January highlights: Theatre, exhibitions and events in the North West

Weird animals, climate-aware architecture and Cumberland wrestling all feature in the shows you shouldn't miss this month

Nahem Shoa. Image courtesy of the artist

January is a funny in-between time for the arts, just as it is for restaurants. Theatres tend to be dark or finishing up runs of their Christmas shows. Galleries either closed their exhibitions in December or are wrapping them up over the next few weeks. But they still offer an calming escape from the demand to launch yourself back into work and transform yourself - at least in theory - into a bright new you.

This month’s round-up then has more of a ‘last chance to see’ rather than a ‘exciting new openings’ theme. It’s a list of highlights, rather than a comprehensive catalogue of everything that’s going on., although there are a few new things in the mix.

Some of the exhibitions and theatre shows I mentioned in my December highlights are still open, if you’d like even more suggestions of how to spend your time.

If you work for an arts organisation and would to see your activities included in Stored Honey, please drop me an email to tostoredhoney@gmail.com or message me in the comments.

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Theatre

Liverpool City Region

• Varna International Ballet: Founded in 1947, company returns to the UK for a tour of venues, bringing three productions to the Liverpool Empire from January 9-11 - Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and the Nutcracker.