Editing Greater Manchester (section)

===Music, theatre and performing arts===
[[File:Lowry Theatre at night.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[The Lowry]] is a combined theatre and exhibition centre at [[Salford Quays]], and is Greater Manchester's most visited tourist attraction.<ref name=poplow/>]]
Greater Manchester has the highest number of theatre seats per head of population outside London. Most, if not all, of the larger theatres are subsidised by local authorities or the North West Regional Arts Board.<ref name=Conway2005>{{cite journal |last=Conway |first=Tony |author2=Whitelock, Jeryl |year=2007 |title=Relationship marketing in the subsidised arts: the key to a strategic marketing focus |journal=European Journal of Marketing |volume=41 |issue=1/2 |pages=199–222 |issn=0309-0566 |doi=10.1108/03090560710718184}}</ref> The [[Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester|Royal Exchange Theatre]] formed in the 1970s out of a peripatetic group staging plays at venues such as at the University [of Manchester] Theatre and the [[Manchester Apollo|Apollo Theatre]]. A season in a temporary stage in the former [[Royal Exchange, Manchester]] was followed by funding for a [[theatre in the round]], which opened in 1976.{{sfn|Murray|2007}} [[The Lowry]] – Greater Manchester's most visited tourist attraction<ref name=poplow>{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/lowry-gallery-and-theatre-is-most-popular-877076 |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |title=Lowry gallery and theatre is most popular tourist attraction in Greater Manchester |first=Tom |last=Brooks-Pollock |date=30 November 2011 |access-date=15 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225142544/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1466465_lowry-gallery-and-theatre-is-most-popular-tourist-attraction-in-greater-manchester |archive-date=25 December 2011}}</ref> – houses two theatres, used by travelling groups in all the performing arts.<ref name=Robson>{{cite journal |last=Robson |first=Brian |year=2004 |title=Culture and the City: A View from the 'Athens of the North' |journal=Built Environment |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=246–255 |doi=10.2148/benv.30.3.246.54298}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thelowry.com/aboutthelowry/default.html |title=About The Lowry |work=The Lowry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608021117/http://www.thelowry.com/aboutthelowry/default.html |archive-date=8 June 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=2 May 2008}}</ref> The [[Manchester Opera House|Opera House]] is a 1,900-seat venue hosting travelling productions, often musicals just out of the West End.{{sfn|Schofield|2007}} Its sister venue, [[Palace Theatre, Manchester|The Palace]], hosts generally similar shows. The Oldham Playhouse, one of the older theatres in the region, helped launch the careers of [[Stan Laurel]] and [[Charlie Chaplin]]. Its productions are described by the 2007 CityLife guide as 'staunchly populist'&nbsp;– and popular.{{sfn|Schofield|2007}} There are many other venues scattered throughout the county, of all types and sizes.{{sfn|Schofield|2007}}

Greater Manchester has four professional orchestras, all based in Manchester. [[The Hallé]] is the UK's oldest symphony orchestra (and the fourth oldest in the world),{{sfn|Parkinson-Bailey|2000|p=77}} supports a choir and a youth orchestra, and releases its recordings on its own record label.<ref name=HalleHistory>{{cite web |url=http://www.halle.co.uk/history.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706184312/http://www.halle.co.uk/history.asp |archive-date=6 July 2010 |title=The Hallé&nbsp;– History |publisher=The Hallé Concerts Society |access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref> The Hallé is based at the [[Bridgewater Hall]] but often tours, typically giving 70&nbsp;performances "at home" and 40 on tour.<ref name=HalleHistory/> The [[BBC Philharmonic]], one of five BBC orchestras, is based in [[MediaCityUK]] in Salford.<ref>{{cite web |title=Philharmonic Orchestra About the Orchestraurl |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1jdlh7B05gZQ5Kqk93xl90/about-the-orchestra |access-date=12 October 2022 |archive-date=12 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012003701/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1jdlh7B05gZQ5Kqk93xl90/about-the-orchestra |url-status=live}}</ref> It can trace its history back to the early days of radio broadcasting in 1926.<ref>{{cite press release |title=BBC Orchestras |work=BBC |date=February 2006 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/keyfacts/stories/orchestras.shtml |access-date=10 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321143032/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/keyfacts/stories/orchestras.shtml |archive-date=21 March 2007}}</ref> The [[Manchester Camerata]] and the [[Northern Chamber Orchestra]] are smaller, though still professional, organisations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchestercamerata.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=6 |title=Manchester Camerata |publisher=Manchester Camerata |access-date=2 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520050148/http://www.manchestercamerata.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=6 |archive-date=20 May 2007 |url-status=dead}}<br />•{{cite web |url=http://www.ncorch.co.uk/about.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228120306/http://www.ncorch.co.uk/about.htm |archive-date=28 February 2009 |title=About the NCO |publisher=Northern Chamber Orchestra |access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref> The main classical venue is the 2,341-seat Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, opened in 1996 at a cost of £42m.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bridgewater Hall facts and figures |publisher=bridgewater-hall.co.uk |url=http://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/about/architecture/facts.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007203948/http://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/about/architecture/facts.html |archive-date=7 October 2007 |access-date=17 January 2008}}<br />•{{cite news |title=Good Venue Guide; 28&nbsp;– Bridgewater Hall, Manchester |work=[[Independent on Sunday]] |date=12 April 1998}}</ref>
Manchester is also a centre for musical education, via the [[Royal Northern College of Music]] and [[Chetham's School of Music]].{{sfn|Redhead|1993|pp=60–61}}

The [[Manchester Arena]] holds over 21,000 people,{{efn|A three-year-long re-development of the arena started in 2022 to increase the capacity to 24,000 people<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/manchesters-ao-arena-see-huge-23805884 |title=Manchester's AO Arena to see huge £50m revamp this summer |date=27 April 2022 |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |author=James Holt |access-date=12 October 2022 |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011184821/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/manchesters-ao-arena-see-huge-23805884 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} and is the largest indoor arena in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |title=Largest indoor arenas in the United Kingdom in 2020, by capacity |year=2020 |work=[[statists]] |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101232/largest-uk-indoor-arenas/ |access-date=12 October 2022 |archive-date=12 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012003700/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101232/largest-uk-indoor-arenas/ |url-status=live}}</ref> It has been voted ''International Venue of the Year'', and for several years was the most popular venue in the world.<ref name="MEN">{{cite web |url=http://www.pollstaronline.com/PCIA-Static/2001winners.htm |title=Pollstar Concert Industry Awards Winners Archives |publisher=Pollstar Online |year=2001 |access-date=24 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112222758/http://www.pollstaronline.com/PCIA-Static/2001winners.htm |archive-date=12 January 2013}}<br />•{{cite news |first=Rachel |last=Brown |title=M.E.N Arena's world's top venue |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/s/1013/1013264_arenas_worlds_top_venue.html |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |publisher=M.E.N Media |quote=The M.E.N. Arena is the top-selling venue in the world |access-date=12 August 2007 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927192629/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/s/1013/1013264_arenas_worlds_top_venue.html |url-status=live}}<br />•{{cite web |url=http://www.smg-europe.com/venue-profile.php?iVenuesId=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210165419/http://www.smg-europe.com/venue-profile.php?iVenuesId=8 |archive-date=10 February 2009 |title=Manchester Evening News arena |publisher=smg-europe.com |access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref> The 23,500-seat [[Co-op Live]] arena is under construction in Greater Manchester, it will open in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title='It'll be the greatest music arena ever built': Manchester's Co-op Live boss gives exciting update on £365m venue – and how Harry Styles and Bruce Springsteen helped |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/manchester-co-op-live-arena-24339535 |author=Chris Slater |work=Manchester Evening News |date=28 June 2022 |language=en |access-date=12 October 2022 |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011182154/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/manchester-co-op-live-arena-24339535 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sports grounds in Greater Manchester, such as the City of Manchester Stadium, also host large live-music events.<ref>{{cite web |title=Manchester City stadium history |url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={20E7C2B7-4832-46D1-B772-AB8CCA2FD0D5} |publisher=MCFC.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210134318/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid=%7B20E7C2B7-4832-46D1-B772-AB8CCA2FD0D5%7D |archive-date=10 December 2007 |access-date=11 January 2008 }}<br />•{{cite news |url=https://www.nme.com/news/arctic-monkeys/26053 |work=NME |title=Arctic Monkeys confirm festival plans |date=26 January 2007 |access-date=5 February 2007}}</ref> A £200{{nbsp}}million flexible, large-scale cultural, arts, and exhibition space named [[Factory International]] was opened in 2023 on the former site of [[Granada Studios]] in central Manchester.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/05/guardian-view-manchester-cultural-space-one-kind-factory-another |work=The Guardian |title=The Guardian view on Manchester's new cultural space: from one kind of factory to another |access-date=17 December 2014 |date=5 December 2014 |archive-date=15 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215124354/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/05/guardian-view-manchester-cultural-space-one-kind-factory-another |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=4 October 2022 |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63131003 |title=Factory International: Manchester arts venue goes £100m over budget |access-date=12 October 2022 |archive-date=12 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012003701/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63131003 |url-status=live}}</ref> It is named with reference to [[Factory Records]], a Manchester-based independent record label, founded in 1978 by [[Tony Wilson]] and [[Alan Erasmus]]. Factory Records – which featured acts such as [[Joy Division]], [[New Order (band)|New Order]], and the [[Happy Mondays]] – and [[The Haçienda]], served as a catalyst in the late-1980s for a blending of [[alternative rock]], [[psychedelic rock]] and [[electronic dance music]] known as [[Madchester]]. Greater Manchester continues to be associated with guitar and dance music.<ref name=creative/>