What's on
There are tonnes of great musical, cultural and sports events taking place in Manchester this month. Check out our event listings below.
Festivals & fairs
International Women's Day
Manchester celebrates International Women's Day with a host of free activities, including interactive arts and crafts sessions, information stalls, discussions about women's health, entertainment and much more.
Manchester Town Hall, March 7.
www.manchester.gov.ukManchester Irish Festival
A city-wide celebration of all things Irish, featuring hundreds of music, dance, theatre, comedy and community events. Highlights include the annual Young, Gifted & Green show at Manchester Town Hall on March 6 and the legendary St Patrick's Day Parade on March 14.
Various venues, March 5 - 21.
www.manchesteririshfestival.com!Viva! Spanish & Latin American Film Festival
An annual showcase of contemporary films from Spain and Spanish-speaking Latin America. This year's programme includes Paraguayan comedy Mal Dia Para Pescar, Spanish family drama La vergueenza and Catalan coming-of-age tale Little Indi. The festival also features guest appearances from writer-director Manuel Gutierrez Aragon and short film-maker Luis Arambilet.
Cornerhouse, March 6 - 27.
www.vivafilmfestival.comExhibitions
Artist Rooms
Manchester Art Gallery plays host to an exhibition of work by Ron Mueck, as part of Artist Rooms on Tour with The Art Fund. Mueck's hyper-real sculptures of the human figure are tender portrayals of people in their most intimate moments.
Manchester Art Gallery, until April 11. Free. Tel: 0161 235 8888.
Anderson & Low: Circus
Fine art photographers Anderson & Low capture a circus troupe working at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in a photography exhibition studying the relationship between body, performance, costume and identity.
The Lowry, until April 11. Free. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Facing East
An exhibition of major contemporary works from China, India and Japan, from the Frank Cohen Collection.
Manchester Art Gallery, until April 11. Free. Tel: 0161 235 8888.
Art in Advertising
Produced by Manchester advertising agency BJL, this exhibition examines the link between art and advertising, as well as showcasing some of the company's work.
The Lowry, until April 11. Free. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Walls Are Talking: Wallpaper, Art and Culture
The first ever major UK exhibition of artists' wallpapers, including work by Damien Hirst, Thomas Demand and Anya Gallaccio.
Whitworth Art Gallery, until May 3. Free. Tel: 0161 275 7450.
Shaped by War: Photographs by Don McCullin
The largest ever UK exhibition about the life and work of Don McCullin - one of the world's most acclaimed photographers.
Imperial War Museum North, until June 13. Free. Tel: 0161 836 4000.
Da Vinci - The Genius
Giant original colour and infra-red versions of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, as well as his visionary inventions, such as the helicopter, parachute and military tank, take centre stage in MOSI's exhibition.
MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry), until June 13. £7.50. Tel: 0844 847 2261.
Theatre
Three Sisters
The Lyric Hammersmith and theatre company Filter join forces to bring to life Chekhov's classic play, Three Sisters, in an imaginative new production. Frustrated by their small-town existence, the Prozorov sisters long to return to Moscow. But relationships, duty and misguided optimism hold them back, while happiness becomes increasingly elusive.
The Lowry, March 2 - 6. £16 - £20. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime
Lee Mead stars in the Oscar Wilde comedy Lord Arthur Savile's Crime. Lord Arthur Savile is deliriously happy - a pillar of Victorian society and about to marry the lovely Sybil Merton. But a brief encounter with a clairvoyant throws his life off course.
Palace Theatre, March 8 - 13. £16.75 - £29.50. Tel: 0844 372 7272.
1984
The Royal Exchange Theatre presents the world premiere of a new stage adaptation of George Orwell's dystopian novel, 1984. Living in a totalitarian, 'Big Brother' society, Winston Smith is a civil servant whose job is to rewrite history for the Ministry of Truth. But when he's handed a note that says simply 'I love you', by a woman he hardly knows, he decides to risk everything in a search for the real truth.
Royal Exchange Theatre, until March 27. £8.50 - £29.50. Tel: 0161 833 9833.
Serenading Louie
The award-winning Donmar Warehouse returns to The Lowry with Lanford Wilson's American drama, Serenading Louie. The play centres on Carl and Alex, played by Jason Butler Harner and Jason O'Mara, who are friends since college. As they enter their 30s, the two men have to face the truth about their failing marriages and disillusioned lives.
The Lowry, March 30 - April 3. £18 - £22. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Whistle Down the Wind
Jonathan Ansell stars in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman's musical, Whistle Down the Wind. When young Swallow discovers a mysterious man hiding in her family's barn, she thinks he is Jesus and swears to protect him. The town's children join her in trying to keep the man safe. Meanwhile, the rest of the townspeople are searching for an escaped killer.
Opera House, March 22 - April 3. £10.50 - £34. Tel: 0844 847 2295.
Glengarry Glen Ross
David Mamet's sizzling American drama tells the story of four desperate Chicago real estate agents, who are prepared to lie, bribe and steal to hang onto their jobs.
Library Theatre, March 12 - April 3. £10.50 - £18. Tel: 0161 236 7110.
Comedy
Stephen Lynch
American stand-up comedian, actor and musician Stephen Lynch brings his hilarious songs about daily life to Manchester.
The Lowry, March 11. £18.50. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Music
Lily Allen & Dizzee Rascal
A special show co-headlined by two of the country's biggest music stars - pop music singer/songwriter Lily Allen and rapper Dizzee Rascal.
M.E.N Arena, March 5. £28.10. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
Beth Nielsen Chapman
American singer/songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman has written hits for artists including Bette Midler, Elton John and Neil Diamond. This month, she performs live in Manchester.
The Bridgewater Hall, March 7. £19.50 - £21.50. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
Stereophonics
Welsh rockers Stereophonics return to Manchester to perform tracks from their latest album, Keep Calm And Carry On, as well as a number of chart-topping hits from their back catalogue.
M.E.N Arena, March 7. £30.65. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
A Day to Remember
The punk rockers from Florida embark on a UK headline tour, with support from Architects.
Academy 2, March 11. £12. Tel: 0871 2200 260.
Katherine Jenkins
Welsh classical crossover singer Katherine Jenkins (pictured above) pops into town to perform tracks from her latest album, Believe, with special guests Escala.
M.E.N Arena, March 12. £25.54 - £56.20. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
Editors
Highly acclaimed British band Editors bring their chart-topping brand of dark indie rock to Manchester.
Apollo, March 16. £20. Tel: 0871 2200 260.
Delphic
Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album, Acolyte, Manchester trio Delphic hit the road for a series of live shows.
Sankeys, March 17. £9. Tel: 0871 2200 260.
March on Stage
Starsailor's James Walsh and Arno Carstens perform in Manchester as part of Hard Rock Cafe's March on Stage event series.
Hard Rock Cafe Manchester, March 18. £10. Tel: 0161 831 6700.
Dame Evelyn Glennie
World-renowned Scottish percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie performs two works written specially for her by Zivkovic and Psathas. The concert offers a rare opportunity to hear a waterphone - an instrument that produces an ethereal, other-worldly sound.
The Bridgewater Hall, March 19. £10 - £29. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
Marlena Shaw
One of the last true great singers from the glory days of jazz, Marlena Shaw performs live at Band on the Wall.
Band on the Wall, March 20. £22. Tel: 0845 2500 500.
Oscars for Orchestra
Carl Davis conducts The Halle in a concert of music from Oscar-winning films, including Titanic, Cabaret and My Fair Lady. The show features soprano Mary Carewe.
The Bridgewater Hall, March 20. £9.50 - £37. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
50 Cent
New York rapper 50 Cent returns to Manchester to perform tracks from his latest album, Before I Self Destruct, alongside hip hop anthems In Da Club, How We Do and Candy Shop.
M.E.N Arena, March 25. £32.50 & £35. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
Dance
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake
Acclaimed choreographer Matthew Bourne's iconic Swan Lake production replaces the traditional female corps de ballet with a menacing male ensemble.
The Lowry, March 1 - 6. £18 - £37. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
The Sleeping Beauty
Birmingham Royal Ballet presents one of the greatest ballets from Imperial Russia, featuring a classical score by Tchaikovsky, original choreography by Marius Petipa and a story packed with memorable characters.
The Lowry, March 30 - April 3. £18 - £37. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Circus
Traces
The award-winning Traces bring their eye-popping brand of urban acrobatics to The Lowry. The show combines traditional circus stunts with basketball, skateboarding, street dance, theatre, humour and audio-visual effects.
The Lowry, March 8 - 10. £10 - £24. Tel: 0870 787 5793.