WHAT'S ON AT Z-ARTS, MANCHESTER
What's On at Z-arts, Manchester
Z-arts in Hulme, Manchester is 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 and premiers 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.
Be entertained and inspired at Z-arts with plays, comedy, dance, and musicals to look forward to and the immersive experiences such as The Family Escape room, and Alice in Wonderland. See what’s on at Z-arts below and book tickets online.
Z-arts in Hulme, Manchester is 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 and premiers 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.
Be entertained and inspired at Z-arts with plays, comedy, dance, and musicals to look forward to and the immersive experiences such as The Family Escape room, and Alice in Wonderland. See what’s on at Z-arts below and book tickets online.
Most Popular Shows and Events at Z-arts, Manchester
What's On at Z-arts, Manchester
Adventures in Wonderland
Z-arts, Manchester
Tuesday 22 April - Saturday 19 July 2025
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 i...Z-arts Immersive Experience 2025 - Schools Visits
Z-arts, Manchester
Tuesday 22 April - Thursday 17 July 2025
Introducing Z-arts? immersive experience for Nursery to Year 3 classes!Full details will launch soon! ? `Curiouser and curiouser!? cried Alice. Want to be the first to know about our new experience and what it?s all about? Get in touch with...Manchester Musical Youth - The Clockmaker's Daughter
Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 24 - Saturday 26 April 2025
Manchester's leading musical theatre company for young performers, Manchester Musical Youth, return with Michael Webborn and Daniel Finn's The Clockmaker's Daughter. Distraught after the untimely death of his daughter, Abraham Reed sets abo...The Library of Enchantment
Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 25 April - Saturday 19 July 2025
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 ...Art For All (Access Friendly)
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 26 April - Saturday 24 May 2025
Registration SystemYou will need to have your e-ticket barcode ready to be scanned to register your family to the session. These e-tickets are sent via e-mail when you book onto a class....Creative Care: Art for Kids with Additional Needs (Access Friendly)
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 26 April - Saturday 24 May 2025
Registration SystemYou will need to have your e-ticket barcode ready to be scanned to register your family to the session. These e-tickets are sent via e-mail when you book onto a class....Podcast Club
Z-arts, Manchester
Tuesday 29 April - Wednesday 16 July 2025
Join in the fun at Z-arts' studio, where you can play games to improve your performance skills, learn how to record and edit audio, how to research, how to put together and give an interview, basically everything you need to become a supers...Circus Stars
Z-arts, Manchester
Tuesday 29 April - Tuesday 15 July 2025
Experience the magic of circus! Have fun learning impressive skills and tricks. Build your confidence, improve your coordination and discover your inner circus performer! Perfect for kids with no experience of circus. This session is led by...Move & Make
Z-arts, Manchester
Tuesday 29 April - Thursday 17 July 2025
Join Gilly for an imaginative yoga and art session!The idea for this class is to fuse movement and creativity into one wellbeing session. Each week there will be a different theme that allows children the chance to explore, create, play, co...Rhythm and Rhyme
Z-arts, Manchester
Tuesday 29 April - Tuesday 15 July 2025
Now more than ever, it?s important to encourage creativity and self-expression in children and young people. You will work on your confidence and creativity through poetry, rhythm & rhymes, building your language and musical skills. Togethe...Baby Book Club
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 30 April - Wednesday 25 June 2025
Baby Book Club is a wonderful way to spend time together with your baby (0-2 years) and develop their love of books, stories and reading.  Baby Book Club helps parents develop skills in how to make reading fun for their babies and help d...Art Stars
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 30 April - Friday 18 July 2025
Art Stars is a great activity for young people who enjoy making stuff!A great introduction to art, you?ll learn the basics of art in a fun and relaxed environment. You can try lots of different art techniques including drawing, painting, ce...Art Stars (Reception - Year 2)
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 30 April - Friday 18 July 2025
Art Stars is a great activity for young people who enjoy making stuff!A great introduction to art, you?ll learn the basics of art in a fun and relaxed environment. You can try lots of different art techniques including drawing, painting, ce...Art Stars (Year 3 - Year 6)
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 30 April - Wednesday 16 July 2025
Registration SystemPlease drop your child/children off at the classroom door, you will need to have your e-ticket barcode ready to be scanned to register your child/children to the session. These e-tickets are sent via e-mail when you book ...Baby Book Club (ages 0+)
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 30 April - Wednesday 25 June 2025
Baby Book ClubEvery 4th Wednesday of the month10.30am ? 11.00amBaby Book Club is a wonderful way to spend time together with your baby and develop your baby?s love of books, stories and reading. Baby Book Club is here to help parents develo...
Dance Fusion
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 30 April - Wednesday 16 July 2025
Dance Fusion is a fun-focused class designed to develop your dance skills and confidence. Each half-term we look at a different style, creating and learning new routines. Fancy a groove and a gossip then this class is for you!This is a FREE...Dance Stars
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 30 April - Saturday 19 July 2025
In Dance Stars, we focus on improving our posture, flexing our muscles, and boosting our stamina like dance champs! We are on a mission to discover our unique dance style through play and exploration. We will be exploring various new dance ...Dance Stars (Year 3 - Year 6)
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 30 April - Saturday 19 July 2025
Registration SystemPlease drop your child/children off at the classroom door, you will need to have your e-ticket barcode ready to be scanned to register your child/children to the session. These e-tickets are sent via e-mail when you book ...Family Yoga
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 30 April - Wednesday 16 July 2025
We heard that our grown-ups were interested in yoga too so we have created this class for children 8+ and adults together!It is a playful take on an adult yoga class with breathwork, stretching, yoga positions, maybe some dance and definite...Yoga for 8-80 year olds
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 30 April - Wednesday 16 July 2025
Registration SystemPlease register at the classroom door, you will need to have your?e-ticket barcode ready to be scanned to register you, and your child/children to the session. These e-tickets are sent via e-mail when you book onto a clas...Rhyme Time
Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 1 May - Thursday 17 July 2025
Rhyme time is a fun group singing session for babies and toddlers (0-4 years) and their grown-ups.  Singing together and repeating rhymes helps your child develop listening, visual and memory skills, which will help them develop. Rhyme t...3D Making
Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 1 May - Thursday 17 July 2025
Join in the fun, with Andy the tutor, creating crafts, models, and sculptures in this exciting hands-on class. Build, create, and be inspired using a variety of materials, including clay, Modroc, Papier Mache, and card. Some of the projects...Dance Stars (Reception - Year 2)
Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 1 May - Saturday 19 July 2025
Registration SystemPlease drop your child/children off at the classroom door, you will need to have your e-ticket barcode ready to be scanned to register your child/children to the session. These e-tickets are sent via e-mail when you book ...Drama Stars
Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 1 May - Saturday 19 July 2025
Use your brilliant minds to have drama fun, plays lots of games and use lots of imagination!We are going to use this time to embrace our creativity to create new work. We will also use pictures and sound as inspiration to create our own sce...Drama Stars (Reception - Year 2)
Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 1 May - Saturday 19 July 2025
Registration SystemPlease drop your child/children off at the classroom door, you will need to have your e-ticket barcode ready to be scanned to register your child/children to the session. These e-tickets are sent via e-mail when you book ...Drama Stars (Year 3 - Year 6)
Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 1 May - Saturday 19 July 2025
Registration SystemPlease drop your child/children off at the classroom door, you will need to have your e-ticket barcode ready to be scanned to register your child/children to the session. These e-tickets are sent via e-mail when you book ...Family Music Stars
Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 1 May - Thursday 17 July 2025
Discover the magic of music with your little one in our brand new class, Family Music Stars!Whether you?re a seasoned music lover or just starting out, this is the perfect chance to bond with your child through the joy of music. Each week, ...Family Music Stars (Family Session)
Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 1 May - Thursday 17 July 2025
Registration SystemYou will need to have your e-ticket barcode ready to be scanned to register your family to the session. These e-tickets are sent via e-mail when you book onto a class....Music Fusion
Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 1 May - Thursday 17 July 2025
Our jam-packed weekly class is for kids aged 12+ who are ready to rock!Each week, we dive into how you can create your own music, from songwriting and production to sampling, arranging, recording, and more. Want to learn an instrument? This...Rhyme Time (babies & toddlers)
Z-arts, Manchester
Thursday 1 May - Thursday 17 July 2025
Rhyme TimeThursdays10.30 ? 11.00amIn Rhyme Time we sing, read stories and do LOTS of playing with puppets. We promise bubbles and lots of silliness. Rhyme time is for babies, toddlers and their adults. This session is lead by Tabitha:Find o...
LEGO Club
Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 2 May - Friday 18 July 2025
Z-Arts are getting all their LEGO out for kids of all ages to play with and build whatever they like! Parents need to stay and supervise their children throughout the session. ...Street Dance
Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 2 May - Friday 18 July 2025
In Street Dance we will work on building our confidence, stamina and cool moves. We are on a mission to discover our unique dance style bringing our new ideas through play and exploration in our freestyle! We will learn break-dance moves, c...Toddler Make and Believe
Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 2 May - Friday 18 July 2025
Toddler Make and Believe!Come along and get creative with your little ones in our weekly toddler Make and Believe sessions. Join us each session for arts and crafts, stories and song?s in a fun and relaxed environment!Open to all, not just ...Z-artists
Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 2 May - Friday 18 July 2025
Focus on learning about different artists and art forms, develop your own skills and create work in different styles. Be inspired, learn new things and most of all, create your own amazing work!This session will be led by Bea:...Family Art Stars
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 3 May - Saturday 19 July 2025
Families that learn together, grow together. We are very excited to continue our Family Art Stars sessions every Saturday! Come down, muck in and make some art as a family, spending quality time and learning new techniques. No skill is requ...Drama Fusion
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 3 May - Saturday 19 July 2025
Drama Fusion is a youth led activity for young people aged 12+. Each week we work on a different theme/skill from improv, comedy, script work, directing or writing with the aim of creating our own sharings/shows. There is also the opportuni...Musical Theatre
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 3 May - Saturday 19 July 2025
In Musical Theatre we will build skills in stage entertainment used in small and large-scale productions designed to explore creativity in song and character role-playing!This term we will be working on a new musical, learning the themes fr...The Giant Balloon Show
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 3 May 2025
Dizzy O?Dare?s The Giant Balloon Show will have the audience in stitches and in awe. Expect feverous balloon sculptures, high energy comic performance and of course the all important giant balloon!Take everything you know about balloons, ad...Little Reads
Z-arts, Manchester
Tuesday 6 May - Tuesday 1 July 2025
Little Reads with Manchester Literature Festival. Join Ged for an interactive Storytelling session in our new Children's Library. 10am session - Pre-school/Family session 11am- Inclusive session (If you require a BSL interpreter please do l...Adventures in Wonderland Birthday Parties
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 10 May - Saturday 12 July 2025
Step into the magic of Wonderland for a birthday party like no other ? perfect for children and families who are as mad as The Hatter!??Invite your friends and family for an adventure down the rabbit hole. Follow the White Rabbit into scene...Dance Day
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 10 May 2025
Dance DayEnjoy a fantastic day of dance, exploring styles from around the world and catching a brand-new show by Knotted Hawk Dance!More details coming in 2025?Book tickets now - choose a time belowShow accessible performances onlySat 10 Ma...Wriggle & Rhyme
Z-arts, Manchester
Tuesday 13 May - Tuesday 8 July 2025
Join us every 2nd Tuesday of the month for Wriggle and Rhyme!A fun interactive sessions for preschool children and their grown-ups. Play with lots of noisy fun and instruments to shake and rattle and everyone gets to wriggle with rhymes. Wr...The Ultimate Bubble Show
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 17 May 2025
Ray Bubbles, an International Bubbleologist and Guinness World Record Holder, is on a mission to master the art of bubble-making and create the ultimate square bubble!This show promises a whirlwind of excitement and surprises, as Ray uses v...Mini Move & Groove
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 21 May - Wednesday 16 July 2025
Join us every 3rd Wednesday of the month with your little movers and groovers as we bring the stories from our children?s library to life through sensory, play and movement. This session is free and open to all preschoolers and their grown-...
Festival of Libraries - Fun Day
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 7 June 2025
Festival of LibrariesJoin us for a delightful afternoon with special guests who love libraries as much as we do. Meet local authors and illustrators, listen to captivating stories, and create your own book-inspired art!More details coming s...Z-access Day
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 7 June 2025
Z-access DayEnjoy an afternoon of inclusive workshops in drama, music, circus, and art, designed to showcase the diverse talents of our community. In partnership with local organizations supporting children and families with additional need...Hulme Is Where The Art Is
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 14 June 2025
Hulme Is Where the Art Is ? back for another year!?Hulme?s vibrant community festival!For 2025 we?ll be celebrating The Great Big Green Week, the UK?s largest event for community action on climate change and nature protection. Come on Hulme...The Smeds and The Smoos
Z-arts, Manchester
Friday 20 - Sunday 22 June 2025
Tall Stories presents The Smeds and the Smoos. Soar into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. On a far off planet, Smeds and Smoos can't be friends. So when a young Smed and Sm...Fame The Musical
Z-arts, Manchester
Wednesday 16 - Saturday 19 July 2025
Fame The MusicalManchester Musical Youth Main Stage?s Summer spectacular, Fame The Musical. The final class of New York City?s celebrated High School for the Performing Arts navigate the competitive worlds of music, drama and dance. In the ...Haphazard 2025
Z-arts, Manchester
Saturday 2 August 2025
Presented by?Word of Warning?+?Z-artsPlayful, quirky, engaging, and sometimes plain daft: Haphazard is for kids and their adults, adults and?their?adults ? anyone looking for a different day out. We?ve previously seen ping pong balls & sque...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.
Please click here for accessibility information at Z-arts.
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.
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.
Most Popular Shows and Events at Z-arts, Manchester
