laurence chose a larger cooked breakfast. Everything was freshly prepared and arrived quickly. Considering breakfast was included in the room rate, we felt it offered excellent value and was a great way to start the day before heading back out to explore London. Overall Thoughts Looking back on this Mabledon Court Hotel Review, the biggest strengths of the hotel were its location, friendly staff and excellent value for money. The room was compact and that may not suit everyone, but for the type of trip we were taking it was exactly what we needed. The included breakfast, free Wi-Fi, luggage storage facilities and friendly staff all added to the overall value. What really stood out to us was the friendly atmosphere. Being a family-run hotel, it felt much more personal than some of the larger chain hotels we've stayed in, and the welcoming staff helped make our stay even more enjoyable. For us, the biggest advantage was the location. Being within walking distance of Euston Station and the West End theatres made our trip incredibly easy and stress-free. Finding affordable accommodation in central London can be difficult, especially during the summer months, so paying £121.50 including breakfast felt like very good value. Would I stay here again? Absolutely. In fact, if Laurence and I book another theatre break in London, I can see us returning. The location was perfect for the way we travel, and it provided everything we needed for an enjoyable overnight stay. Who Is This Hotel Best For? I would particularly recommend the Mabledon Court Hotel for: Theatre-goers visiting the West End Couples looking for a budget-friendly London break Visitors arriving via Euston Station Overnight stays and short city breaks Travellers who prioritise location and value over luxury facilities If you're looking for a luxury hotel with large rooms and extensive facilities, this probably won't be the right choice. However, if you want a clean, comfortable and affordable base in a great location, it's definitely worth considering. Hotel Information At A Glance Hotel: Mabledon Court Hotel Location: Bloomsbury, London Room Type: Standard Double Room Price Paid: £121.50 per night (including breakfast) Check-In: From 1pm Check-Out: 11am Breakfast: Included (Full English or Continental options) Free Wi-Fi: Yes Luggage Storage: Yes Distance from Euston Station: Approximately 10 minutes' walk Distance from West End Theatres: Approximately 20 minutes' walk Would I Recommend It? Yes. The Mabledon Court Hotel offers good value for money, a convenient location and everything needed for a short London stay. While the rooms are compact, they're clean, comfortable and ideal for theatre trips where you're spending most of your time out exploring the city. Watch My Full Room Tour & Review As part of this Mabledon Court Hotel Review, I've also included my full room tour and hotel review video below, where you can see the room, breakfast and facilities for yourself.

Family Weekly Update This week was a little different as we spent the first part of the week enjoying our annual family holiday at Ribby Hall Village. We've been visiting Ribby Hall for the past six years and it has become one of our favourite family traditions. This year we went with my parents, my two brothers, my sister, her husband and their little boy, staying in two cottages next to each other. We spent the week making the most of everything Ribby Hall has to offer. The children enjoyed swimming, soft play, feeding the ducks and spending time on the playground, while Lawrence and I even had a go at archery. It was lovely seeing the children spending some time with their cousin, grandparents, auntie and uncles throughout the week. I'll be sharing all the details in a dedicated holiday blog post and holiday vlogs very soon, but after arriving home on Friday we had a very busy weekend ahead of us. This family weekly update picks up on Saturday after we returned home from our holiday, and what a busy weekend it turned out to be! 🎨 Family Creator Day at HOME Manchester Saturday started with a trip into Manchester for HOME's Family Creator Day. We caught the 255 bus into the city and after a short walk arrived at HOME, where the children were immediately welcomed with balloons and stickers. As soon as we arrived, Alice and Leo headed straight into Creativity Corner. If you've followed my blog for a while you'll know how much we love this space whenever we visit HOME. Alice spent ages colouring, dressing up and playing with the toys, while Leo happily got stuck into the craft activities. By the end of the morning he had made a jellyfish, a fish and a starfish, while Alice proudly showed off the octopus she had created. One of the things I enjoyed most was simply sitting back and watching them enjoy themselves. There was no pressure, no strict timetable and no expectation to create anything specific. The children were free to explore and be creative in their own way. Around midday we headed upstairs to HOME Bar & Kitchen for lunch. We were treated to pizza and chips which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. Despite visiting HOME countless times over the years, this was actually the first time we'd eaten there and we'll definitely consider doing it again in future. Unfortunately we couldn't stay for the afternoon screening of Monsters, Inc. because we already had plans elsewhere, but before leaving the children were given a small party bag which was a lovely finishing touch. 👉 You can read more about the Family Creator Day HERE. Little did we know that HOME would only be the first stop of a very busy Saturday. After lunch we said goodbye to everyone at the Family Creator Day and headed straight across Manchester for our next family adventure. 🎈 Balloonatic, Adventures in Wonderland & A Very Busy Afternoon Rather than heading home after HOME, we caught the 256 bus over to Z-arts. Because we arrived quite early, Alice and Leo spent some time playing on the giant red bus downstairs before we headed upstairs for Balloonatic. The children were laughing almost from the moment the show started and there were lots of moments where I found myself laughing too. What I enjoyed most was seeing how differently Alice and Leo reacted to different parts of the performance. Alice couldn't stop talking about the giant balloon moment afterwards, while Leo spent most of the journey home trying to work out how some of the tricks had been done. After the show we stayed for the Z-arts Access Day. The original plan had been to try lots of different activities, but Alice and Leo had other ideas. The moment they stepped into Adventures in Wonderland they were completely absorbed and honestly, I struggled to persuade them to leave and explore anything else. Sometimes when you're planning a family day out you imagine moving neatly from one activity to another. The reality is that children often find one thing they love and want to stay there all afternoon. That was definitely the case here. Before we knew it, it was time to head home so Alice and I could get ready for our evening theatre trip. 👉 You can read more about Balloonatic and shorter review HERE 👉 Read my Balloonatic review on All About Theatre HERE. 👉 Read my Adventures in Wonderland review HERE. 🎭 An Evening at Malory Towers with Alice After getting home from Z-arts, Alice and I quickly got changed, had some dinner and headed straight back into Manchester. This time it was just the two of us. I always enjoy having one-to-one time with the children and it felt particularly special after spending the day together already. When we arrived at HOME we collected our tickets, took a few photos and spent some time in Creativity Corner before heading into the theatre. Neither of us knew much about Malory Towers beforehand, so it was nice experiencing the story together for the first time. During the interval we treated ourselves to ice cream and chatted about our favourite characters and moments from the first half. By the end of the evening Alice was completely invested in the story and was chatting about it all the way home. It was quite a late night by the time we finally got back, but it was one of those lovely mother-and-daughter evenings that I'll remember for a long time. 👉 You can read more about my Malory Towers visit and shorter review HERE 👉 Read my All About Theatre review HERE. 🎪 We Invented The Weekend Festival with Leo After Alice and I had enjoyed some one-to-one time together on Saturday evening, Sunday was Leo's turn. Alice was still feeling quite tired after our late night at the theatre and decided she wanted a quieter day at home, so Leo and I headed off to MediaCity together. We first discovered We Invented The Weekend last year by accident when we stumbled across it after a Father's Day meal. We only managed to catch the end of it, so I was excited to return properly this year. As soon as we arrived, it was obvious there was a lot going on. I think Leo found it a little overwhelming at first, so we headed towards The Lowry where things felt a little more familiar. That turned out to be exactly the right decision. Leo loved the U-Build construction area and spent ages crawling through tunnels, building structures and hammering pegs into place. While he played, I managed to watch some of the performances taking place on the outdoor stage which was a nice bonus. Eventually we both got hungry and headed inside The Lowry for lunch. I'd spotted online that children's meals had been £1 on Saturday and hoped the offer might still be running, but unfortunately they were back to their usual £5 price. The £5 children's meal still felt like good value though, and both Leo and I really enjoyed our hotdog and chips. One of the highlights of the day was the backstage tour of The Lowry. I learned things about the building that I never knew before despite visiting regularly for years, and Leo absolutely loved seeing behind the scenes. He was especially excited when he got the chance to stand on stage and sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star into a microphone. Later we watched Pirate Taxi, explored more of the festival and spent time doing crafts in The Lookout. The only disappointment came when we missed the final CBeebies Bedtime Story session after it started earlier than advertised. Thankfully things worked out in the end because instead we got to meet Bluey. Leo had been a little upset about missing the story session, but the moment he met Bluey everything changed. On the tram home I asked him what his favourite part of the day had been and without hesitation he replied: "Meeting Bluey." 👉 Read more about our visit on HERE. 👉 Read my All About Theatre feature HERE. 💜 Final Thoughts After spending most of the week away on holiday, this ended up being one of our busiest and most memorable weekends of the year so far. Between family time at Ribby Hall Village, HOME Manchester's Family Creator Day, Balloonatic at Z-arts, Malory Towers and We Invented The Weekend Festival, we packed a huge amount into just a few days. What made the week particularly special though was the opportunity to spend some one-to-one time with both children. Alice and I loved our evening together at the theatre, while Leo and I had a fantastic day exploring MediaCity, learning about theatre backstage and meeting Bluey. Looking back, it felt like the perfect balance of family time, theatre trips, creative activities and days out, and it's definitely a week we'll remember for a long time. Now, after a holiday and such a packed weekend, I think we're all ready for a slightly quieter week! 🎥 Watch Our Weekly Vlog If you'd like to see everything we got up to this week, including HOME's Family Creator Day, Balloonatic, Malory Towers and We Invented The Weekend Festival, make sure you check out this week's vlog over on YouTube.

We Invented The Weekend Festival On Sunday, Leo and I enjoyed a day out at the We Invented The Weekend Festival at MediaCity and Salford Quays. We first discovered the festival last year completely by accident. We had been to the Quay House Beefeater for a Father's Day meal and happened to stumble across some of the activities as the event was coming to an end. Although we only managed to fit in one of the free boat rides around the Quays, it was enough to make me want to return properly this year. The festival took place across Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June, but we already had plans on the Saturday. Alice was also feeling tired after a busy day out with me the day before, so she decided to stay at home. Leo was excited about having some one-on-one time together, so on Sunday afternoon we set off for MediaCity. Getting there is easy for us by tram, although it does involve changing at Cornbrook. We arrived at around 12:30pm and immediately found ourselves surrounded by stalls, activities and entertainment. There was so much happening that I think Leo felt a little overwhelmed at first, so we headed somewhere familiar – The Lowry. Exploring Play Street One of the first areas we came across was Play Street, which was a huge space dedicated to creative play and imagination. There were all sorts of activities taking place including double dutch skipping, skateboarding, chalk drawing and building challenges. Leo was immediately drawn to the U-Build area, where children could help create and explore giant wooden structures. The impressive construction featured climbing sections, hanging rings, tunnels and building stations where children could use mallets to hammer pegs into place. It was lovely seeing children of all ages working together, testing things out and using their imagination. He also spent a long time exploring the Scrap Street Challenge. This creative play space was filled with loose parts, recycled materials, balancing stones, giant gears, hoops and chalk activities, encouraging children to create their own games and challenges. Leo happily moved between the different activities, examining unusual objects, experimenting with the giant gear tracks and tackling the balancing challenges. Because there was no set way to play, children were free to follow their own interests, and it was wonderful watching him become completely absorbed in exploring and discovering things for himself. What I particularly liked about Play Street was how open-ended everything felt. Rather than being told exactly what to do, children were encouraged to explore, experiment and create in their own way. It was easy to see why so many families spent such a long time in this area. After a while, Leo sat down for some snacks while I took the opportunity to watch part of Lowry Presents: (North) West End Live on the nearby plaza stage. North West End Live One of the highlights of the day for me was being able to watch some of the performances from North West End Live. I was lucky enough to catch Liberty Stottor, best known for playing Jane Seymour in SIX, performing Heart of Stone. I also enjoyed watching Sam Buttery perform When You're Good to Mama from Chicago, Home from The Wiz and Don't Rain on My Parade from Funny Girl. I would have loved to stay longer to watch more of the performances, including appearances from the cast of Disney's High School Musical, but by this point both Leo and I were getting hungry. Lunch At The Lowry At around 1:15pm we headed inside The Lowry to grab some lunch. I had seen that children's meals had been available for £1 on Saturday and hoped the offer might still be running on Sunday, but unfortunately they had returned to their usual £5 price. Luckily, both Leo and I spotted something we liked on the menu. We are both fairly fussy eaters, so finding something we both enjoy can sometimes be a challenge. We ended up choosing hot dogs and chips, which were very nice and exactly what we needed before continuing our afternoon. Going Behind The Scenes At The Lowry After lunch we joined one of The Lowry's free backstage tours, which turned out to be one of our favourite parts of the entire day. The tour gave visitors the opportunity to explore parts of the building that audiences don't normally get to see. Staff and volunteers were stationed around different areas explaining how everything works behind the scenes. One of the most interesting things I learned was that the Lyric Theatre stage backs directly onto the Quays Theatre stage, meaning it's possible to walk from one stage to the other. Leo particularly enjoyed learning about the lighting equipment in the Quays Theatre. He was also given the chance to sing into a microphone that had been set up on stage and happily performed Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. We even got to visit one of the dressing rooms, which was fascinating to see. By the end of the tour, both Leo and I agreed it had been one of the best experiences of the day. Watching Pirate Taxi The tour finished just in time for us to head outside and watch Pirate Taxi. Created by Pirates of the Carabina, the show combined live music, aerial circus skills, storytelling and comedy around a traditional London taxi. The performers were incredibly talented, using aerial hoops, ladders and other circus equipment to create a truly memorable outdoor performance. It was one of those shows that immediately draws a crowd because people simply can't help stopping to watch. Back To Play Street After Pirate Taxi, Leo wanted to return to the U-Build area and spend some more time exploring. He particularly enjoyed crawling through the tunnels built into the structure and using the mallets to help add pieces to the giant construction. This ended up being one of his favourite activity areas at the festival and he happily played there for quite some time. Missing The Bedtime Story But Meeting Bluey Instead At around 3:15pm we headed back into The Lowry hoping to attend the final CBeebies Bedtime Story session of the day. Unfortunately, we discovered that the session had already started earlier than advertised. We were told this was because the queue had become so long, although I never found out if that was definitely the reason. Leo was understandably disappointed as he had been looking forward to it. Thankfully, I was able to cheer him up by reminding him that Bluey would be appearing later. When we headed outside, an announcement informed everyone that Bluey would no longer be appearing on stage and would instead be meeting visitors near the CBeebies sign by The Lowry entrance. A very large queue quickly formed. Luckily, we managed to join near the front. Leo was finding the wait a little difficult, but he was determined to meet Bluey. When his turn finally arrived, he was absolutely thrilled. Afterwards he told me it had been his favourite part of the entire day. Crafts At The Lookout After meeting Bluey, we headed up to The Lookout where there were free craft activities taking place. Leo coloured in an owl picture and created a rainbow craft using a paper plate, streamers and colouring pens. It was a much quieter environment than some of the busier festival areas and gave us a chance to slow down before heading home. What Else Was On At The Festival? Although Leo and I managed to fit a lot into our afternoon, there was so much more happening across MediaCity and Salford Quays that we simply didn't have time to see everything. Across the weekend, the festival featured live music, sports activities, talks, art workshops, creative sessions, wellbeing activities, boat rides, food stalls, markets and family entertainment. There were also performances and activities from organisations including The Lowry, BBC, IWM North, RHS, English National Opera, Walk the Plank and many local community groups. Looking back, I think we could easily have spent the entire day there and still not experienced everything on offer. The programme was packed with activities across MediaCity and Salford Quays, giving families plenty of opportunities to create their own unique day out based on their interests. That is one of the things that makes We Invented The Weekend Festival such a fantastic event. No two visits are likely to be exactly the same, and with so much happening throughout the weekend, there really is something for everyone. Would We Visit The We Invented The Weekend Festival Again? Absolutely. What I enjoyed most about the We Invented The Weekend Festival was the variety of activities on offer. Within a single afternoon we were able to watch live musical theatre performances, explore backstage at The Lowry, enjoy outdoor circus entertainment, take part in creative activities and meet Bluey. Most importantly, Leo had a fantastic day. The festival manages to combine arts, culture, family entertainment and community activities in a way that feels welcoming and accessible for everyone. We finally left at around 4:50pm to catch the tram home, tired but happy after a wonderful day out together. If the We Invented The Weekend Festival returns next year, we will definitely be planning another visit. At a Glance 📍 Location: MediaCity and Salford Quays, Greater Manchester 🎟️ Cost: Free entry 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best For: Families, children, community groups and anyone looking for a fun weekend out 🍔 Food & Drink: Food stalls and cafés are available across the festival site. There are also plenty of restaurants, cafés and family-friendly dining options around MediaCity and Quayside. 🚋 Public Transport: Easily accessible via the Metrolink, with MediaCity and Harbour City tram stops both within walking distance. The festival is also well served by local bus routes. 🚗 Parking: Nearby parking is available at Quayside MediaCityUK and other car parks around Salford Quays. ♿ Accessibility: The festival site is largely step-free and designed to be accessible for a wide range of visitors. ⏰ How Long To Allow: Half a day to a full day, depending on how many activities you want to experience. 🌐 More Information: Visit the official We Invented The Weekend website for future festival announcements and programme details. ⭐ Our Favourite Activity: The Lowry backstage tour. 👍 Would We Recommend It? Yes – a fantastic free festival with something for all ages. More Information We Invented The Weekend is a free annual festival held across MediaCity and Salford Quays, bringing together live entertainment, family activities, workshops, creative experiences and community events. If you're looking for a fun family day out in Greater Manchester, it's definitely worth keeping an eye on future festival announcements. With so many activities taking place across the site, it's easy to spend anything from a few hours to a full day exploring everything on offer. From creative play spaces and live performances to backstage tours and character appearances, there really was something for all ages to enjoy during our visit. You can watch the official festival trailer below and visit the We Invented The Weekend website for the latest news and information about future events.

Family Day at HOME Manchester Last Saturday we enjoyed a Family Day at HOME Manchester after being invited along to HOME's Family Creator Day. Later that evening, Alice and I returned to watch Malory Towers, giving us the opportunity to experience several different sides of what HOME has to offer families. HOME is an arts centre in the heart of Manchester, bringing together theatre, cinema, exhibitions and creative activities under one roof. Alongside its year-round programme of family theatre productions, HOME also offers family film screenings, relaxed screenings, workshops, exhibitions and seasonal family events. One of the reasons we visit so often is how easy it is to get to. Located in the city centre, it's accessible by bus, tram and train, making it a convenient option for family days out. When we arrived, Alice and Leo were both delighted to receive colourful HOME Family balloons and stickers. It was a lovely start to the day and immediately got them excited about the activities ahead. A Morning in Creativity Corner The first part of the event took place in Creativity Corner, HOME's dedicated family space. If you've ever visited HOME before a family performance, you've probably seen Creativity Corner tucked away in the foyer. We almost always arrive early for shows and the children usually head straight there while we wait for the auditorium doors to open. Although both Alice and Leo enjoy arts and crafts, they often spend their time there very differently. Alice loves imaginative play and will usually make a beeline for the dressing-up costumes, puppets, toy castle and dolls. She can happily spend ages creating stories and characters of her own. Leo, on the other hand, is much more likely to pick up some colouring, get involved with a craft activity or find a book to read. The Family Creator Day activities gave them both plenty to enjoy. Alice spent time drawing colourful pictures while Leo carefully created a jellyfish craft using coloured card and tissue paper. What I really liked was how relaxed the session felt. There was no pressure to follow instructions or create anything specific. The children were simply encouraged to be creative and enjoy themselves. It was lovely watching them proudly show off their finished creations once they were done. Why We Love Creativity Corner One of the reasons I wanted to mention Creativity Corner in this post is because it's genuinely become part of our routine whenever we visit HOME. It's easy to focus on the theatre performances themselves, but having somewhere the children can play, draw, read and explore before a show makes a huge difference. Whether they're dressing up, colouring or playing with the toys, it helps build excitement before the performance begins. For families attending a show at HOME, I'd definitely recommend arriving a little early to make the most of the space. Trying HOME Bar & Kitchen for the First Time After a busy morning of crafting, it was time for lunch. A selection of pizzas, chips, salads and drinks was provided for the families attending the event. Despite visiting HOME regularly over the years, this was actually our first time eating at the venue. The pizza and chips were a huge hit with all four of us. Alice, Leo, Lawrence and I all thoroughly enjoyed our lunch and were pleasantly surprised by how good it was. We'll definitely be considering getting food at HOME after future family shows because it made for a really relaxed experience and saved us having to find somewhere else to eat afterwards. Looking Ahead to Little HOME Unfortunately, we couldn't stay for the afternoon screening of Monsters, Inc. because we already had plans elsewhere. However, the event gave us the chance to learn more about HOME's wider family programme, which includes family theatre productions, family and relaxed cinema screenings, workshops, creative activities, free exhibitions and seasonal events such as Little HOME. We've attended Little HOME for the past two years and absolutely loved it. The festival is packed with free family activities, performances, workshops and screenings, and we've already booked several events for this year's programme. After hearing more about what's planned, we're really looking forward to returning again this summer. Ending the Day with Malory Towers Although the Family Creator Day ended after lunch, our day at HOME wasn't quite over. Later that evening, I returned with Alice to watch Malory Towers. After spending the morning drawing, crafting and exploring Creativity Corner, it felt fitting to finish the day sitting together in the theatre. It was also a lovely reminder of why we enjoy visiting HOME so much. Whether we're attending a theatre performance, taking part in a family activity or visiting during Little HOME, the venue always feels welcoming and family-friendly. Final Thoughts We had a lovely time at HOME's Family Creator Day and it was great to experience another side of the venue that we already know so well. The children enjoyed getting creative, we discovered that the pizza at HOME Bar & Kitchen is well worth trying, and we left with plenty of ideas for future visits. Before leaving, the children were also given a small goody bag containing a few treats and information about upcoming family events and theatre productions, which was a lovely finishing touch to the day. Whether you're visiting for a theatre show, family film screening, workshop, exhibition, festival or simply spending time in Creativity Corner before a performance, HOME offers a wide range of experiences for families and continues to be one of our favourite family-friendly venues in Manchester. With Little HOME just around the corner and more family theatre trips already booked, I don't think it will be long before we're back at HOME Manchester once again. Watch the Little HOME 2026 Trailer We've attended Little HOME for the past two years and are already looking forward to returning this summer. Little HOME 2026 takes place on 1 and 2 August and features a packed programme of free family activities, performances, workshops and screenings. Take a look at the trailer below to see what families can look forward to this year. More Information For more information about Little HOME 2026 and to book any ticketed events, visit the HOME Manchester website. At a Glance: Family Activities at HOME Manchester 📍 Location: HOME Manchester, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester, M15 4FN 🚋 Getting There: Easy to reach by bus, tram and train, with Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop and Deansgate railway station just a short walk away. 🎭 Family Theatre: Regular programme of family-friendly theatre productions throughout the year. 🎬 Family Cinema: Family screenings and relaxed screenings available throughout the year. 🎨 Creativity Corner: Free family space featuring books, crafts, dressing-up costumes, puppets and imaginative play. 🖼️ Free Exhibitions: HOME regularly hosts free gallery exhibitions. 🎪 Little HOME Festival: Free annual family festival featuring performances, workshops, screenings and creative activities. 🍕 HOME Bar & Kitchen: Family-friendly food and drink available on-site. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Suitable For: Families looking for theatre, cinema, creative activities and cultural experiences in Manchester. ⭐ Our Highlights: Creativity Corner, the relaxed family atmosphere and discovering HOME Bar & Kitchen for the first time.

A Night At The Theatre With My Dad To See The Ballad of Johnny & June On Tuesday 9th June, I headed to The Lowry with my dad for the press night of The Ballad of Johnny & June at The Lowry. My mum dropped us off opposite the Imperial War Museum North before we made the short walk across the bridge towards The Lowry. We arrived at around 7pm ahead of the 7:30pm performance, giving us plenty of time to collect our tickets and have a look around before the show started. As always, one of the first things I did after arriving was head over to the press desk to collect our tickets and programme before taking a look at the merchandise stand. Country Music Souvenirs & Theatre Merchandise 🎶 There was a small selection of merchandise available, including: 👕 T-Shirt – £28 🧲 Magnet – £5 🖊️ Pen – £8 🔑 Keychain – £10 📍 Pin Set – £12 ☕ Mug – £14 👜 Tote Bag – £16 I ended up purchasing a magnet before we headed into the auditorium. Our Seats & View at The Lowry 🎭 We were seated in the stalls, entering through Door H. Our seats were Row P Seats 12 and 13, with Seat 12 being the aisle seat. The view was excellent and completely unobstructed throughout the performance. We could clearly see everything happening on stage and I never felt too far away from the action. The seats were comfortable and I would happily choose these seats again for a future visit. Once seated, I had a quick look through the programme while waiting for the show to begin. The first act lasted approximately 75 minutes before a 20-minute interval. The second act was around 55 minutes, bringing the total runtime to roughly 2 hours 30 minutes including the interval. The performance finished shortly before 10pm. The Story Behind the Songs 🎸 Going into the show, I only really knew Ring of Fire and knew very little about Johnny Cash's life story. My dad, however, grew up listening to Johnny Cash and was much more familiar with both Johnny Cash and June Carter's music. The production tells the story of Johnny Cash's rise to fame, his relationship with June Carter and the challenges they faced throughout their lives and careers. Narrated by their son John Carter Cash, the show combines live music and storytelling to take audiences through the highs and lows of one of country music's most famous relationships. What I liked most was that the production never felt like simply a tribute concert. While the music is obviously a huge part of the evening, there is also a genuine attempt to explore the people behind the songs. I did find the first act quite fast-paced and it took me a little while to fully settle into the story. A lot of information is packed into the opening half of the show and some of the emotional moments pass by quite quickly. The second act felt much stronger for me and allowed more time for the emotional side of the story to develop. One thing I found particularly interesting was experiencing the show alongside someone who already knew so much of the music. While I was discovering much of Johnny and June's story for the first time, my dad was recognising songs, references and moments from their lives throughout the evening. It made for some interesting conversations during the interval and on the journey home. Live Music, Country Classics & Strong Performances 🎤 The music was undoubtedly the highlight of the evening. Featuring songs including Ring of Fire, Jackson, I Walk the Line and Folsom Prison Blues, there were plenty of familiar songs that received enthusiastic reactions from the audience. One of my favourite moments came during Ring of Fire. You could hear audience members quietly singing along around the theatre, including my dad sitting next to me, and when the song finished it received one of the biggest rounds of applause of the evening. It was one of those lovely theatre moments where you could really feel the audience's connection to the music. Even though I didn't know many of the songs beforehand, it was impossible not to get caught up in the atmosphere. The set design was relatively simple but worked well throughout, using projections and different staging areas to move between locations and different periods in Johnny and June's lives. Christopher Ryan Grant was excellent as Johnny Cash, capturing both the voice and stage presence associated with Cash without ever feeling like he was simply doing an impression. Christina Bianco was equally impressive as June Carter, bringing warmth, humour and charisma to the role while delivering some fantastic vocals. The chemistry between the two leads felt completely believable and helped carry the emotional side of the story. Final Thoughts on The Ballad of Johnny & June at The Lowry 🤠 Overall, I enjoyed The Ballad of Johnny & June at The Lowry and so did my dad, despite us going into the show with very different levels of familiarity with the music. While the first act felt a little rushed at times, the strong performances, live music and emotional second half made for an enjoyable evening at the theatre. I personally gave the show 3.5 stars, while my dad would probably have rated it slightly higher, which perhaps shows how well the production works for existing Johnny Cash fans. Whether you're already a fan of Johnny Cash or simply recognise a handful of his songs like I did, there is still plenty to enjoy here. Looking back, I think one of the things I'll remember most is sharing the experience with my dad. It isn't often that we go to the theatre together, and this felt like the perfect show for us to enjoy from two completely different perspectives. A country music love story that may not always walk the line perfectly, but still delivers an entertaining night at the theatre. Planning Your Visit to The Ballad of Johnny & June 📍 The Ballad of Johnny & June is at The Lowry until Saturday 13th June 2026. Tickets are available to purchase through The Lowry website. For more information about the production, including future tour dates and show information, visit the official The Ballad of Johnny & June 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 #457 If you’d like to see what I got up to during my trip to see The Ballad Of Johnny & June you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #457. Our trip to the show begins at 01:08 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. At a Glance 📍 Venue: The Lowry, Salford 📅 Running Until: Saturday 13th June 2026 ⏱️ Runtime: Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes including interval ☕ Interval: 20 minutes 👤 Age Guidance: 12+ 🎟️ Tickets From: £26 available to purchase through The Lowry website. 🎭 Genre: Musical Biography / Country Music 🎶 Features Songs Including: Ring of Fire, Jackson, I Walk the Line and Folsom Prison Blues ♿ Accessible Performances: Audio Described, BSL Interpreted and Touch Tours available on selected performances 🛍️ Merchandise Available: T-Shirts, Tote Bags, Mugs, Magnets, Pins, Keychains and Programmes 🚋 Getting There: The Lowry is located at Salford Quays and is easily accessible by tram, bus and car 🌍 Further Tour Dates: Visit the official The Ballad of Johnny & June website for future tour dates Watch The Trailer

Our Evening Trip to See Malory Towers at HOME Manchester On Saturday 6th June, Alice and I headed into Manchester to see Malory Towers at HOME for the 7:30pm performance. As we had been away on holiday during the press night earlier in the week, we attended one of the later performances instead, and it turned out to be a really lovely mother-and-daughter theatre trip. We caught the tram at around 6:20pm and arrived at Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop just after 6:40pm. One of the things I like about visiting HOME is how easy it is to get to by public transport, as it's only around a five-minute walk from the tram stop. When we arrived, we headed straight to the box office to collect our tickets and programme before having a look around the venue. Programme, Books & Pre-Show Activities 📖 Unlike some touring productions, there wasn't a large merchandise stand for this show. Programmes were available to purchase for around £4, and there were also copies of the Malory Towers books available, although I didn't spot the prices. Alice never misses an opportunity for theatre popcorn, so we picked up a large popcorn from the box office before heading off to explore the venue. I think it was around £4. As we had arrived quite early, we had plenty of time before the performance started. We took some photos in front of the Malory Towers backdrop before heading over to HOME's Creative Corner, where Alice spent some time playing while we waited for the auditorium to open. It's one of the things I really like about visiting HOME with children. Having somewhere for them to play before the show starts helps make the whole experience feel much more relaxed. Before long, the auditorium opened at around 7:10pm and we headed inside to find our seats. Our Seats at HOME Manchester 🎭 We were seated in Row H, Seats 1 and 2 in the stalls, with Seat 1 being the aisle seat. Although we were slightly to the side of the stage, the view was excellent and we never missed any of the action. We've seen quite a few productions at HOME over the years and I've always been impressed by the sightlines. It feels like one of those venues where there really aren't many bad seats. As we entered the auditorium, I noticed booster seats available just inside the stalls entrance and asked Alice if she wanted one. At first she said no. Then, about five minutes before the show started, she suddenly changed her mind. I offered to swap seats with her as there was an empty seat directly in front of me, but she wanted to stay where she was. Once she was sitting on the booster seat she could see perfectly over the person in front and was comfortable for the entire performance. Even before the show began, the set immediately caught our attention. The large school façade dominating the stage looked impressive and instantly created the feeling that we were about to step into the world of Malory Towers. The Show ✨ Neither Alice nor I had ever read the Malory Towers books before seeing this production, so we were both going in completely fresh. The story begins in the modern day before one young girl is transported into the pages of her favourite Malory Towers book and finds herself taking on the role of Mary-Lou Atkinson. From there, audiences are whisked away to the 1940s world of boarding school life, where friendships, rivalries, midnight feasts and adventures unfold against the backdrop of the Cornish coast. What I loved most about the production was how warm and uplifting it felt. Rather than relying on huge special effects or dramatic twists, the story focuses on friendship, belonging and growing up, creating a show that feels genuinely heartwarming. One thing Alice and I both enjoyed was how different all of the girls were. Even though neither of us knew the characters beforehand, it was very easy to tell them apart and quickly become invested in their friendships and disagreements. At one point Alice leaned over to me and whispered, "That girl is mean. Why is she so mean?" while Gwendoline Lacey was causing yet more drama, which made me smile because it showed just how invested she had become in the story. The audience around us seemed equally engaged, with lots of laughter throughout the funnier moments and plenty of children clearly following the adventures unfolding on stage. Imaginative Staging & Live Music 🎶 The staging throughout was wonderfully inventive. The set transforms effortlessly between dormitories, classrooms, train journeys and coastal locations through clever use of movement, projections and props. One of my favourite moments involved the girls' trip to the seaside, where puppetry was used in a really creative way to bring the scene to life. It was simple, imaginative and incredibly effective. Alice absolutely loved these moments and there were lots of laughs from younger audience members whenever the production embraced its more playful side. The music also adds a huge amount of energy to the show. While Malory Towers isn't a traditional musical, songs are woven throughout the production and help maintain its uplifting atmosphere. The cast also play instruments live on stage, which is always impressive to watch and adds another layer to the performance. Interval Treats 🍦 The first act lasted approximately 60 minutes before a 20-minute interval. During the break, Alice chose a strawberry ice cream while I went for mint choc chip. At £3.50 each they were a lovely little treat. Back at our seats, we enjoyed our ice creams while chatting about the show. I asked Alice what she thought of the show so far and she told me she was really enjoying it. I also asked if she had a favourite character, but she couldn't choose and insisted they were all her favourite. We were both looking forward to seeing how the story would end in the second half. The Second Half & Journey Home 🚋 The second act lasted around 45 minutes, bringing the total runtime to approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes including the interval. The performance finished at around 9:35pm and after making the walk back to Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop, we arrived home shortly after 10:20pm. It was definitely a late night for Alice and she headed straight to bed once we got home. Final Thoughts 💖 Malory Towers was a lovely surprise. Neither Alice nor I had read the books beforehand, yet we both thoroughly enjoyed the production and found ourselves completely drawn into its world of friendship, school adventures and boarding school chaos. The imaginative staging, live music and talented cast create a warm and uplifting theatre experience that works just as well for newcomers as it does for long-time fans of the books. For Alice, the jumping into the sea scene and playful moments were definite highlights, while I particularly enjoyed the creativity of the staging and the strong sense of community running throughout the story. Whether you're already a fan of the books or discovering Malory Towers for the first time like we were, this is a charming, uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable family theatre trip. A heartwarming family adventure packed with friendship, imagination and plenty of boarding school fun. More Information About Malory Towers 📚 Malory Towers is at HOME Manchester until Saturday 13th June 2026. Tickets are available from £26.50 via the HOME Manchester website. For more information about the show and future tour dates, visit the official Malory Towers 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 #456 If you’d like to see what I got up to during my trip to see Malory Towers you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #456. Our trip to the show begins at 13:01 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week. At a Glance 📍 Venue: HOME Manchester 📅 HOME Run: Tue 2 Jun – Sat 13 Jun 2026 🎟️ Tickets: From £26.50 via the HOME Manchester website ⏱️ Runtime: Approx. 2 hours 5 minutes including interval ☕ Interval: 20 minutes 👧 Recommended Age: 8+ 💺 Our Seats: Stalls Row H Seats 1 & 2 👀 Seat View: Excellent, slightly side-on but clear throughout 🪑 Booster Seats: Available free of charge 📖 Programme: Available from the box office (approximately £4) 📚 Merchandise: Programmes and Malory Towers books available from the box office 🍿 Refreshments: Large popcorn approximately £4 🍦 Ice Creams: £3.50 each ☕ Food & Drink: Restaurant, café and bar facilities available on site 🚋 Travel: Easily accessible by tram, bus and train. Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop and Deansgate railway station are both around a 5-minute walk from HOME. 🌍 Tour Dates: See the official Malory Towers website for future tour dates Watch The Trailer