This competition is now closed. The answer is C) Love.

The winner is: Julia Cartmell. Enjoy the show!

The Lowry has the perfect treat for all the family this summer with one of the most magical and spellbinding circus shows ever to grace the stage – Le Grand Cirque. The show arrives at the Lowry from Wed 27th August until Sat, 31st August and we have a family ticket up for grabs!Visit Le Grand Cirque website here.

THE SHOW:
Le Grand Cirque features a cast of 50 world-class artists from all over the globe including jugglers, acrobats and high-wire artists will perform a breathtaking and heart pounding spectacle that has stunned and amazed audiences all over the world.

Le Grand Cirque arrives in Salford Quays following a sell-out tour of the USA where it received standing ovations at every performance. Described by critics as ‘the next generation of Cirque du Soleil’, Le Grand Cirque has played to more than 10 million people worldwide. (more…)

This competition is now closed. The answer is Johnny Dep.

The winners is: Karen Evans. Enjoy the show!

Shiver me timbers! Crazy pirates are heading for The Lowry in a zany follow-up to their hilarious parody of the Harry Potter books, Potted Potter.We have one family ticket to give away, me hearties!

THE SHOW:
Potted Pirates is another cracking, compressed caper from the delightful double act Dan and Jeff.

In search of talking parrots and mysterious buried treasure, they’re swapping wizards for walking the plank and trading Hogwarts for the high seas.

On the way they’ll be collecting pieces of eight by recounting everyone’s favourite pirate legends, from Long John Silver to Jack Sparrow. (more…)

Pop singer Chesney Hawkes, best known for his nineties hit “The One and Only”, is to star in the UK tour of Can’t Smile Without You, featuring the hits of Barry Manilow.

The appearance will mark Hawkes’ musical theatre debut, following his pantomime debut at the Lowry last year in Dick Whittington. He is joined by Siobhan Dillon, former runner up in the BBC TV show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and recent star of Grease in the West End.

This new Bill Kenwright production embarks on a UK tour from 28 August, arriving in at Manchester’s Palace Theatre  on 29 September for one week.

Can’t Smile Without You is endorsed by Manilow and his music executive Garry Kief. It includes more than 30 of Manilow’s hit songs, including “Could it Be Magic”, “Can’t Smile Without You” and “Mandy” and ties in with Manilow’s forthcoming London dates.

-Glenn Meads

We theatrical writers are an odd bunch. In our day jobs, we look tired from the endless late nights- reviewing a conveyor belt of shows, sometimes three a week. Summer is the one time we get to kick back and not sit in the stalls. And guess what? We get withdrawal symptoms! I have had a great holiday in Spain; totally relaxing and was able to get some real downtime; reading, lounging, walking and consuming some fine food. But since returning, I almost feel like knocking at the doors of the Lowry screaming: “Let me in!”

So, what do you get up to when your local is showing Lazytown and you don’t have kids? Head to the cinema, that’s what! Like many other theatre fans this Summer, I have been to see Mamma Mia. Sure, it’s not a flawless film and not a patch on the stage version, but it’s a whole lot of fun. I have never seen Meryl Streep look so happy in a film. It looked like the whole cast had a ball!

I went on Saturday and the packed audience cheered the film to the rafters, clapping and whistling. This is going to have a huge positive impact on the box office for the stage show itself and I would not be surprised to see it back on tour, following it’s huge success in Glasgow recently.

Wall-E is also a sweet little film which although slightly bottles it in the second half, remains an original animated classic which will entertain you more than it will the kids.

The Lowry opens its doors later this week for Acrobatic Swan Lake, so expect a review on Thursday, following the theatre drought! Roll on September!

Everyone is talking about The Dark Knight’s record breaking box office take, but what of Mamma Mia? Well it recently beat Pixar’s critically acclaimed Wall-E in the UK and is playing to packed audiences all over Europe and in America. The rumours are now rife that the next stage musical, turned movie will be Wicked. Can this one defy gravity also?