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What's On at Z-arts, Manchester mobile mobile

What's On at Z-arts, Manchester

Below you will find what's on at Z-arts in Hulme, Manchester, the only arts centre in the UK dedicated to offering best-practice in creative provision for children and families, with a leadership role in networks including Big Imaginations, MADE, and Family Arts Campaign. 

Opening their doors in 2000 in the former Zion building, their 230 seat theatre hosts shows, productions, events, family escape rooms and premieres for different ages each season, including international touring theatre shows.

Z-arts also homes a studio theatre, a recording studio, music space, dance studio, and offers numerous dance, drama, and arts & crafts classes, workshops, and activities.  They offer numerous outreach programmes with local communities and educational establishments.

Below you will find what's on at Z-arts in Hulme, Manchester, the only arts centre in the UK dedicated to offering best-practice in creative provision for children and families, with a leadership role in networks including Big Imaginations, MADE, and Family Arts Campaign. 

Opening their doors in 2000 in the former Zion building, their 230 seat theatre hosts shows, productions, events, family escape rooms and premieres for different ages each season, including international touring theatre shows.

Z-arts also homes a studio theatre, a recording studio, music space, dance studio, and offers numerous dance, drama, and arts & crafts classes, workshops, and activities.  They offer numerous outreach programmes with local communities and educational establishments.

What's On at Z-arts, Manchester

Adventures in Wonderland

Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 22 July 2026
Fall down the rabbit hole and have your very own magical adventure with Adventures in Wonderland at Z-arts! Created by Z-arts in partnership with Macmillan Children's Books, step into Alice's shoes and have your very own magical Adventure ...

The Library of Enchantment

Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 22 July 2026 - Wednesday 31 March 2027
Ever wanted to step inside a story? The Library of Enchantment is a fun-filled thrilling family-friendly escape room, full of seafaring adventures, time travelling tricks and a pesky old bookworm who's always up to meddlesome mischief! Can...

Adventures in Wonderland - Trips for KS1 & Early Years

Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 22 July 2026 - Thursday 22 July 2027
Fall down the rabbit hole and have your very own magical adventure! An enchanting play experience which invites children to explore Wonderland, using imagination to create their own fantastical adventure. Follow the White Rabbit into scene...

School & Nursery Trips to Z-arts

Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 22 July 2026 - Thursday 22 July 2027
Book your school or nursery trip to Z-arts here!Everything you need to know for your Early Years or Nursery trip to Adventures in WonderlandEverything you need to know for your KS1 or KS2 trip to Adventures in WonderlandEverything you need...

Edy Hurst's Dream Park

Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 23 July 2026
Come and join award winning comedian and theatre maker Edy Hurst, as he, with your help of course, maps out, plans and builds the theme park of YOUR dreams live on stage. With Edy?s support you?ll navigate the thrills and spills of all the...

Mission: Mad Hatter

Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 25 July 2026 - Saturday 27 March 2027
?The teapot is warmed, the table is set? but the guests are gone!?Something strange has happened in Wonderland. The Mad Hatter?s tea party guests have vanished through the Looking Glass, and the clock is ticking. They need a team of riddle...

Summer of Stories - Week 1

Z-arts, Manchester
Tuesday 28 July - Saturday 1 August 2026
Our ever-popular Summer of Stories sessions are back at Z-arts for Summer 2026!Three weeks of free family-friendly fun, including storytelling and arts and crafts. Spark imaginations with magical tales, creative activities and hands-on mak...

The Clockmaker's City

Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 31 July - Sunday 2 August 2026
British Youth Music Theatre presents The Clockmaker's City, written by Jonathan Ainscough (writer & co-lyricist) and Yshani Perinpanayagam (composer & co-lyricist). Bursting with a cinematic, percussive score and dynamic movement, this bra...

Summer of Stories - Week 2

Z-arts, Manchester
Tuesday 4 - Saturday 8 August 2026
Our ever-popular Summer of Stories sessions are back at Z-arts for Summer 2026!Three weeks of free family-friendly fun, including storytelling and arts and crafts. Spark imaginations with magical tales, creative activities and hands-on mak...

National Play Day

Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 5 August 2026
National Play Day in Hulme ParkWe are excited for another fun Play Day event in Hulme Park on Weds 5?August 11-1pm. Join the Z-arts Creative Team in Hulme Park?for a fun celebration of all things play! Get stuck into messy play, spark your...

Summer of Stories - Week 3

Z-arts, Manchester
Tuesday 11 - Saturday 15 August 2026
Our ever-popular Summer of Stories sessions are back at Z-arts for Summer 2026!Three weeks of free family-friendly fun, including storytelling and arts and crafts. Spark imaginations with magical tales, creative activities and hands-on mak...

The Library of Enchantment - M15 event

Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 13 August 2026
This is a free event for M15 residents, make sure to use the promo code at checkout to access your free tickets. Ever wanted to step inside a story?The Library of Enchantment is a fun-filled thrilling family-friendly escape room, full of s...

Newsies Jr

Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 28 - Saturday 29 August 2026
Always a favourite, Manchester Musical Youth?s Summer Production promises to be another smash! This year we bring you Newsies Jr. Inspired by the rousing true story of newsboys in turn-of-the-century New York City, Newsies JR. features a T...

SEND Schools - Adventures in Wonderland Visits

Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 11 September 2026 - Friday 23 July 2027
Join us for a specially adapted SEND-friendly Adventures in Wonderland, thoughtfully designed to create a calm, welcoming, and accessible experience for SEND schools. Price: ?10.00 per pupil (adults go free)Availability: FridaysSession tim...

A Message for the Future

Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 12 September 2026
Explore your magical future garden where you?ll meet a punk poet Dandelion, a rock n roll Minibeast and an operatic super Herb!Performances ? Saturday 12 September, 10:15am, 12pm & 2pmRunning time ? 1 hourAge recommendation ? Ages 0 ? 3A M...

Family Jam

Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 18 September - Friday 27 November 2026
Come and join our Friday night Family Jam!Our monthly music events are back, with different artists performing a special early evening set especially for children and families. You can unwind after a hectic week with music for the whole fa...

Dance in the Dark

Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 26 September 2026
Come in your PJs for a playful night-time adventure with dance, music, and fun interaction for ages 3+?and their?families. Performances ? Saturday 26 September, 12pm & 2pmRunning time ? 50 minutesAge recommendation ? Ages 3+A captivating?d...

Alice in Wonderland Jr

Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 9 - Saturday 10 October 2026
The most junior section of Manchester Musical Youth, ?Apprentices? return following last years smash hit production of Finding Nemo Jr with the classic ?Alice in Wonderland Jr?. When young Alice finds herself in a strange world where every...

The Magic Stick

Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 17 October 2026
A family show full of Indian dance, storytelling and stage magic?Performances ? Saturday 17 October, 2pmRunning time ? 45 minutesAge recommendation ? Ages 6 ? 12When eight?year?old Diya receives a mysterious Magic Stick, she discovers she ...

The Enormous Turnip

Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 24 - Sunday 25 October 2026
Join Mr and Mrs Chickweed and save the day as they pull The Enormous Turnip out of the ground before it takes over the planet!Performances ? Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 October, 11am & 2pmRunning time ? 1 hourAge recommendation ? Ages 3 ? 10 b...

Monster Disco

Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 31 October 2026
Join in, dance and boogie, or just chill and enjoy the vibes, the Monster Disco is for everyone!Performances ? Saturday 31 October, 12pm & 2:30pmRunning time ? 45 minutesAge recommendation ? Ages 4 ? 8 and especially good for the whole fam...

The Gruffalo

Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 27 - Sunday 29 November 2026
A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood... Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories' magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Searching for ...

A Very Merry Minifest

Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 5 December 2026
A fun, live Christmas musical experience for children that adults will love too!Performances ? Saturday 5 December, 11am & 2pmRunning time ? 1 hourAge recommendation ? Ages 2 ? 8The gig is jam packed with songs written especially to stimul...

How to get to Z-arts, Manchester

Z-arts Frequently Asked Questions

Zion Arts Centre, 335 Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5ZA

There is some on-street parking available near Z-arts (Dearden Street opposite, Ancroft Street round the corner).

There are on street restrictions in place from Mon-Fri 8am-6pm. After 6pm and at the weekend these restrictions are lifted. 

Some streets offer 3 hours free parking.  Always check the parking signs as they are individual to each street.

Disabled parking bays are available at the front of the venue.

Watch this video for further information.

Oxford Road Station is a 15 minute walk away from Z-arts.

Piccadilly Station is a five minute walk from Piccadilly Gardens bus rank where you can catch one of the regular bus services that will take you to Z-arts.

The nearest tram stations are Deansgate (23 mins walk) or Trafford Bar (22 mins walk).

The capicity of the main theatre in Z-arts is 230.

Please contact Z-arts directly and their team will be able to help you.

If you would like to buy a ticket in person from Z-arts Box Office, they open:

Tuesday - Thursday           9am - 6pm

Fridays                             9am - 9pm

Saturdays                         9am - 6pm

Closed Sun & Mon (unless there is a show on).

Alternatively, you can see what's on and book online here.

 

When we know of a duration of a show, we add it to the description of the show on our event pages. For example, on our Wicked event page, after the description of the show we have added the duration of the show in large capital letters. If the time isn't listed, we do not have the information yet. We update our pages daily so it maybe a case of knowing closer to the performance itself, so keep checking.  

You can also contact Z-arts and they will be able to advise you.

Whether you have positive or negative feedback you would like to feedback to Z-arts, please click here for more contact information.

 

Z-arts lost property will be held at Z-arts for one month.  After this it is donated to charity or disposed of.  Refillable water bottles are disposed of at the end of every day for hygiene reasons.

Click here to contact Z-arts.

Z-arts have their own Z-Cafe for you to grab a sandwich, coffee and cake.

Alternatively, with loads of great places to eat in Manchester and decent pre-theatre menus, you should check out our Manchester Restaurant site here!

Z-Cafe turns into a licensed bar for grown up events.  

Alternatively, Manchester is full of great bars and pubs and some decent ones close to the venue. check out our Manchester Bar site here!

Absolutely!  If you are attending a theatre show, you can leave it in the buggy park area if there is limited space in the theatre.

For immersive experiences, there is space within the exhibition to park your buggy, but due to space you cannot take them around the full experience.

 

Either use the map at the side of the FAQ section as it has all types of accomodation or click here for hotels in Manchester.

If you need further information about your visit Z-Arts, click here to visit their website or contact their team directly.

Please note that ManchesterTheatres.com isn't the venue itself. We promote what's on at the Z-arts and all other venues in Manchester and the local region. Feel free to contact us if you need more help though and we'll do our best to support you.

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