Come and enjoy the impressive display of fitness, artistry and skills!  2010 Chinese New Year Spectacular showcases the strength and discipline of the world famous monks from the Shaolin Temple and the amazing traditional acrobatic arts by the Kaifeng Acrobat Troup.  A colourful blend of fun, excitement and finesse in a live stage sensation, a perfect entertainment for the whole family!  This breathtaking show is presented by the Jin Long Centre as part of a Chinese Cultural Week in Stockport organised in corporation with the city councils of Stockport and Kaifeng, China, bringing you a taste of the Orient on this auspicious occasion.

Follow the Ugly Duckling on his eventful journey – based on the well-loved tale by Hans Andersen.  Meet Mother Duck, the nasty hunters, the Farm Cat, Drumstick the Turkey and many more.  This captivating show includes colourful costumes, comedy, music and surprises – with PLENTY of joining in.
Great fun for ALL the family from 3 to 93 – granny included!  Book early – this one usually sells out!
Runs 1 hr 35 mins (inc interval).

’The Must-See Event’ – The Daily Telegraph

Acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, Jez Butterworth’s new play is a comic, contemporary vision of life in our green and pleasant land. Starring Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook, JERUSALEM transfers to the West End following a sell-out run at the Royal Court Theatre. The production previews from 28 January 2010 and will have a strictly limited 12-week run at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.

On St George’s Day, the morning of the local county fair, Johnny Byron, local waster and modern day Pied Piper, is a wanted man. The council officials want to serve him an eviction notice, his son wants his dad to take him to the fair, Troy Whitworth wants to give him a serious kicking and a motley crew of mates want his ample supply of drugs and alcohol

Almost ten years after Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake made its hugely successful premiere at Sadler's Wells, the theatre is bringing it back home for Christmas.

Thrilling, audacious and totally original, Matthew Bourne's production transforms one of ballet's best-loved stories into a stylish, witty, poignant, contemporary tale with extravagent, award-winning designs by Lez Brotherston.

Perhaps best-known for replacing the traditional female corps de ballet with a menacing male ensemble, Matthew Bourne blends ballet, style, humour, spectacle, character comedy and mime to create a provocative and powerful Swan Lake for our times.

After its 1995 world premiere Swan Lake went on to become the longest running ballet in London's West End and on Broadway. It has toured the UK to huge acclaim and dazzled audiences from as far a field as Japan, Los Angeles and all over Europe.

Collecting over thirty international theatre awards including three Tony's, Swan Lake has been acclaimed as a landmark achievement on the international stage.

"a performance of such breathtaking power and originality it will haunt you forever." - Sunday Express

"one of the most gripping, funny and profoundly moving dance works I've seen." - Judith Mackrell, The Guardian

Join eight members of the BBC Philharmonic and Ann Dante, a 1930s private investigator, to become ‘private ears’ and help her crack an extraordinary murder in the Dante casebook. You’ll be given lots of musical clues to help you solve the mystery but you’ll only find out ‘who dunnit’ by listening very carefully.

This unusual and fun-filled musical murder-mystery includes listening skills, rhythm games, recognition of musical instruments, interactive responses and team building work.

Tell Tale Hearts (Beneath the Waves, 2007) return with an inter-planetary adventure to a distant galaxy!

Jump into your space suit and float up to the stars. Defy gravity as we hold on to the billowing tail of a hurtling comet, steering deeper and deeper into the glittering night.

This promenade-style performance combines beautifully designed environments, performance, puppetry, live music and poetry to create a magical experience.

Suitable for ages 3-7.

Before anything new is made it must be dreamed. Welcome to the Sea of Tranquillity, where we make the new day every night. What do you want in tomorrow's world?

So hop on our sleeper train and take a journey through the space before time. Hide your face amid a crowd of stars and dance to live music as we discover fire; in this highly interactive show you can get your hands on the stuff of creation.

Suitable for ages 2-5.

This tale of mythical mayhem and asinine antics is brought to life using puppetry, storytelling and original music.

When King Orik goes into the woods smiling and comes out with the ears of a donkey, he hides away in his tower hoping that no one will discover his secret. But his wise and faithful dog Scruffibus, cannot bear to see his master upset and realises that something must be done!

Suitable for ages 4+.

Presented by Theatre of Widdershins.

Do you like porridge? The three bears love it and have it every day for breakfast! Goldilocks lives above a sweet shop and has never tasted this delicious dish – until she visits the three bears’ home…what fun she is going to have!

Shopping, healthy eating, and fun are the key elements of this new show from Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre (The Call of the Loon Bird, 2008).

Suitable for ages 3-7.

‘The kids just loved it.’ - Bushes Primary

‘Very clever use of Kitchen implements.’ - Newark Drive Nursery

‘I was very impressed with your show, the children were riveted and loved the way you retold our story.’ - Kettle Nursery

Presented by Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre.

In an apartment in Paris where nothing is quite as it seems, Josette and her Papa dance with their ears, eat a piece of the moon and meet a toy soldier called Jacqueline. A magnificent, magical, physical, musical journey about a father and daughter who let their imaginations run away with them.

This intriguing and innovative play, inspired by French playwright Eugène Ionesco, uniquely fuses dance with theatre to capture the imaginations of everyone.

Suitable for ages 4-7.

‘The stories are rendered with a childish joy and exuberance by Peut-être Theatre.’ - Slough Observer

Presented by Peut-être Theatre.