Black & White Christmas

The Bishop’s Wife (U) starring Cary Grant and David Niven was a hit with audiences in 1947.

It tells the story of a bishop trying to get a new cathedral built. He prays for guidance and an angel arrives, in the form of Cary Grant.

The Bishop’s Wife is shown on Monday afternoon as part of a series of arts events in association with Age UK Lancashire for people with memory problems and their families.

During the screening, which is open to all, some changes are made to lighting and sound to ensure a comfortable environment is created. There will be an interval when the audience can join in a festive singalong.

Tickets include tea/coffee and a pastry. Accompanying carer/family member free.

The venue’s Festive Film Season continues with White Christmas (U) screened twice, on December 19 and 22. Starring Bing Crosby, it’s a treasury of Irving Berlin classics.

The Muppets Christmas Carol (U) hits the screen on December 20 and 23. And there are four chances to see the ultimate Christmas film It’s A Wonderful Life (U), which is screened December 21,22, 23 and Christmas Eve.

This enduring classic tells the story of apprentice angel Clarence trying to convince suicidal George Bailey how life would have been in his home town had he never lived.

Festive ballet The Nutcracker can be enjoyed on the big screen on December 21 in a broadcast from The Bolshoi.

A chance to see Maxine Peake as Hamlet is a highlight of The Dukes’ new Theatre on Screen season in the New Year.

Tickets for Manchester Royal Exchange’s version of the Shakespeare play sold like hot cakes when the popular actress took on this iconic role earlier this year.

The unique and critically acclaimed production was filmed and will be screened on March 23 and April 4.

Other big screen plays lined up for early in 2015 are Treasure Island on January 22 and Behind The Beautiful Forevers on March 19 which sees David Hare direct Meera Syal in this adaptation of the award-winning book exploring the lives of slum residents in Mumbai.

For spring, there’s Tom Stoppard’s new play, No Hard Problem, on April 16 and Man And Superman on May 14 starring Ralph Fiennes in a reinvention of Bernard Shaw’s witty, provocative classic.

Two productions from the Royal Shakespeare Company can also be enjoyed on the big screen next spring. Love’s Labours Lost on February 11 and Love’s Labours Won on March 4 will be set against the backdrop of World War One.

Box office: 01524 598500 or www.dukes-lancaster.org.

Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company present an ingenious adaptation of Three Little Pigs at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre.

Packed with puppetry, comedy, cheesy music, and loud wallpape, the show takes its inspiration from 70s children’s TV shows such as Vision On, Pipkins and BOD.

Billed as a treat for everyone aged three to 70, it runs in The Studio at the Royal Exchange from December 20 to January 3.

Box Office: 0161 833 9833 or www.royalexchange.co.uk

The National Theatre’s huge hit The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time opens its UK tour at The Lowry in Salford over the festive break from December 18 to January 10.

Stockport-born Simon Stephens’ adaptation of Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel received seven Olivier Awards last year, won the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Theatre and has been seen by more than 200,000 in the West End.

It is directed by Marianne Elliott, who co-directed the National Theatre’s record-breaking production of War Horse which ran for 18 record-breaking weeks at The Lowry.

In the venue’s Quays theatre this Christmas, Mischief Theatre take over with a family friendly double bill featuring Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and, for young theatre-lovers, We’re Going On A Bear Hunt. These productions run from December 16 to January 11.

Box office: 0843 208 6005 or www.thelowry.com