/SEVEN DAYS
Theatre / The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Bolton Octagon’s Christmas shows are always wonderfully entertaining affairs, and this year’s offering taking place at the University of Bolton Stadium while the Octagon undergoes a major redevelopment should surely continue those impressive high standards. Directed by Ben Occhipenti, it’s a cheeky re-imagining of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in which Dorothy must find her way home to good old Bolton.
The University of Bolton Stadium, Premier Suite / octagonbolton.co.uk / 01204 520 661 / Tuesday to Monday, December 31 / £16-£24 WEDNESDAY Music / Mabel Brit starlet Mabel McVey has inevitably drawn comparisons to her famous mother (pop legend Neneh Cherry), but she’s firmly blazing a trail of her own with her heart-melting vocals and sultry R&B melodies. After appearing at last weekend’s Hits Live concert at Manchester Arena, she’s back for a big headline show at the O2 Ritz. O2 Ritz / academymusicgroup.com/ o2ritzmanchester / 0161 714 4140 / Wednesday, 7pm / £16 Visual arts / C.R. McBerny Proving how art truly is an international language, this ambitious new exhibition - consisting of painting, performance and writing - is the result of a long-running project between artists and writers based in Berlin, New York and Manchester. Curated by Andrew Hunt and Veit Laurent Kurz, the show will be displayed on Central Library’s first floor for the next three months.
Central Library / manchester.gov. uk/centrallibrary / 0161 234 1983 / Wednesday until February 28 / Free THURSDAY Music / Hozier Dublin singer Andrew Hozier-Byrne rocketed into the public eye with his 2014 hit, Take Me To Church, which earned him a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year. Now finally returning with a terrific new EP, Nina Cried Power (which features a guest vocal from the legendary Mavis Staples), he’s back to showcase new material on a whistle-stop UK tour.
O2 Apollo / academymusicgroup. com/o2apollomanchester / 0844 477 7677 / Thursday, 7pm / £27.50 Music / Julia Holter Combining the adventurous spirit of a cutting-edge composer with the emotional intimacy of a singersongwriter, California’s Julia Holter is back on UK soil to showcase her sixth and latest LP, Aviary.
Gorilla / thisisgorilla.com / 0161 826 2998 / Thursday, 7.30pm / £18.50 Comedy / Dara O Briain Well known for his ubiquitous TV work - Mock The Week, Stargazing Live, Robot Wars etc - Irish motormouth Dara O Briain is easily at his best on the live stage, darting between serious subjects and curmudgeonly observations with tremendous ease.
The Lowry / thelowry.com / 0843 208 6000 / Thursday to Saturday, December 8 / £24 Literature / Word Central Spoken word/poetry showcase Word Central makes a welcome return to Central Library, this month featuring guest headliner Laura Taylor reading from her new collection, Fault Lines.
Central Library / manchester.gov. uk/centrallibrary / 0161 234 1983 / Thursday, 6pm / Free