What's on guide

Varekai

Date: 25th February 2010
Location: The Trafford Centre, Manchester

February 25th – March 21st. Cirque du Soleil’s‘Varekai’ is set to appear for the first time outside of London. The show engages the spirit and art of the circus tradition with jaw-dropping acrobatic choreography set to music.
Manchester is the only place in the UK that will see Varekai performed under Cirque du Soleil’s white Grand Chapiteau (big top) and is the only stop for the Varekai tour outside London.
The word Varekai means ‘wherever’ in the Romany language of the gypsies – and the show promises to ‘take any viewer wherever they dream’.
Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder to almost 90 million spectators in more than 200 cities on five continents.
www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Preston Cruise Show

Date: 21st March 2010
Location: The Macdonald Tickled Trout Hotel, M6 Junction 31

The Lancashire magazine will sponsor The Preston Cruise Show, held in conjunction with Global Cruising Central Lancashire. Between 11am and 3pm, visitors can meet with leading cruise providers and get the most up-to-date information they have available. Booking facilities and Special 'Preston Cruise Show' offers will be made available to VIP attendees on the day, and a special ‘Cruise Cocktail’ will be provided to all VIP attendees. To register for your VIP invitation, email centrallancs@globalcruising.co.uk with the names and addresses of the guests who wish to attend.
Macdonald Tickled Trout Hotel is offering a special two-course carvery meal available from 12noon to 3pm at a special price of £12.99 for all guests attending the show.
01772 861717 / www.centrallancs.globalcruising.co.uk

Wigan Food and Drink Festival

Date: 4th February 2010
Location: Various venues, Wigan

March 4th – 14th. Two of the country’s most famous food and drink celebrities will attend Wigan’s third Food and Drink Festival. TV chef Antony Worrall Thompson and wine expert Jilly Goolden will head up two special events as part of the ten-day culinary celebration.
This will be the biggest festival to date and will include the CAMRA Wigan Beer Festival, the Wigan Outdoor Market Kitchen Theatre, the Fine Food Trail, a packed food and drink events programme and the Sweet Tooth Fair.
Jilly Goolden will be hosting a ‘Wines of the World’ tasting event at Haigh Hall on March 12th, while Antony Worrall Thompson will host ‘Dinner with AWT’ again at the same venue on March 10th.
01942 825677 / www.wlct.org/Tourism/foodfest/foodfest.htm

‘Showzam’

Date: 12th February 2010
Location: Various venues, Blackpool

February 12th – 21st. Inspired by the great British traditions of circus, cabaret, magic and variety, ‘Showzam’ is a ten-day festival featuring numerous performers, showcased throughout Blackpool’s famous landmarks and on the streets. Produced by visitBlackpool, the event will be headlined by comic cabaret sensation La Clique, with other highlights including the acrobatics of Ockham’s Razor and Spymonkey’s surreal take on the tale of ‘Moby Dick’.
Blackpool’s historic Winter Gardens will be transformed into ‘Showzam Central’ - a free area featuring restored, traditional sideshows from the 1950s, The Insect Museum, an Edwardian flea circus, live cabaret, new variety performances and special film screenings. In ‘Heat The Streets’ on February 20th, a carnival parade will wind its way around the town centre, leading into displays of fire, light and live musical performances as darkness falls.
01253 478222

Website: http://www.showzam.co.uk

Katherine Jenkins

Date: 12th March 2010
Location: Manchester Evening News Arena

Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins, the world’s most successful classical crossover artist, will appear in Manchester with special guests Escala.
Katherine will perform tracks from her latest album ‘Believe’. This new record sees her take a new and bold direction, working with award winning producer David Foster who is noted for discovering singers such as Celine Dion and Michael Bublé. Over the past six years, Katherine has defined the ‘crossover’ genre. Whether she is taking to the stage with performing Edith Piaf's ‘La Vie En Rose’ with Darcey Bussell oriving Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah a classical twist, she is considered to be one of the most progressive artists of her generation.
0844 847 8000 / www.men-arena.com

‘Elvis Presley in Concert’

Date: 26th February 2010
Location: Manchester Evening News Arena

This innovative show, which reunites Elvis’s former band mates live on stage with a state-of-the-art video projection of him, returns to the M.E.N Arena for the first time in five years.
Elvis’s multi-screen image is joined by the same musicians and singers who supported him throughout his 70s concert career – the legendary TCB Band, female vocalists The Sweet Inspirations, male vocalists The Imperials plus a full orchestra under the direction of Joe Guercio, Elvis’s original Vegas music director.
Featuring footage from The King’s landmark concerts in 1970, 1972 and 1973 plus previously unseen footage, the show includes such hits as ‘Burning Love’, ‘Love Me Tender’ and ‘Blue Suede Shoes’.
0844 847 8000

Website: http://www.men-arena.com