Theatre tickets
A chance to win tickets to see 'Allo Allo' at the Lowry's Quay Theatre.
FIND OUT MORESee How They Run
Win tickets for the hilarious festive farce, See How They Run, at the Royal Exchange.
FIND OUT MOREChampagne afternoon
The Calico Cafe Bar is offering one reader a free Champagne Afternoon Tea for two, worth £45.
FIND OUT MOREAspiring entrepreneur?
Chartered Accountants Lucas Reis are offering an hour's free business consultation.
FIND OUT MOREWhat's on
Snoop Dogg and P Diddy team up for a rare hip-hop extravaganza, Manchester goes green for its annual Irish Festival, plus a whole host of exhibitions, art shows, dance perofrmances and plays.
Culture
Manchester Irish Festival
Various venues, March 3 - 18.
A city-wide celebration of all things Irish, with scores of music, dance, theatre and cultural events. Highlights include the return of the hugely popular Manchester Irish Festival Market (March 9 - 11) and the St Patrick's Day Parade on March 11. For details, visit the festival's website at www.goingirish.com.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONCulture
Single Shot in Manchester
various public locations across the city, until April 1. Free.
A mini-festival of film and video works shot in a single take, Single Shot in Manchester features both established artists and new talent. Showing at Urbis, Manchester Art Gallery, Chinese Arts Centre. www.urbis.org.uk.
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Exhibition
Arrivals and Departures
Urbis, until March 11. Free. Tel: 0161 605 8200.
The first major contemporary art exhibition on Hong Kong to take place in the UK, Arrivals and Departures marks the tenth anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China. It features more than 20 separate art works, including painting, collage, photography and digital media, exploring the collision of cultures between Hong Kong, China and Britain.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
World Cup Photos
The Lowry, until march 25. Free. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
To mark the 40th anniversary of England's World Cup victory, The Lowry (in association with the Guardian and the Observer) presents photographs of World Cup tournaments from 1966 to last year's finals in Germany.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
Children of Jerusalem
IWMN, until march 25. Free. Tel: 0161 836 4000.
A small but remarkable collection of paintings by Israeli and Palestinian children from the divided city of Jerusalem is on display at the Imperial War Museum North. The paintings were created in the midst of the Intifada by children divided by religion and beliefs but drawn together by their fear of conflict and their longing for a peaceful future.
Exhibition
RAW
Manchester craft & Design Centre, until march 31. Free. Tel: 0161 832 4274.
A mixed media exhibition of work by five makers, whose creations - from wobbly-lined illustrative textiles to rugged ceramic vessels - all have a rough and free-hand quality to them.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
The Grand Trunk Road
People's history museum, Bridge street, until April 15. Free. Tel 0161 839 6061.
An exhibition by acclaimed photographer Tim Smith and oral historian Irna Qureshi exploring the Grand Trunk Road - the longest, oldest and most famous highway in the Asian sub-continent.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
Indigo: A blue to buy
The Whitworth Art Gallery, oxford road, until April 15. Free. Tel: 0161 275 7450.
With exhibits ranging from Egyptian burial clothes to denim jeans, Indigo tells the story of one of the world's oldest dyes.
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Exhibition
Lifelines
Hat Works, Stockport, until April 15. Free. Tel: 0845 833 0975.
Hat Works museum's What's Hot? exhibitions present the best in contemporary millinery, from haute couture creations to student projects. 'Lifelines' displays work by final year millinery students at Leeds College of Art and Design, exploring the concept of recycling.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
Alien Nation
Manchester Art Gallery, March 17 - May 7. Free. Tel: 0161 235 8888.
Twelve contemporary international artists explore racial difference through the language and iconography of science fiction, where extraterrestrial forms become a metaphor for the threat posed by the outsider to both family harmony and national stability.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
Featuring Walls
The Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford road, until sept 30. Free. Tel: 0161 275 7450.
A collection of historic and modern wallpapers celebrating three centuries of wallpaper decoration and reflecting many of the social and cultural currents at work when these papers were made.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONTheatre
ROSENCRANTz AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD
Library Theatre, St Peter's Square, until march 10. £6 - £18. Tel: 0161 236 7110.
One of the highlights of the Library Theatre Company's spring 2007 season, the play tells the story of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern - minor characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet, who are great friends in real life.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONTheatre
THE VORTEX
The royal exchange Theatre, until March 10. £8.00 - £27.50. Tel: 0161 615 6815.
Will Young makes his theatre debut as troubled musician Nicky Lancaster in Noel Coward's The Vortex, which bravely depicts the darkness behind the dazzle of the British high society in the 1920s.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONTheatre
AIDA
Opera House, March 5, 6, 9 and 10. £12.50 - £40.50.Tel: 0870 163 3402.
The grandest of all Ellen Kent's operas returns to tell the story of the doomed love between beautiful Ethiopian slave girl Aida and Egyptian hero Radames.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONTheatre
CHARLEY'S AUNT
The Lowry, March 19 ? 24. £12.50 ? £22. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Popular television actor Stephen Tompkinson stars as Donna Lucia D?Alvadorez in this brand new production of the comedy classic Charley's Aunt. Two schoolboys convince an older pal to impersonate a female relation and chaperone, so they can entertain their sweethearts in their lodgings - leading to a hilarious sequence of misunderstandings.
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Theatre
Guys and Dolls
Opera House, March 13 - 31. £12.50 - £25.50. Tel: 0870 401 9000.
Donmar's Olivier Awardwinning production of Frank Loesser's classic musical is coming to Manchester as part of a UK tour. Bursting with classic hits such as Luck be a Lady, Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat, and Guys and Dolls, this is musical royalty.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONTheatre
WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
Royal Exchange Theatre, March 14 ? April 14. £8 ? £27.50. Tel: 0161 833 9833.
A major new production of Edward Albee's modern American masterpiece, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a blistering portrayal of marriage coming apart at the seams. Set in 1960s America, the play centres around Martha and George - a bitter, ageing couple - who invite a younger couple to their house after a party for a few drinks and dangerous games. Soon the evening devolves into an alcohol-fuelled verbal war.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONTheatre
THE PRODUCERS
Palace Theatre, until May 12. £12.50 - £40. Tel: 0871 677 0000.
Bolton comedian Peter Kay stars in Mel Brooks' smash hit musical about a down-on-his luck theatrical producer and his accountant, who hatch the ultimate theatrical scam.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
KEANE
MEN Arena, March 4. £23.50. Tel: 0870 190 8000.
British indie rock band Keane are famed for their heartfelt piano melodies, their lead singer's show-stopping vocals and their intense live performances.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
LILY ALLEN
Manchester Apollo, Stockport Road, March 10. £15. Tel: 0870 401 8000.
The London-based popstrel brings her catchy tunes and cheeky attitude to Manchester.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
STEVEN SEAGAL WITH THUNDERBOX
The Lowry, March 14. £28.50. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
The Hollywood action hero sings the blues.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB PRESENTS
The Bridgewater hall, March 19. £19.50 - £24.50. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
The legendary 12-piece band, direct from Havana, returns to Manchester for an unmissable concert.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
DOLLY PARTON
MEN Arena, March 20. £45 - £65. Tel: 0870 190 8000.
Country icon Dolly Parton performs songs from her huge back catalogue, including the hits 9 to 5, Jolene and I Will Always Love You.
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Music
SNOOP AND P DIDDY
MEN Arena, March 29. £32.50.
Tel: 0870 190 8000.
American hip-hop heavyweights Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy have teamed up for a one-off tour of the UK, which brings them to Manchester this month.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
VERSUS CANCER
MEN Arena, March 30. £40. Tel: 0870 190 8000.
Ian Brown, The Charlatans and Echo & the Bunnymen are some of the bands confirmed to perform at this year's Versus Cancer concert - Manchester's biggest charity gig raising money for cancer research and awareness.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONDance
STRICTLY BALLET WITH WAYNE SLEEP
The Bridgewater hall, March 31. £8 - £34. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
International dance star Wayne Sleep presents an evening of the most romantic music ever written by the true masters of classical ballet.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONDance
HENRI OGUIKE DANCE COMPANY
The Lowry, March 13 and 14. £14. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
This highly-acclaimed dance company takes to the stage with a hotly anticipated new show, featuring eight awesome performers.
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Dance
RICHARD ALSTON
The Lowry, march 6. £12 - £18. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Here's your chance to see one of Britain's most celebrated contemporary dance companies in action. Artistic director Alston, one of the most influential figures in British dance, has created an exhilarating new programme that promises to thrill with its musicality and elegance.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONSport
BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Manchester Aquatic centre, March 26 - April 1. Day tickets: £5. Tel: 0800 220 292.
Some of the best swimmers in the country will descend on Manchester this month to battle it out for medals in this thrilling long course event.
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