South Manchester stalwart Chorlton Arts Festival gets its annual outing underway on Friday 18 May and runs for a little over two weeks. With new director Thomas Moore at the helm, his theatrical adaptation of contemporary evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins’ best-selling book The God Delusion takes centre stage, debunking (or not) the existence of God nine times at Blue Box Theatre (Fri 18 May 7.30pm, Sat 19 May 5pm & 7.30pm, Mon 21 May 7.30pm, Tue 22 May 7.30pm, Thu 24 May 7.30pm, Fri 25 May 9pm, Sat 26 May 5pm & 7.30pm, £10-20). From the exploration of religiousness to the exploration of ridiculousness… try critically acclaimed Norris & Parker (Chorlton Central Church, Fri 18 May, 9pm, £12), compared to Fleabag, with skilful comic performance and writing described as funny. Not to be missed for families is the award-winning Box Tale Soup production of The Wind In The Willows (Blue Box Theatre, Sat 19 May, 12 noon and 2pm, £10 each or £36 family ticket), originally commissioned by Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre, and featuring handmade puppets. Having built a reputation for welcoming internationally renowned talent, this year CAF’s music programme is in two parts: Chorlton Live Lounge, with acoustic sets upstairs at Dulcimer, and the Chorlton Proms big gigs at Wilbraham St Ninians. We fancy synth-pop duo Koalas, who’ve been working with Dutch Uncles and GoGo Penguin producer Brendan Williams, and folk-tinged Pablo, who recently sold out this venue (Fri 1 Jun, 8pm, £7.50). Simon Rimmer’s Art of Food gala dinner still has a few tickets available and don’t miss the Festival Feast, wrapping up CAF18 with free food for everyone plus live music and a bar for a proper party (Chorlton Central Church, Sun 3 Jun, 4pm, free but booking required – so they know how much food to make!).
Fri 18 May – Sun 3 Jun, various venues, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, times and prices vary, chorltonartsfestival.com
- Words:
- Sarah-Clare Conlon
- Published on:
- Mon 28 May 2018
