Welcome to Happy
Happy is a six-month arts programme and festival inspired by the work of Bury-born Victoria Wood, and how she made people feel!
There are lots of ways you can get involved through our New Faces programme or Let’s Do It! activities. Check out our Events page to find out more about events and performances over the festival period.
The Happy Festival will run from Friday 15th to Sunday 17th May 2020, with an outdoor Happy Proms on Sunday 12th July.
Happy is a part of Bury’s Town of Culture programme.
Highlights
‘TUNING IN’ ANDY HOLLINGWORTH
An exhibition from photographer Andy Hollingworth of unpublished shots of Victoria and mementos from her archive.
Learn MoreMIX AND MINGLE
Take a closer look at how Victoria Wood approached her work. Hosted by Victoria’s official biographer Jasper Rees talking to colleagues of Victoria...
Learn MoreChanje Kunda presents PLANT FETISH
Join Chanje Kunda and her harem of tropical plants. Can getting married to a tree sort out life’s problems?
Learn MoreOUR VICTORIA – the Fan strand…
Calling all Victoria Wood fans, don’t miss this chance to reminisce, chat and laugh at this very special event with live music and a two soup menu.
Learn MoreLET’S DO IT! MARQUEES
'Have a go' workshops, performances, singing, brass bands…and more. A chance to listen to a funny song, try an instrument or simply clap along to a brass band.
Learn MoreAT THE CHIPPY
Victoria’s colleagues, TV producer and director Geoff Posner and Musical Director David Firman cook up a very special Q&A.
Learn MoreHANDS UP WHO’S HAPPY?
A hilarious, new, thought-provoking comedy. Half stand-up, half sketch-show and half-witted.
Learn More
"I'm going North. It's a compulsion with me. Even in Tesco's I head straight for the freezer cabinets on the back wall."
"I'm apparently something of a celebrity since I walked the Pennine Way in slingbacks in an attempt to publicise mental health."
"It's just one of the things I've always wanted to do, swim the Channel. And meet Bonnie Tyler."
"I can't say this often enough. It may be Hamlet, but it's got to be fun, fun, fun!"
"I'm learning a language. It's called 'Get By In Flemish'. I'm learning it in case I ever go to Flem."
"He said, do you want a drink or do you want a kick up the bum with an open toed sandal? I said get you Eamonn Andrews."
"You're separated aren't you? Yes, he's livin int loft. He's got the lilo and the slow cooker. We don't speak…"
"They said they'd made out a little wedding list. Little? It made the Domesday book look like a raffle ticket…"
"I can remember when pants were pants! You wore them for 20 years then you cut them down into pan scrubs or quilts."
"Life is very tough for these Northern women, I did a cameo in a Barbara Taylor Bradford; heartbreaking…."
"Well he's not my husband but he brushed past me in a sports jacket so as good as..."
