After a short, but significant break we are delighted to be able to bring you a smashing double header for December’s Tales of Whatever.

We’re proper chuffed to be able to bring you a full show by spoken word and Tales veteran Conor A. Conor isn’t what you expect when you think of the word ‘storyteller’. Explosive, conversational, accessible but weird – a teller of broken-biscuit stories. We saw his show ‘Learning to Swim on an Ironing Board’ last month and we liked it so much that we wanted to share it with you. It’s an uplifting yet gritty show about getting better at not getting better and the 10 years after the doctor tells you the score. It’s about coping in funny and alternative, very human ways – therapeutic eavesdropping, small fluffy owls and shopping centres. Expect funny tales, a real human connection, a touch of video and some puppetry. “Exceptional” – Jackie Hagan.

We are also excited to welcome Harriet Dyer to the Tales of Whatever stage for the first time. Harriet is a superb stand-up and the driving force behind the brilliant Barking Tales. Barking Tales is a comedy night set up in 2015 that provides opportunity for comedians to speak candidly about mental health from stage. Harriet is an amazing storyteller and will be doing a 30min headline spot. Check out Harriet telling a story for the BBC here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/disability-39379545/harriet-dyer-my-boyfriend-blamed-his-affair-on-my-bipolar

“Dyer exists in a joyful equilibrium, at the point where self-depreciation and a total embracement of oddness meet in utterly likeable harmony… Beautifully, brilliantly weird… Absolutely worth a watch” – Broadway Baby

“Instinctively funny” – Steve Bennett, Chortle “She’s got funny bones!” – Kevin Bridges

We also have some sad news. This show will be our last regular monthly show in Manchester for the foreseeable future. We will still be putting on the odd Tales special in Manchester, but we will be focusing on setting up a new monthly show in Sheffield starting in 2018. So if you have enjoyed Tales over the last 6 years please do come and celebrate both the festive season and half a decade of amazing and bewildering storytelling in Manchester.

Doors 7.30pm, 8pm start.
ToW shows offer a ‘pay what you feel’ model, so come along and consider chucking something in afterwards, according to a highly scientific value-based formula that only you can possibly understand. Score