What's On at 53two
TESTING TESTING
With Toby Hadoke
SUNDAY 2nd MARCH
Tickets £10 INCLUDING A £5 drinks voucher
PWYC Tickets Available
DOORS 7pm - SHOW 7:30pm
Presented by Toby Hadoke, top circuit comedians try out their new material in the arches of 53two. Who turns up, you never know but an evening of sheer quality is guaranteed.
Comedy at it's finest beneath the iconic brick arches of 53two.
Grab a pie and a pint before the show for just £10!
Testing, Testing is not quite like other gigs. We do things differently here. The acts have come for a safe, fun space to try their new stuff. They don’t need your “help” - so, thank goodness, you can leave your heckles at home. Also, the gig’s really good - so you don’t need your phone, and we ask you to respect your fellow audience members and the acts by taking any conversation you may wish to engage in outside. Toby’s an affable chap but he has zero tolerance for bad manners : comics like to do this show because he’s made it nice. Don’t be the one to make it not nice. Thank you!
XS MALARKEY
Every Tuesday*
(Check dates to confirm)
Doors: 7:00pm - Show: 8:00pm
Tickets £6
(£3 for members - become a member!)
XS Malarkey is a not-for-profit comedy club, hosted every week by Toby Hadoke, and eagerly maintained by a group of minions who do his bidding on a regular basis.
Despite our low door price, we put on shows with professional comedians and rising stars of the comedy circuit, also giving newcomers a chance to practise their material in front of a supportive and quite frankly fantastic audience, many of whom are just as obsessed with comedy as we are. We feed our audience’s comedy obsession by running a membership scheme charging a ludicrously cheap £3 per ticket. We don’t do group discounts, because to be honest – we’re cheap enough already!
HORSEMEN
Written by George Unitt
Directed by George Unitt & Nathan Bailey
13th & 14th April
7:30pm
Tickets £8 (Not inc. Booking Fee)
PWYC Available
Get ready for a night of thrills and chills at 53two! New theatre collective THUИK presents an evening of mystery, secrets, and murder - as well as a few laughs! When a group of bizarre and ridiculous strangers discover the dead body of the pub’s landlord in the cellar, accusations will fly, and the truth behind the Black Dog’s dark past will be uncovered as they try to figure out who the killer is before the police arrive — and before the killer strikes again. HORSEMEN is an original whodunnit with a thrilling plot full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing right until the end.
This production is a part of 53New; a platform and initiative to provide a theatre space and/or rehearsal room at a reduced rate where those starting out can tread the boards in front of an audience, try their new work out and play safely without breaking the bank and in a safe, supportive space.
THE FAMILY MAGIC SHOW
15th April
2:00pm
Tickets £10 (£7.50 Conc)
The legendary magician the Great Baldini tells the story of his, and Baldwin the magical dog’s, life from their first tricks to the height of their careers – attempting Houdini’s greatest escape. The show is packed with magic, sweets, puppetry, sweets, water, sweets, eggs, sweets, and escapology. It’s hilariously silly…with sweets.
Come and see two true magical superstars (Baldini and Baldwin) at the very pinnacle of their powers.
The Great Baldini is an award-winning member of the Magic Circle and the Bristol Stage Magic Champion.
“Incredible” Front Row, BBC Radio 4
“Charming, engaging, and charismatic. A pleasure.” FringeReview
RUN TIME - 60 mins
JB Shorts
Weds 2nd - Sat 12th April
7:30pm
Matinees - Sat 5th/12th at 3pm
Sunday 6th at 3pm
Tickets:
£15 Cabaret
£13 General
£11 Concs
PWYC Available
After twenty-five sell-out seasons and 150 world premieres, REAL LIFE THEATRE CO. return with…JB SHORTS 25
'Shorts and snappy . It works every time... a ‘must-see’ on the Manchester cultural calendar.'
- Manchester Theatre Awards
Run time - 105 mins (inc interval)
SEVEN SHORT SHOTS
From Exel Theatre Company
17th April
6:00pm
£5
After two successful shows at 53two, ExEl Theatre Company is back with a brand new show. This time, they present six original short plays, a monologue, and a poem!
Written and performed by the members themselves, it promises to be an entertaining evening of comedy, drama, and music. ExEl's members are all graduates of the Royal Exchange Theatre's Elders programme. They are a lively team who come together to create new work, have fun, and challenge the stereotypes of ageing.
Age 14+
A PINEAPPLE
by Olivia Mace
23rd April - 3rd May - 53two
7th May - Lawrence Batley, Huddersfield
8th & 9th May - Dukes, Lancaster
7:30pm
EXCEPT
Sunday 27th at 5pm
53two Tickets Only;
£10 EARLYBIRD TICKETS!
Tickets £13 (Not inc. Booking Fee)
PWYC Available
Decades into the future, the planet is rocked by a perpetual storm caused by global warming. Survivors are placed in pods to match their wealth and live in isolation to await gradual extinction. The pod is all Nia has ever known. When her grandmother Connie decides that her time might be coming to an end, this isolation ends and with it, a world unexplored, is unlocked. A stark, sometimes funny and visceral world is created by Olivia Mace in the world premiere of ‘A Pineapple’.
One day we’ll all be gone
And in a year or so, no-one will know
Which side lost and which side won.
THE MAGIC MOD
Rock N Rolls Favourite Magician
3rd May
£22.00
THE MAGIC MOD – aka Ben Taylor – is a card magician and entertainer of huge esteem who can proudly count himself as a member of the exclusive Magic Circle fraternity. Born in Crawley in South London, he now lives in Belfast and has previously supported The Libertines, Paul Weller and The Brian Jonestown Massacre on tour, all people he can call friends alongside the likes of Liam Gallagher, Shaun Ryder and Rick Witter.
Ben has appeared on Sky Sports Soccer AM, considers journalist and broadcaster Eamonn Holmes as a friend and fan (“I’ve met David Blaine and Dynamo but, for me, what he did was the best I’ve ever seen”) as well as former Fulham and West Ham United footballer Tony Gayle (He’s good, the boy’s good, but can he head a ball?) and makes a cameo appearance on the Paul Weller album On Sunset.
His act astonishes, perplexes and entertains all those who witness it and is a performance wrapped in warmth and humour. Which is why people endlessly return to see him perform and why his audiences are growing with every tour, as evidenced by his sold-out run throughout the UK late last year.
THE FLOOD - A New Musical
7th - 8th May
7:30pm
Tickets £15 (£12 Conc)
PWYC Available
On Boxing Day 2015, the small Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge experienced the worst floods in century. But, as the town submerged a community emerged, working together to rebuild their sodden town.
A new musical with a folk rock soundtrack, 5 multi talented actor musicians perform over 20 characters who were trapped in the valley that wet December.
Honest and touching with a dash of Northern humour, The Flood is a love letter to a town that refused to give in to the volatility of nature.
Run time - 105 mins (inc interval)
The Long Walk
9th May
7:00pm
Tickets £10
Coming to Manchester, The Long Walk, a multi-award winning film based on a true story. Heart wrenching and full of hope. Created to raise awareness of mental illness. Starring the brilliant Michelle Collins (EastEnders) and the superb Daniel Casey (Midsomer Murders).
After the screening of the film there will be a Q&A for the audience to ask questions to the creator.
A percentage of the ticket price will be given to a mental health charity in Manchester.
Running time - 35mins
12A. If you would like more information on content warnings, please email us.
JAMES BARR
Sorry I Hurt Your Son (Said My Ex To My Mum)
10th May
7:30pm
Tickets £10
Award-winning UK gay comedian James Barr in a "unique, genre-defying" (ArtsHub) stand-up hour, fearlessly tackling the aftermath of an abusive relationship—from navigating online abuse from Piers Morgan’s fans to cancelling a flamingo adoption.
Co-directed by Madeleine Parry (Director, Nanette Netflix Special).
As seen on Piers Morgan and A Gay and A NonGay podcast.
"A masterclass in queer storytelling" ★★★★★ Metro
"It’s fascinating to watch someone break the rules of their chosen craft and succeed" ★★★★ Arts Hub Australia
"Funny and sad, truthful and silly, hurtful and important” ★★★★ Edinburgh Festivals Magazine
"Incredible. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears" ★★★★ Broadway Baby
"Ruthless honesty" Russell T Davies
Funniest jokes from Edinburgh Fringe 2024 - Telegraph
Run time - 75mins
POWERFUL
18th May
8:00pm
Tickets £5-£12 (Exc Booking Fees)
A comedy cabaret cocktail by one woman who thrives on live connection with YOU. What's it about? Grabbing life by the t**ts and creating your own narrative. A solo show for people who love feeling part of a community. It includes song, dance, storytelling, poetry, puppetry and a sprinkling of burlesque: ‘last night I saw a person at the very top of her game, doing everything she can to be the very best that she can - it was a privilege to witness that. She was funny, and clever, and vulnerable and wise all in the same few minutes…' - Nick Yardley
Run time - 75mins
INSIDE STORIES OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE
22nd May
7:30pm
Tickets £15-£12 (Exc Booking Fees)
Matt Rendell, ITV Tour de France commentator and acclaimed author, shares stories from his 25 years' covering the Tour - and his dealings with cycling's big names from Eddy Merckx to Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish to Chris Froome.
Matt's live shows delight audiences with a magically unpredictable mix of first-hand experiences of the biggest races on the calendar, bizarre/hilarious personal stories and thought-provoking ideas about the future (and history) of the sport.
Matt Rendell will be in conversation with former Procycling magazine writer Duncan Steer. There will be a chance to ask your own questions.
Sirens Of The Silver Screen
23rd May
8:00pm
Tickets £12.75 - £15 (Not inc. booking fee)
Sirens of the Silver Screen delves into the lives of the 20th century's most iconic women: Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. This sisterhood of stunning starlets lit up the silver screen for decades and kept tongues wagging with their scandalous off-screen antics. Award-winning actress Beth Burrows takes on each iconic woman, performing their songs and shedding light on the shadowy secrets that stalked their careers. Prepare to be transported to a world of Old Hollywood glamour, where fame, fate and misfortune collide, presented through story, song and cinema!
Running time - 1hr45
Age 12+
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO SLAY A DRAGON
11th - 20th June
7:30pm
(Sun 15th - 3:30pm)
Tickets £12 (Not inc. booking fee)
PWYC Tickets Available
A new play by Rebekah Harrison, directed by Martha Simon
Produced by Take Back Theatre and 53Two
When delivery driver Billy is asked to take his England flag off the dashboard of his work van, it starts off a chain of events that change his life forever… only this play isn’t just about Billy. It’s about all of us...
NEZLOBIN
21st June
7:30pm
Tickets from £35
24 марта впервые в Манчестере выступит один из первопроходцев жанра stand-up на русском языке Александр Незлобин.
Экс-резидент Comedy Club, продюсер, режиссёр. Незлобин давно закрепился на комедийной сцене благодаря своему узнаваемому стилю.
От бытовых проблем до жизни в США, о чём бы ни говорил Саша, мы узнаём себя!
В концерте специальным гостем выступит стенд-ап комик Игорь Меерсон. У вас будет уникальная возможность стать свидетелями воссоединения легендарного дуэта Бабочки.
AGE RESTRICTED: 18+
SLAMCHESTER
22nd June
7:30pm
Tickets £6
PWYC Available
Slamchester - Where words hit harder.
Let’s get ready to rumble!
This is your chance to witness eight of Manchester’s finest poets go head-to-head in a high-energy battle of words, wit, and raw emotion.
Plus, a very special guest performance from Jardel Rodrigues - one of the most captivating voices in spoken word today.
Hosted by four-time UK Slam finalist Kieren King.
Limited open mic spots are also available! Want to share your words? Step up and sign up on the night in a welcoming, supportive space.
Don’t miss this unforgettable night of poetry, passion, and performance.
Run time - 2.5hrs inc interval
Extra Ordinary
14th July
7:30pm
Tickets £12 (£10 Conc) Not inc. booking fee
PWYC Tix Available
Rachel and Max are an ordinary couple, living ordinary lives until something extraordinary turns everything upside down. Now they have the single most important decision of their life to make.
They piece together their thoughts, bit by bit, good and bad, speaking the things you shouldn’t say and contemplating the never ending ‘What ifs’.
Extra Ordinary follows Max and Rachel as they consider the news that their unborn baby will be born with Down’s syndrome. They are faced with many life-changing decisions -- how will their lives change, what complexities will their child have, will they be able to support their child? The list goes on.
Extra Ordinary is an emotional rollercoaster, exploring the differing perspectives of a mother and father. As they debate, reflect, and consider all the possibilities, the question remains, will they reach a conclusion?
This piece of new writing examines the effects of genetic testing and the impact this has on the diversity of our society. Extra Ordinary is a powerful, thought-provoking experience that will leave you pondering, what you would do in their position?
Run time - 55mins
Age restriction - 10+
OFFCUT FESTIVAL 2025
23rd July - 3rd August
7:30pm (Sunday 3rd @ 1pm & 5pm)
Tickets £10
PWYC Available
2 Weeks...
20 Plays...
5 Finalists...
1 Winner!
OFFCUT IS BACK!!!
One of the UK’s most successful platforms for undiscovered writing, acting and directing talent found a new home in at 53two in January 2019. Prior to this, the Off Cut Festival had been one of London’s biggest springboards for many new careers and working relationships, all born in the spirit of collaboration, camaraderie and friendly competition. And always with an emphasis on audience engagement.
PETERLOO IN ROCK
16th August
3pm & 8pm
Tickets £15 (£5 Conc.)
PWYC TIX AVAILABLE
‘It started with a song about the Peterloo Massacre in 1819, the song grew, more songs in the same vein were written, they came together and became Peterloo in Rock. It was as if it was always meant to be.’
The Reformers of Peterloo aim to tell the world what happened at one of Britains most brutal atrocities and how it fuelled the determination of the working classes for fairness, democracy and universal suffrage
Peterloo, The Rock Musical. to be performed on the 206th anniversary of the massacre at St Petersfield in Manchester
Running time - 2hrs exc interval
CAN'T COMPLAIN - World Premiere
6th September
8pm
Tickets £10 (Exc. Booking Fee)
In England’s green and pleasant land, the blossoming romance between Tom and Joanna, two shy, aimless, post-school pre-university teens, is rocked by the sudden suicide of Joanna's father. Together, along with newly widowed mother Helen, they must keep calm and carry on by any means necessary whilst hamstrung by innate stoicism, solitude and silence.
Can't Complain is a brand new electropop audiodrama musical that captures a yearlong exploration of grief and loss, love and light, isolation and community seen through the eyes of a makeshift family unit living in the leafy but lifeless British countryside.
Join us under the arches of Deansgate for the second of two world premiere in person playback events celebrating the show’s global release.
For further updates, follow @cantcomplainmusical.