Manchester

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Arts & Leisure

Manchester is emerging from a decade's worth of cultural construction. The magnificent Bridgewater Hall was among the first of the new-builds, followed by Salford's Lowry centre and the museum of urban culture, Urbis

Theatre
With its 30th anniversary season playing to packed houses, it's surprising to learn that the Royal Exchange has found time to nurture new talent. But it's done exactly that, with the results of the 2005 Playwriting Competition performed as part of Manchester International Festival. A writer-in-residence and the National Playwriting Conference (July 2007) reveal a dedication to developing new work that's being replicated across the city, most notably at Contact Theatre (who hold 'pitch parties' to uncover new talent) and the University's little-known Martin Harris Centre. Other highlights include Pete Postlethwaite playing Prospero in the Exchange's production of The Tempest and Bolton Octagon's 40th anniversary season - which includes five world premières.

Dance
The best classical dance performances come courtesy of the Lowry, Palace Theatre and Opera House. The latter two, sister venues run by the same organisation, put on reliable touring shows from the English National Ballet, with The Three Musketeers (May 2007) typical of their performances. The Lowry, meanwhile, excels at contemporary dance, and brings the likes of Eclipse (billed as the UK’s first circus musical) to Manchester in 2007, plus works by the Birmingham Royal Ballet and contemporary European and international touring companies. For edgier work head to Contact Theatre or Greenroom, whose intimate spaces mean you can get up close and personal to the newest moves in contemporary and urban dance.

Classical music
The Hallé celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2008, at a time when classical music in the city has never looked in better shape. Under Mark Elder, who has committed himself to the orchestra until the end of the decade, the Hallé is enjoying the kind of critical and popular success unseen since its 1960s Sir John Barbirolli heyday. While its anniversary season promises outstanding performances, other highlights include a weekend in 2007 to mark Edward Elgar's 150th birthday.

Bridgewater Hall, performing home of both the Hallé and BBC Philharmonic, recently celebrated its first decade, its success no doubt helped by the friendly rivalry between Mark Elder and the equally charismatic head of the Phil, Gianandrea Noseda. Noseda's artistic direction is formidable: when he led the Phil through its first complete cycle of the Beethoven symphonies in 30 years, the performances were uploaded onto the BBC's website. 1.4m quick-fire downloads later, the Phil realised it had someone rather special fronting its orchestra.

The public profile of the Royal Northern College of Music has just got better, with the opening of a new wing on Oxford Road, while the University of Manchester's Quatuor Danel Quartet - arguably one of the best quartets in Europe - regularly plays just up the road at the Martin Harris Centre. Manchester International Festival is also having a positive impact on classical music, with Manchester Camerata and a new organisation, the Exodus Live International Orchestra, both busily working on their contributions to the festival.

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