Top Three Fun Palaces: Manchester’s arts and culture open weekend

This weekend, a celebration of arts, culture, and sciences will be taking place at many different venues throughout the country. The ‘Fun Palaces’ event will see theatres, museums, and arts centres host free open days with activities for all. The celebration marks the centenary of Joan Littlewood, a prominent theatre director who believed that science and culture should be at the heart of the community. Here’s the Top Three (in fact the only three) Fun Palaces in the local area:

People’s History Museum
The People’s History Museum event will be a celebration Manchester and its past. Visitors will have the opportunity to share their Mancunian memories and get involved in some family-friendly craft activities. There will be a gallery trail featuring a collection of artworks that originate from the North West. Local historian Steve Little will be on hand to answer questions about local history and to tell the story of the museum building itself.
Sat 4 Oct, People’s History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3ER, 10am – 5pm, FREE entry, www.phm.org.uk

Royal Exchange Theatre
Visitors to the Royal Exchange’s Fun Palace will get the chance to see behind the scenes of a working theatre. There will be many family-friendly activities, including the chance to dress up in the theatre’s costumes. Other goings-on include workshops, entertainment in the Great Hall, and further activities to be announced on the web page below.
Sun 5 Oct, Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7DH, 11am – 5pm, FREE entry, www.royalexchange.co.uk

Salford Arts Theatre
The theatre’s event is aimed mostly at families with younger children. Throughout the day there will be story times, and in the afternoon there will be drawing activity, with prizes for the best picture. For a family portrait with a difference, visitors will have access to the theatre’s costumes and makeup for a game of dress up. More aimed at adults are the PoeTRY sessions, which will allow any aspiring poets to test their skills.
Sun 5 Oct, Salford Arts Theatre, Kemsing Walk, off Liverpool Street, Salford, M5 4BS, 12pm – 7pm, FREE entry, www.salfordartstheatre.com