Theatre Review: MARY POPPINS – Palace Theatre, Manchester

Stefanie Jones in MARY POPPINS. Photo Credit: Danny Kaan.

Combining flawless performances, breath-taking staging, and old-school showbiz glamour, MARY POPPINS is a masterclass in theatrical magic.

5 out of 5 stars

It is easy to see why MARY POPPINS the musical has won so many awards from Oliviers to Tonys and entranced audiences from Broadway and the West End to productions across the globe; it is simply perfect in every way...

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Theatre Review: LITTLE WOMEN – The Lowry, Salford

The cast of LITTLE WOMEN. Photo Credit: Nobby Clark

With strong performances, clever staging, and a warm, engaging atmosphere, this charming and faithful stage adaptation of LITTLE WOMEN brings the March sisters’ story vividly to life.

4 out of 5 stars

Since its publication in 1868–1869, Louisa May Alcott’s novel about the about the fates and fortunes of four sisters has become regarded as one of the great “coming of age” novels for young women...

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Theatre Review: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE* (*SORT OF) – The Lowry, Salford

The cast of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE* (*SORT OF) Photo Credit: Mihaela Bodlovic

Blending modern humour and karaoke-style musical interludes, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE* (*SORT OF) is a brilliantly funny and unique retelling of Jane Austen’s classic.

4 out of 5 stars

“You try having a whirlwind romance without clean bedding” say the servants setting the scene in Isobel McArthur’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE* (*SORT OF)...

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Theatre Review: OPERA NORTH – THE FLYING DUTCHMAN – The Lowry, Salford

Opera North’s production THE FLYING DUTCHMAN. Photo Credit: James Glossop

3.5 out of 5 stars

In this adaptation, Opera North reimagines Wagner’s renowned opera, The Flying Dutchman, in a modern context. Daland (plated by Clive Bayley), the Home Secretary, is startled to find the melancholy Dutchman (played by Richard Hayward) seeking refuge in his office. Perhaps even more startling are the riches that he offers in return for a place to stay and his daughter’s hand in marriage...

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Theatre Review: CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG – Palace Theatre, Manchester

Ore Oduba and Ellie Nunn in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG. Photo Credit: Paul Coltas

With standout performances, infectious comedy, and stunning visuals, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG is a vibrant, joy-filled spectacle.

5 out of 5 stars

In CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, Ian Fleming wrote, “Never say no to adventures” and anyone attending this touring production is certainly in for an adventure filled with spectacle and infectious joy...

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Theatre Review: BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET’S CINDERELLA – The Lowry, Salford

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET’s CINDERELLA. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Blending stunning choreography, whimsical set pieces and a soaring Prokofiev score, BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET’S CINDERELLA is a mesmerising and magical production.

4 out of 5 stars

The sensational BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET (BRB) walk audiences through a whimsical wonderland at The Lowry. Offering the invitation you’ve been waiting for, CINDERELLA dazzles with scrumptious costumes, stunning set pieces and a soaring Sergei Prokofiev score.

With Sir...

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Theatre Review: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT – Opera House, Manchester

The cast of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. Photo Credit: Tristram Kenton

With stunning performances, dazzling visuals, and timeless songs, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT remains a crowd-pleaser for all ages.

4 out of 5 stars

The smash-hit London Palladium production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT makes a welcome return to Manchester this week as part of its UK tour.

Originally written as a school production, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZIN...

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Theatre Review: BAT OUT OF HELL – Palace Theatre, Manchester

Katie Tonkinson & Glenn Adamson in BAT OUT OF HELL. Photo Credit: Chris Davis Studio

With powerful performances, stunning visuals, and a thrilling soundtrack, BAT OUT OF HELL is a high-energy, rock-and-roll spectacle.

5 out of 5 stars

The show that launched with the tagline “Manchester gets it first” is back in the city. BAT OUT OF HELL, which first premiered at the Opera House in 2017, heads to Manchester’s Palace Theatre this week as part of a new UK tour.

Set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic future, BAT OU...

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Theatre Review: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 1936 – The Lowry, Salford

Tracy-Ann Oberman in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 1936. Photo Credit: Marc Brenner

This powerful reimagining of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 1936 highlights the play’s enduring relevance, with standout performances and a chilling portrayal of historical and modern antisemitism.

5 out of 5 stars

The well-known saying that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it feels especially relevant in this striking and audacious production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 1936...

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Theatre Review: HERE YOU COME AGAIN – Opera House, Manchester

The cast of HERE WE GO AGAIN. Photo Credit: Hugo Glendinning

Despite a slightly wobbly script, HERE YOU COME AGAIN is a glittery, feel-good jukebox musical with a heart as big as Dolly Parton’s wig collection.

3 out of 5 stars

If you’re expecting harps and halos, think again. This guardian angel arrives in a cascade of sequins, towering platinum wigs, and a Tennessee twang sharp enough to cut through heartbreak...

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