A blog about my first year making my way in the Manchester theatre scene as an emerging theatre-maker/director and newcomer* to the city. Any artist considering making Manchester their new home might find it useful.
After seven years of life in Oxford, the seven year itch was getting pretty itchy. The last five of these years were an incredibly exciting, formative period, of acting and directing training, development and making the switch into a new life in theatre. Yet, despite the many delights of Oxford, and the brilliant experiences I’d had as part of the small but vibrant theatre community there – it was time to leave. But where to? I’d already spent ten years in the Big Smoke and although I’ll always love London, somehow returning (at least at this point) felt like a backwards step. I didn’t feel excited by the thought. I had also discovered that due to spiralling rents, that if I were to return, it would probably be to live in a mouldy shoebox under Waterloo Bridge, eeking out a subsistence on crumbs of organic market fayre thrown to me by well-attired passers by. Thanks, but no thanks. All hail to the Mancs! I have decided to *return to the city of my teenage years, move in with my folks and find out for myself what lies beneath the undoubtedly shiny hype about Manchester’s creative scene. Brothers and sisters, wish me luck! Monthly posts follow below.
Amy Hailwood 
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