Snow White

Varna International Ballet bring Snow White to The Bridgewater Hall on Saturday 2 January and Sunday 3 January, both matinees at 2:00pm. It's a ballet for all ages, so it works as a family outing as much as a proper afternoon of dance.

The story is the one you know: the vain Queen's magic mirror names Snow White the fairest of all, she flees to the Seven Dwarfs and the creatures of an enchanted forest, and a poisoned apple casts her into a deep sleep that only true love can break. It's a familiar tale, but the production is built on a wide-ranging score that pulls from Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Pugni and Grieg, so the music changes as the story moves through its different moods.

The company behind it is the Varna International Ballet, founded in 1947 in Varna, Bulgaria. They're known for their award-winning soloists and a large corps de ballet, and these Manchester dates are part of their 2027 National Tour across the UK, which follows a debut tour of the country. It's a touring production, so it's one of the few times they'll be in the city.

Both performances are at 2:00pm on Saturday 2 January and Sunday 3 January at The Bridgewater Hall, so you'll be out in the middle of the afternoon rather than late into the evening. If you're planning to take the kids, it's a good way to spend a winter weekend without staying up too late.