The Great Indoors at Manchester Town Hall 11th to 12th July

The family friendly extravaganza returns to Manchester International Festival this July.

The Great Indoors was one of the highlights of the events calendar at the first Manchester International Festival. Beginning with the chance to examine all kinds of weird and wonderful entities like fungus, E.Coli and algae, and moving through into live action painting, circus performances and graffiti, the day took preconceptions of what kids' entertainment should be and turned them on their heads!

Now The Great Indoors is set to return, taking over the Town Hall in a riot of performances and activities to keep even the most inquisitive young minds captivated. This year's event will give kids between the ages of 3 and 11 (and their parents) the chance to see local entertainers alongside some of the very best in international children's theatre.

There will also be two standout new commissions – a collaboration between nationally acclaimed children's puppeteers Thingumajig Theatre and local pyrotechnic stars Walk The Plank called The Difference Engine… A Steampunk Adventure and another between puppeteers Oily Court and aerial act Ockham's Razor called Something in the Air.

The remaining lineup for the day includes:

La Manoeuvre: Bobinette and Tricotine
Jon Hicks: Elephants
Tof Theatre: Sur La Dune
Marie-Anne Michel: Sieste Verticale
Craig: The Incredible Hula Boy: Wonder Of You
So And So Theatre: The Hot Dots
Crida Company: Follow Me
Theatre Athenor: Terrain Vague
Chiswick Movie Theatre: The General by Buster Keaton
Mrs Boon's Cupcake Workshop
Aletta Collins: Big Dance
JoNny and Stephen Stockbridge: Simple Wonders
Logos Foundation: Pneumaphones
Martin Muller: Maschinenkunst
Entretenidos: The Trembleators

All events are free, but you will need to pick up tickets on the day if you want to be part of this exciting, fun-filled spectacular!