What's On at 53two
TESTING TESTING
With Toby Hadoke
SUNDAY 28th June
Tickets £10 INCLUDING A £5 drinks voucher
PWYC Tickets Available
Free Carer Tix
NEW START TIME!!!
DOORS 4:30pm - SHOW 5:00pm
Presented by Toby Hadoke, top circuit comedians try out their new material in the arches of 53two. Who turns up, you never know but an evening of sheer quality is guaranteed.
WITH: LINE UP TBC
Comedy at it's finest beneath the iconic brick arches of 53two.
Grab a Pizza and a pint before the show!
DOORS 4:30pm - SHOW 5:00pm
Testing, Testing is not quite like other gigs. We do things differently here. The acts have come for a safe, fun space to try their new stuff. They don’t need your “help” - so, thank goodness, you can leave your heckles at home. Also, the gig’s really good - so you don’t need your phone, and we ask you to respect your fellow audience members and the acts by taking any conversation you may wish to engage in outside. Toby’s an affable chap but he has zero tolerance for bad manners : comics like to do this show because he’s made it nice. Don’t be the one to make it not nice. Thank you!
53two are piloting their new ticketing platform - you will be directed to a different website! Please don't panic. If you have any feedback or queries on the platform, please do get in touch!
XS MALARKEY
Every Tuesday*
(Check dates to confirm)
Doors: 7:00pm - Show: 8:00pm
Tickets £6
(£3 for members - become a member!)
XS Malarkey is a not-for-profit comedy club, hosted every week by Toby Hadoke, and eagerly maintained by a group of minions who do his bidding on a regular basis.
Despite our low door price, we put on shows with professional comedians and rising stars of the comedy circuit, also giving newcomers a chance to practise their material in front of a supportive and quite frankly fantastic audience, many of whom are just as obsessed with comedy as we are. We feed our audience’s comedy obsession by running a membership scheme charging a ludicrously cheap £3 per ticket. We don’t do group discounts, because to be honest – we’re cheap enough already!
Myra DuBois LIVE
Multiple Dates
The siren from South Yorkshire, Ms Myra DuBois performs live at 53Two with support from "comedian" Frank Lavender.
Rotherham's own renaissance woman, venerated televised personality, energy worker, wellness facilitator, intellectual, and empath MYRA DUBOIS lands for one evening at Manchester's swinging 53two for an intimate evening of song and chat.
"Bust a gut funny" - Graham Norton
"Acid tongued, funny to the bone" - TimeOut London
"Myra DuBois is hilarious, if you don't believe me ASK HER" - Bianca Del Rio
DuBois is supported by last remaining straight man in show-biz, "comedian" FRANK LAVENDER.
"Not up to the job" - Chortle"
Silent Struggles
14th June
7:30pm
£8 Not Inc. Booking Fee
Silent Struggles brings real talks and support for those battling invisible challenges, face to face.
Join Us for Silent Struggles!
Hey there! We're hosting Silent Struggles, an in-person event where real stories come to life. It's all about sharing those moments we keep inside and connecting with others who get it. No fancy stuff, just genuine vibes and support. Come hang out, listen, and maybe share your own silent journey. Let's break the silence together!
A part of what makes 53two special is our dedication to supporting grass-roots artists, new companies and start-up creatives whilst striving for a quality of theatre that exceeds expectations.
Sometimes, for new, talented companies and individuals, they first need a platform to explore, play, develop and grow not only themselves but their craft as a Manchester ensemble.
With this in mind, 53New was born. A platform and initiative, as one of our charitable activities, to provide just that - a theatre space and/or rehearsal room at a reduced rate where those starting out can tread the boards in front of an audience, try their work out and play safely without breaking the bank and in a safe, supportive space.
THE OTHER NEVILLE
18th June - 20th June
7:30pm
£13 Not Inc. Booking Fee
"Imaginatively inspired by England netball legend Tracey Neville, this gripping new netball play steps into the shadows of success - where gold medals, grief, and game plans collide.
It’s March 2019. Months after leading the Roses to Commonwealth glory, Tracey faces the hardest decision of her life. Supported by a powerful physical ensemble, the play relives a journey from Northern courts to the world stage - player to coach, sister to leader - wrestling with what it means to win and the price of the pursuit.
Told with heart, humour, and a netball, The Other Neville is women’s sport from the inside: the pressure, the power, and the personal cost. For anyone who’s ever chased the impossible - and kept going.
Written and performed by Rochdale-born actor Imogen Greenwood and created in collaboration with Shared Experience - Local.
“…real and authentic…Greenwood is an impressive writer…“ ★★★★⯪ - Northern Arts Review
OFFCUT
24th June - 5th July
7:30pm
Tiered Ticketing
Now in its 17th year, Off Cut returns to 53Two.
53two are piloting their new ticketing platform - you will be directed to a different website! Please don't panic. If you have any feedback or queries on the platform, please do get in touch!
.png)
TWO BOZOS IN A VAN
6th July
7:00pm
£8
'Two Bozos in a Van' is a zany comedy centred around two larger than life (lesser intelligent) moving men as they navigate a job gone wrong for a large scale crime boss. Get ready to laugh at the clownish antics of Greg and Denis (yeah spelt like that), two totally inept Bozos who have bitten off more than they can chew in this tale filled with hijinks, brawls and staple guns?
That’s Ace | Manchester Preview
10th July
8:00pm
£8.30
That’s Ace is a funny, uplifting exploration of asexuality, attraction and the feeling of growing up outside of societal norms.
Ace, a lifelong Doctor Who fan, has had a sheltered upbringing but tonight - that’s all about to change!
Her school crush, Sasha, has invited her out to a nightclub! Sadly, as Ace has never been before, she arrives
15 minutes before the club opens. To her, on time is late!
As the hours wind on, and the club fills with people, Ace must survive this overstimulating new environment so
she can tell Sasha how she feels. Trouble is, she doesn’t really know how she feels…
Is it love? Is it friendship? What’s the difference? And why does everyone else seem so preoccupied with sex all the time?
That’s Ace is a funny, uplifting exploration of asexuality, attraction and the feeling of growing up outside ofsocietal norms.
Watch this new piece of writing before it jets off to Feringe!
TOP HATS
12th July
7:30pm
£8 (Exc Booking Fee)
Four new short plays to entertain and enlighten...
Lifetime Achievement Award by Dafs Cocks-Evans
Put Some Butter On It by Michelle Lockwood
A part of what makes 53two special is our dedication to supporting grass-roots artists, new companies and start-up creatives whilst striving for a quality of theatre that exceeds expectations.
Sometimes, for new, talented companies and individuals, they first need a platform to explore, play, develop and grow not only themselves but their craft as a Manchester ensemble.
With this in mind, 53New was born. A platform and initiative, as one of our charitable activities, to provide just that - a theatre space and/or rehearsal room at a reduced rate where those starting out can tread the boards in front of an audience, try their work out and play safely without breaking the bank and in a safe, supportive space.
53two are piloting their new ticketing platform - you will be directed to a different website! Please don't panic. If you have any feedback or queries on the platform, please do get in touch!
A Night At The Musicals
18th July
8:00pm
Tickets from £12 Exc Booking Fee (PWYC Available)
Join 53two and Keddie Scott for a star-studded night of songs from the musicals...
Headed by the legendary Shona Lindsay and a cast of West End stars, join us to celebrate ten years of 53two and help raise funds for their future. The evening promises to be a spectacular display of some of the finest voices the theatrical world has to offer.
53two are piloting their new ticketing platform - you will be directed to a different website! Please don't panic. If you have any feedback or queries on the platform, please do get in touch!
%20-%2053Two%20Theatre.jpg)
Tides (An Autism Story)
23rd July 2026
7:30pm
£15 Not Inc. Booking Fee
Dylan Ward is autistic. He has his own way of thinking and his own way of doing things, but no one seems to understand him. How do you navigate a world which operates on a completely different wavelength to the one that you’re on?
Following its hugely successful and critically acclaimed run at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and based on real experiences of growing up autistic, Tides (An Autism Story), combines Monty Pythonesque humour with a touch of drama to offer an insight into the wonderful, yet challenging world of autism... From one particularly silly individual.
"Nothing short of brilliant... Powerful & Profound" ★★★★ Theatre & Tonic
" A masterclass in storytelling... This is the kind of show which theatre is all about" ★★★★
A Young(ish) Perspective
"This is a bittersweet show, filled with humour and candour, and compellingly performed. See it if you can" ★★★★ WeeReview
Cabbage The Clown:
Cinemadrome || Creatures Comedy Festival
27th July 2026
7:30pm
£15 Not Inc. Booking Fee
Witness multi-award winning cinematic drag chaos in stunning CinemaScopeVision - Presented as part of Creatures Comedy Festival
Minimum wage cinema employee turned multi award-winning tragic fool Cabbage The Clown's debut hour marries a buffet of genres in polygamous holy matrimony in the name of drag in their "Gen-Z, loudly queer and thoroughly hilarious" (Binge Fringe) debut hour.
With over 8 million views online for their genre-busting brand of multimedia drag-clowning, Cabbage presents their critically-acclaimed debut show (officially listed as one the Best Reviewed Comedy Shows of Fringe 2025): One part breathless parody of cinematic history, one part thoughtful dissection of minimum wage careers, one part rolling around on the floor covered in popcorn.
So talk through the trailers, get the loudest snacks available, then sit back, relax and enjoy this Bechdel Test-passing, BBFC-unapproved, global premiere.
★★★★★ Binge Fringe
★★★★★ The Student
★★★★★ EdFringeReview
★★★★★ Broadway Baby
★★★★⯨ The Reviews Hub
★★★★⯨ Fringesider
★★★★ One4Review
★★★★ British Theatre Guide
BLIND ITEM
29th July 2026
7:30pm
£8 Not Inc. Booking Fee
‘BLIND ITEM’ THE FICTIONAL NON-FICTIONAL WORLD WHERE QUESTIONING EVERYTHING YOU HEAR IS VITAL.
Set inside a bunker on an island, the SSNM (Secret Society of News and Media) are hard at work trying their best to tear society apart with absurdist headlines. Their newest recruit ‘Young One’, a ten year year old, has started her first day of work and quickly realises that her moral compass doesn’t align with the society’s and has to act fast to try and stop the division they cause. She knows she can restore the damage to the public, but at what cost?
Based on the fake news epidemic plaguing the modern world.
Grindr The Opera!
AUGUST 2026
Check booking site for full times and dates
£15.00 Early Bird
£35.00 General Admission
£130.00 VIP Table
Grindr: The Opera! puts the most notorious gay hook-up app into the exaggerated world of opera.
With musical styles ranging from baroque to contemporary pop, Grindr: The Opera! is a daring, humorous look at the changing landscape of gay relationships, and the greatest catalyst for the shift: Grindr. We meet GRINDR, a mythical siren from remote antiquity who has been awoken from its millennial slumber by technology. Its power, which is derived from human lust, is exhibited as it manipulates its gay devotees in a soaring soprano.
SLAMCHESTER
20th September 2026
7:30pm
£6.50
LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!
SLAMCHESTER: The Second Chance Slam
For one night only, some of SLAMCHESTER's most unforgettable runners-up return to the stage for a shot at redemption. After coming agonisingly close to victory in previous competitions, these standout poets have been invited back to battle once more for the title of SLAMCHESTER Champion and a cash prize.
SLAMCHESTER is a raucous evening where Manchester's finest performance poets go head-to-head across two scored rounds, delivering powerful, passionate, and unforgettable performances. Expect razor-sharp writing, huge personalities, fierce competition, and an atmosphere like no other.
"This is slam poetry at its best." ★★★★ — The Reviews Hub
"Absolutely electric." ★★★★ — North West End
Adding to the excitement, reigning SLAMCHESTER champion Dave Viney returns for a special guest performance, showcasing the wit, skill, and captivating stage presence that earned them the crown.
The evening also features the much-loved Lucky Dip Open Mic, giving fresh voices and first-time performers the chance to share their work on the SLAMCHESTER stage alongside some of the city's most celebrated spoken word artists.
Created as a celebration of Manchester's thriving poetry scene, SLAMCHESTER brings together established performers and emerging talent under one roof. Speaking about the event, creator and host Kieren King says:
"I've been part of this scene for years, and it felt like the right time to create a space where performance poetry could be celebrated with the same passion as live music or theatre. SLAMCHESTER is about giving people a night to remember and a platform to be heard."
Whether you're a long-time spoken word fan or discovering slam poetry for the first time, this special Second Chance Slam promises an unforgettable night of words, competition, and surprises.
The Modern Prometheus
18th - 19th OCTOBER 2026
£8 Not inc. booking fee
Upcoming medical mogul Victor Frank and his entire immediate circle vanished or were found dead one by one in violent, unexplained circumstances.
Tonight, media-dubbed conspiracy theorist Professor R Walton has gathered an audience to tell the story as he was told it from the man himself.
This brand new reimagining of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus sets the original gothic horror in the 21st century, against a backdrop of social unease, technological breakthroughs and asks what is the real measure of a monster.
Note: This production contains strong language, violent scenes, substance abuse, references towards sexual violence and suicide. Therefore we request that all audiences must be 15 or over.
A part of what makes 53two special is our dedication to supporting grass-roots artists, new companies and start-up creatives whilst striving for a quality of theatre that exceeds expectations.
Sometimes, for new, talented companies and individuals, they first need a platform to explore, play, develop and grow not only themselves but their craft as a Manchester ensemble.
With this in mind, 53New was born. A platform and initiative, as one of our charitable activities, to provide just that - a theatre space and/or rehearsal room at a reduced rate where those starting out can tread the boards in front of an audience, try their work out and play safely without breaking the bank and in a safe, supportive space.
Terminal 2
30th Sept & 1st Oct
£10 Not inc. booking fee
(PWYC TIX AVAILABLE)
Trapped in a departure lounge thanks to a delayed plane, George and Lynda Sumner debate the meaning of life, the common bluebottle, sex tapes and the pros and cons of a KFC … but it soon becomes clear that Lynda’s journey is one way and that George has been hiding a painful secret for all of their married life...
Will George find the strength to support his wife to end her journey? Can Lynda help him to begin his own? Or will a series of emotional revelations divert both their plans?
53two are piloting their new ticketing platform - you will be directed to a different website! Please don't panic. If you have any feedback or queries on the platform, please do get in touch!
The Trawl
12th - 13th NOVEMBER 2026
£20 Not inc. booking fee
Broadcasters and political commentators Jemma Forte and Marina Purkiss are bringing their chart-topping podcast The Trawl to Manchester following sold-out shows!
The Trawl is the podcast that dives headfirst into the political chaos, media spin, and social media absurdity that is taking over all of our news feeds. From Westminster to world affairs, they call out hypocrisy, amplify truth, and remind you that you’re not losing your mind – just living through it. In this special live show, Jemma and Marina will be bringing the most viral tweets, jaw-dropping headlines and rage-inducing soundbites and digesting them for your entertainment.
Expect big laughs, sharp analysis and the occasional expletive (all from the comfort of your seat!). What better way to spend an evening than laughing (or shouting) at the news with a bunch of strangers? Don’t miss The Trawl at 53two this November!
53two are piloting their new ticketing platform - you will be directed to a different website! Please don't panic. If you have any feedback or queries on the platform, please do get in touch!