Throughout the weekend look out for spontaneous performance bursting out of the fountains in Piccadilly from Manchester’s celebrated company of young dancers Company Fierce Dance Academy. This new performance made for iconic Manchester locations, based on a soundtrack of iconic Manchester songs is an unmissable celebration of the city and the music that makes Manchester great.  www.companyfierce.co.uk

Contact Young Actors Company  -  A Game of Consequences

Directed by Cheryl Martin with Ben Mellor. Specially created for Platform4, CYAC brings an old fashioned medicine show to town complete with magical machines and mythical insights. Are you looking for a miracle? Worried about the future? Then come on down, it’s just what the doctor ordered! But remember every choice has its consequences and there’s always a price to pay... www.contactmcr.com/cyac

Delinus  -  Delinus03

They’ve traveled all the way from Holland to get here, so don’t miss your chance to ride in the world’s tiniest taxi! Hop on board for a tiny adventure. Where will it go? Who will it pick up? How many people can squeeze in? Nobody knows – only one things for certain, there’s always room for one more!

Dizzy O’Dare Presents… – The Tiny Travelling Tightwire Show!

Roll up! Roll up! Join the procession as ‘The Tiny Travelling Tightwire Show!’ arrives in Piccadilly Gardens. Watch Kennington and his assistant Poppet the Puppet as they chance their feet on the tightrope. This endearing show is one for all the family to enjoy.

Mixed Movement

The Vegetable Nannies invite you to join them in their temporary allotment for a bit of gardening and childcare. Come and get kitted out with gloves and trowels before getting stuck into the domestic duties of feeding, bathing, perambulating and other general tender loving care for the baby Vegetables. Or, on the other hand, just put your feet up on the garden furniture and watch life’s little miracles emerge from the ground.

Red Herring –  That’s The Way To Do It! *

Punch and Judy as you’ve never seen them before – a raucous and 21st century take on the traditional show, with grotesque puppets, music and great knockabout fun. This take on the classic show sees the infamous seaside pair break free from their booth to create a rebellious satire for our anxious, credit crunched times. Watch out for this terrible twosome as they wreak havoc in the city!

 
St Ann’s Square

Candoco & Scarabeus, written by Nicky Singer –  Heartland*

Candoco Dance Company, one of the world’s leading contemporary dance companies of disabled and non-disabled dancers, join forces with Scarabeus to create a powerful story of imprisonment, freedom and longing for home, inspired by the Minotaur and Icarus legends. Two aerial performers act out a highly charged duet against a spectacular aerial dome rig which at times suggests a prison and at others the limitless possibilities of the skies.

Deaf Men Dancing  - Alive!*

A celebration of our need for connection and creativity in the hubbub of the city, in which dance, sign language, sound and live painting combine to express the sheer joy of being alive. This innovative dance piece of four suited characters is choreographed by Mark Smith for his dance ensemble Deaf Men Dancing, featuring live painting from expressionist artist Rachel Gadsden. A truly unique and joyous performance.

Kuljit Bhamra  - Chutney on the Street!

Starring many of the cast from London smash Bombay Dreams, this delightful show brings you enchanting story telling through a unique blend of songs, dance and audience participation – all cooked up in a spicy mix of soca guitars and percussion. The tropical Indo-Caribbean beats are guaranteed to get you in the mood for the summer… we defy you not to dance! Also showing in Castlefield on Friday night.

New Cathedral Street

Whalley Range All Stars and Babok - Imaginary Friends*

Ten performers and ten life size puppets lead you on a journey through the streets of Manchester. Expect to meet an interesting bunch of characters on your travels – from the socially embarrassed, to the socially embarrassing! Imaginary Friends fuses choreography, improvisation and singing to mould images of humour, surprise and cartoon-style violence into a story of life on the move.*Presented with the support of Without Walls