Billy Liar Heads to Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre

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Harry McEntire stars in classic tale of northern life in 1960s Britain

BILLY LIAR – a classic tale of northern life in 1960s Britain – heads to Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre next week in an exciting new production of Keith Waterhouse’s famous 1959 novel.

Adapted for stage by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, the play tells the story of Billy Fisher, a 19-year-old nobody who dreams of escaping the day-to-day drudgery of northern life in the 1960s.

Living with his parents and stuck in a...

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Album Review: Broken Toys by Smoove & Turrell

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Smoove & Turrell on top form with new album Broken Toys

Newcastle’s finest Smoove and Turrell look set to continue to rise through the ranks of British soul with the release of their new album Broken Toys.

For those who don’t know S&T, Smoove & Turrell (Jonathan Scott Watson and John Turrell) are a British modern soul act. They propelled to fame in 2009 following the release of their first album, Antique Soul, which scored them two records of the week on Radio 2 and a gig at Glastonbury and...

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Film Review: Maleficent is Magnificent

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Angelina Jolie exemplary as the fairy badmother in Maleficent

Disney’s dark and highly anticipated fantasy adventure film, Maleficent, is on general release in UK this weekend and is set to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. 

Maleficent tells the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain, the evil fairy from Sleeping Beauty. Once a beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent lived a happy and carefree life in the peaceable forest kingdom...

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Twitter Competition Terms and Conditions

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. Competition opens 07:00 GMT Tuesday 28 May and closes at 23:59 GMT on Thursday 30 May 2019.
2. Competition is open to UK residents only.
3. Winner to be announced at @FranklyMyDearUK and on www.franklymydearuk.co.uk
4. To enter participants are required to retweet competition tweet and follow @FranklyMyDearUK
5. The Prize: Two tickets to CHESHIRE FEST on Saturday 1 June 2019 from 12 noon at Manchester Rugby Club.
6...

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Film Review: The Two Faces of January

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Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst and Oscar Isaac delight in gripping tale of greed, murder and jealously

Patricia Highsmith’s tightly-woven thriller The Two Faces of January is on general release in UK cinemas this month, offering movie goers a refreshing break from the contemporary norm.

Deep, dark and dramatic, The Two Faces of January follows the story of Rydal (Oscar Isaac), an American rich kid who is foolishly sucked into a fast unfolding web of deceit, murder and jealously.

Set in Athens i...

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Cast of Broadchurch Series Two Announced

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David Tennant and Olivia Colman set to return for second series

After months of speculation, ITV has confirmed the returning cast for the new series of Broadchurch.

David Tennant and Olivia Colman will return as Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller for the second series of the popular TV drama.

Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan (who played Danny’s parents Beth and Mark Latimer) and Arthur Darvill (who played local vicar Paul Coates) are also set to return, with filming due to start in Dorset soon.

“...

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Shakespeare on The Lawns

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Celebratory performances of Macbeth and A Comedy of Errors to mark 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth

Spinningfields, Manchester is to host two open-air Shakespeare performances this July.

Macbeth and A Comedy of Errors will be performed by the GB Theatre Company at The Lawns between 18 and 20 July.

Sir Kenneth Branagh’s sister, Joyce Branagh is to star as Lady Macbeth in the celebratory performance to mark the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth...

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Bank Holiday New Film Releases

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If you’re looking for some entertainment this Bank Holiday weekend, you’ll be pleased to hear that five new films are due for release in UK cinemas this coming Friday.

Xmen-Poster-1X-Men: Days of Future Past

The eagerly awaited sequel X-Men: Days of Future Past hits UK cinemas on 23 May.

Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine and is sent back to the past in a desperate effort to change history. Characters from the original X-Men trilogy and X-Men: First Class join forces in the ultimate battle to save the f...

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Philip Glenister Stars in BBC Drama – From There to Here

From There to Here

New BBC One drama on the day that changed Manchester forever

Philip Glenister returns to our TV screens this week in From There To Here, a new three part mini-series on BBC One.

The Life On Mars and Mad Dogs actor plays Daniel Cotton, a family man caught up in the IRA bomb which destroyed Manchester City Centre in June 1996.

As Daniel lies recovering in a hospital bed, his life slowly starts falls apart when his lies collide and the truth about his double life emerges.

But Daniel isn’t the only...

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Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott Reunite for What Have We Become

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Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott reunite for first time since The Beautiful South

14 years after Painting It Red, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott look set to return to the UK charts with the release of What Have We Become, a new studio album full of lyrical wit and humour.

The new album is the first time the pair has recorded together since the multi-million selling days of The Beautiful South, who charted several number one albums in the 1990s and early 2000s.

With her vocals on a string of hits in...

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