Edmund the Learned Pig at the Royal Exchange Theatre

Susie Stubbs

A wondrous and darkly pleasant musical tale of a pig who taught himself to read – world premiere.

Bonaparte’s travelling circus show and marvellous menagerie was on its uppers. It had a zoo with just pigeons, an aerialist who wouldn’t leave the ground, a chipped plate-spinning act and a Mr. Memory who could hardly remember his own name. Not surprisingly, no one was coming. Then into their lives came Edmund the Learned Pig… This rip snorter of a tale is based on an unpublished poem by Edward Gorey. With music by Martyn Jaques (of cult British music trio, The Tiger Lillies), it fuses British Sign Language, puppetry, magic and music for everyone aged 8 and over. Royal Exchange Theatre, The Studio, St. Ann’s Square, M2 7DH, daily (times vary), all weekend (9-26 Oct), £12/£10 (under 13s £5).

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Spotlight on

Walking Tours in Manchester by Jonathan Schofield

Presenting the best walking tours in Manchester for history buffs, culture enthusiasts, and those looking to scratch beneath the surface of the city.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Poet Helen Mort.
Literature Events in the North

One to add to your TBR pile, our latest round-up is a bumper edition and features some amazing events in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and beyond...

Hofesh Shechter - Theatre of Dreams at Lowry
Theatre in the North

Picks this month include bold visual art, wondrous opera and cinematic dance - plus a touch of ghostly storytelling for the Halloween season.

A white mattress is burning in a black rocky landscape.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries in the North are far from spooky this October - instead you'll find tactile sculptures, plant magic and curatorial experiments.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

It's busy month across the cinemas of the north as Halloween programming leads into two of the region's biggest film festivals.

Music in the North

From New York’s experimental underground to the most exciting sounds coming from local scenes, we're lining up a noisy autumn of gigs.