Browse > Home / News / Belly dancing and other free delights at the Exchange every Friday!

Belly dancing and other free delights at the Exchange every Friday!

July 4, 2008

The Royal Exchange Theatre invite you to fun-filled Friday nights of comedy, belly dancing and jazz, all for nowt! These are some of the highlights of Special FX- the hugely popular programme of free entertainment staged every Friday in the foyer of Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre.

There is free entertainment from 6pm - 7pm, cheap drinks from 5.30pm- 7pm and huge savings in the craft shop from 5.30pm- 7pm.

Guitar-toting funny man Duncan Oakley headlines another bill of stand-up when the new SFX season kicks off tonight. Guest compere Des Sharples takes the helm for a line-up which also includes lug-eared Super Hans look-alike John Goodfellow and laid-back gagster Mike Newall.

A unique fusion of Turkish and Kurdish music fills the Great Hall when Paula Darwish and the Country and Eastern Band make an appearance on Friday 11 July. The seven-piece band present a special semi- acoustic set, fusing the spirit of rock with eastern rhythms and melodies.
* These first two Special FX gigs are also being promoted as part of the ‘Not Part Of Festival which runs in Manchester from 3 to 12 July, promoting a wide range of talent throughout the city.

The entertainment continues on Friday 18 July when Arun Ghosh returns with his indo-jazz ensemble for the first of his two summer visits. His smoky clarinet sounds have become a hugely popular fixture in the SFX schedules – his previous visits have all attracted large crowds (audiences are advised to arrive early to bag a seat).

The musical styles changes when Dr Butler’s Hatstand Medicine Band bring their good time rags and reels to the Great Hall on Friday 25 July. Billing themselves as show stoppers, their music is guaranteed good time, foot stomping, toe tickling fun.

And The Northern Belly Company shimmies back for a second SFX appearance – rocking the Kasbah with an irresistible hour of authentic Arabic dance and live drumming on Friday 1 August before Arun Ghosh returns to round off the season in style on Friday 8 August.

For more information, visit the Royal Exchange website - www.royalexchange.co.uk

Filed Under News 

Comments

Got something to say?