What's On at 53two
At 53two we try to offer as diverse and exciting range of events as possible. These range from theatre productions, live music and quizzes, to corporate events, live podcasts, weddings, parties and more. We hold events both in the Bar area and Theatre area.
Below you will see a list of our upcoming events. Click on an image for more detail around them and a link to booking. Alternatively, check out the calendar opposite and search for a specific date.
If you have any questions about the events, please feel free to drop us a line. All events are fully accessible. Look out for specific listings for BSL interpreted events and events that also have Unwaged Tickets for sale.
DR Q - QUIZ NIGHT!
25th March7:30pm
£2 per head (CASH ONLY!)
He defeated The Governess on 'The Chase', made the 'Fifteen to One' grand final, came last on 'Supermarket Sweep'...
Now he writes questions for 'Mastermind'!
So, get revising & join the Doctor for an evening of quizzing brilliance!!
Join Dr Q for a good time in the arches!
PIANOKE!
4th Nov
8:30pm - 12:00pm
FREE ENTRY
It's like karaoke, but with a piano!
Pop along and give us your best rendition of 'Gold', 'Lady Gaga' or 'Madame Thénardier' and make yourself the master of our house.
Don't sing? Sit back and sample some of Manchester's finest singers.
TESTING TESTING
With Toby Hadoke
LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
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!
She SHARES
18th Jan @ 12:00pm
20th Jan @ 7:30pm
Join us to discuss what YOU want from She Shares!
There are no female Mental Health focussed, FREE to attend, wellbeing peer support groups in Manchester.
53two are changing that! Want to be a part of the change? Come along to one of two focus groups and explore what a meeting might look like and share your thoughts on what you'd like the meetings to be like.
David Alnwick performs
THE SIGNALMAN
by Charles Dickens
23rd January
8:00pm
After bringing his hit show 'The Mystery of Dracula' to 53Two, David Alnwick is back for the festive season with Charles Dickens' classic Christmas ghost story... THE SIGNALMAN.
A lone traveller befriends a railway signalman with a terrifying tale to tell.
David Alnwick is an actor, writer, and magician, and the first half of the show will be a live performance demonstration of Victorian Spiritualism, followed by a classic Dickensian style performance of The Signalman.
Expect an evening of ghosts, illusions, and chilling tales.
Praise for previous work:
“Like seemingly everything that Alnwick produces, the magic itself is flawless, and the storytelling aspect is equally perfectly performed.” - ★★★★★ World Magic Review
“Really well done... thoroughly enjoyed it... Really impressive work” - Andy Nyman (Derren Brown’s director and writer of West-End hit ‘Ghost Stories’)
“Alnwick skilfully cranks up the suspense and intrigue as he delves deeper into the darker side of magic.” – NowThen Magazine
Click here to see audience reactions for Alnwick’s 2023 hit ‘The Mystery of Dracula’: https://youtu.be/2SWfdQBtrbw
Age recommendation is 12+
Run Time; 2 hours inc interval.
The Traitors - Final
24th Jan
8:00pm
FREE
Are you a Faithful?
Join us for the of the greatest theatrical event to have happened so far, in 2025.
Screened on our 200inch screen, catch all the gory details as contestants struggle to work out who is telling the truth and who will fleece them for every penny.
You can even treat yourself to a Traitors Tipple or Faithful Fancy to wet the whistle as the chaos unfolds!
Capes welcome!
THE GREAT BIG VO SOCIAL
25th Jan
2:00pm - 2:00am
Join us for 12 hours of glorious company in a glorious city in the glorious sunshine.
(Seriously… it’s January in a railway arch in Manchester. Sunshine? Who are we kidding? We’re just a slave to the rule of 3.)
The Great Big Voiceover Social is an event that captures the open arms of the voiceover community. An after hours atmosphere with a few extra bits to titillate and entertain. Plus an additional soft serving of business service support. Oh… and a damn big party too!
10 BELOW
A Two Day Celebration Of The Arts
31st Jan - 1st Feb
£15 Day Ticket
£25 Weekend Ticket
After All Music & 53Two are bringing you a Brand New Arts Festival in Deansgate, Manchester. Consisting of Live Acoustic Bands & Classical Instruments, One-Act Plays, Comedians & Poets.
Come down and join us for a weekend of fun!
After All Presents: Saturday 1st FebruaryUrban Theory • Inego • Black Sonic Revolver • Jacob Reddy
Feather Trade • The Marbellas • Daniel Darley • Jonny Blad
Including short plays and Comdians from Manchester's finest!
SHADOWED DREAMER
20TH & 21ST FEB
7:30pm
Tickets £10 - Not Including Booking Fee
Shadowed Dreamer: A story of survival, determination and belief.
After 14 years and a successful run in New York, Shadowed Dreamer will be on at 53two for two nights starring actor and writer Stephen Hart who shares his story of a life rebuilt that demonstrates the immense human capacity of one man.
With Q&A after each performance
Performed in LGBT History Month.
THE MAGIC BOOKMARK
With Mama G
22nd February
3:00pm
Tickets £15 (£12 Conc)
PWYC Tix Available
Join "everyone's favourite pantomime dame!" (Metro) and Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist Mama G on an award winning panto adventure, coming to you direct from New York!
Mama G loves reading inclusive stories, but evil Book Worm doesn’t see the point - so he steals all the books from Mama G’s library. Before the world can turn to chaos, she enlists the help of the mysterious and wonderful Magic Bookmark... and YOU!
Families are sure to love this storytelling show full of panto fun, interaction, song and dance, puppetry, and some of the finest picture books currently on the market!
"Mama G’s stories are sprinkled with tales of inclusivity and acceptance." - The Guardian
Run time - 75mins
JUST BREW IT
Nicole Chegwin, Emma Baim, Terri Jade Donovan
& Marcella Rick
27th February
7:30pm
Tickets £3-£12
'Just Brew It' is an evening of new work, written by local disabled playwrights: Nicola Chegwin, Emma Baim, Terri Jade Donovan & Marcella Rick.
'Brew Up Productions' will support 4 developing writers (mentored by Steph Lacey) to develop a new script idea, presented as part of 'JUST BREW IT'.
Just Brew It will culminate in a screening of Brew Up's debut short film: "A Day in the Life', exploring a day in the life of a disabled man, navigating the challenges and micro-aggressions present in every day life.
RUN TIME - 70 mins
KYLE KINANE
8th March
7:30pm
Tickets £27 (Excl Booking Fee)
Kyle isn't sure what the title has to do with the show, other than it sounds pretty cool. Also, perhaps you'll feel slightly absolved after realizing that at 47 years old, Kyle has far more questions than answers.
Kyle Kinane is a comedian from Addison, Illinois. According to Wikipedia, he is a notable person from that town. Other notable residents of Addison have been the boxer Leon Spinks and a woman who wrote poetry about Beanie Babies.
Raised in such a cultural fondue pot as this, it was natural for Kyle to find his way from warehouse work into show business. As a comedian, he has been seen on Conan, The Tonight Show, Netflix’s “The Standups,” and three of his own hour-length specials on Comedy Central. As an actor, he’s been in the Judd Apatow series “Love” and truTV’s “Those Who Can’t.” He was also on “Drunk History,” where he unfortunately wasn’t acting. As a voice over actor, he was the former voice of Comedy Central for 8 years and currently plays Bullet on the Netflix series “Paradise PD.” He is also cohost of the Boogie Monster podcast along with Dave Stone, and the
streaming show “Hey Girl” with Matt Braunger. As a musician, he has done nothing, as he is not a musician.
Kyle’s most recent standup work, “Trampoline In A Ditch,” was recorded at Comedy on State in Madison, Wisconsin and was released on 800 LB Gorilla Records in 2020. The album was accompanied by an animated short, produced by Meister.
“When you’re here, you’re family.”
BUCKLED
by Helen Jeffrey
21st March
7:30pm
Tickets £12 (£10 Conc)
PWYC Available
Ruby doesn’t think she has a problem
Maggie’s almost six months into recovery
Then there’s Callum…..
Family, friendship and booze
Drinking to remember
And drinking to forget
Written and directed by Helen Jeffery, this piece dives deep into the drinking culture of contemporary Britain as it asks the question: How do you navigate sobriety in a world that revolves around drink?
"Mature, intelligent work with plenty to say and a big heart.“
Vicky Anderson - Made Up Liverpool
‘Buckled 'is a brilliant new piece of writing from Helen Jeffery, sensitively exploring an important topic. Moving, humorous and excellently staged.’
Elinor Randle - Artistic Director: Unity Theatre
Run time - 1hr
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
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)
A PINEAPPLE
by Olivia Mace
23rd April - 3rd May - 53two
7th May - Lawrence Batley, Huddrsfield
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 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)
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.