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Theatre Review: 101 DALMATIANS THE MUSICAL – Palace Theatre, Manchester

The cast of 101 DALMATIANS THE MUSICAL. Photo Credit: Phil Tragen

Featuring inventive puppetry and strong vocal performances, 101 DALMATIANS THE MUSICAL is a family-friendly adaptation that remains mostly faithful to the classic story.

3 out of 5 stars

The classic canine caper, 101 Dalmatians, is another in a line of classic, animated films to make the jump from screen to stage, with 101 DALMATIANS THE MUSICAL wagging its way to Manchester’s Palace Theatre on the latest leg of a nationwide tour.

The story of ...

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Theatre Review: MIND MANGLER: MEMBER OF THE TRAGIC CIRCLE – Palace Theatre,  Manchester

Henry Lewis in MIND MANGLER: MEMBER OF THE TRAGIC CIRCLE. Photo: Pamela Raith Photography

Blending magic, mentalism, and audience participation, MIND MANGLER: MEMBER OF THE TRAGIC CIRCLE is a hilariously executed comedy that masterfully balances planned chaos and improvisation.

5 out of 5 stars

Mischief Theatre returns with another brilliantly funny, wonderfully executed comedy in the form of MIND MANGLER: MEMBER OF THE TRAGIC CIRCLE.

Renowned for their signature brand of slapstick, often ‘stupid’ comedy stylin...

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Theatre Review: THE KITE RUNNER – The Lowry, Salford

The cast of THE KITE RUNNER. Photo: Barry Rivett / Hotshot Photography

With its stellar cast performance, minimalist staging, and powerful soundscape, Khaled Hosseini’s powerful tale of heartbreak and betrayal is brought to life in THE KITE RUNNER.

5 out of 5 stars

THE KITE RUNNER Khaled Hosseini’s gripping tale of heartbreak and betrayal comes to life on The Lowry’s Lyric stage...

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Theatre Review: LIFE OF PI – The Lowry, Salford

LIFE OF PI UK Tour 2023. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Full of technical brilliance and masterful puppetry, LIFE OF PI is a beautiful spectacle.

4 out of 5 stars

Lolita Chakrabarti’s adaptation of Yann Martel’s best-selling book, LIFE OF PI, bursts onto The Lowry’s Lyric stage. Directed by Max Webster and full of technical brilliance and masterful puppetry, the show is a beautiful spectacle.

Piscine ‘Pi’ Patel (Tanvi Virmani –The Crown Jewels (West End and Tour); The Tempest (Bath Theatre Royal)) is the onl...

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Theatre Review: HAMILTON – Palace Theatre, Manchester

DeAngelo Jones, Shaq Taylor, Billy Nevers & KM Drew Boateng in HAMILTON UK TOUR. Photo Credit: Danny Kaan

With its inventive choreography, outstanding cast, and catchy hip-hop score, HAMILTON is both a revolution AND a revelation.

5 out of 5 stars

HAMILTON, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s story of the forgotten founding father finally comes to Manchester’s Palace Theatre – and it is absolutely worth the wait. 

With direction by Thomas Kail and choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, the show is a masterpiece from start ...

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Theatre Review: TONY! (THE TONY BLAIR ROCK OPERA) – The Lowry, Salford

With its mashup of musical and theatrical styles, TONY! (THE TONY BLAIR ROCK OPERA) is a tongue-in-cheek look at the political career of the UK’s youngest prime minister.

3 out of 5 stars

Prepare to be rocked, rolled and slapstick-ed as The Lowry’s Quays Theatre welcomes TONY! (THE TONY BLAIR ROCK OPERA): a tongue-in-cheek look at the political career of the UK’s youngest prime minister since 1812.

Written by long-time collaborators Harry Hill and Steve Brown, this mashup of musical and theatrical styles wil...

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Theatre Review: QUALITY STREET – Bolton Octagon, Bolton

Driven by its clever direction, innovative use of puppetry and engaging cast, J. M. Barrie’s colourfully wrapped QUALITY STREET leaves a sweet taste in the mouth.

3 out of 5 stars

J. M. Barrie’s colourfully wrapped, sweet treat heads to Bolton Octagon as Northern Broadsides continue their tour of QUALITY STREET. The ill-fated production was into a 14-week tour in 2020 but was cut short due to a much-discussed global pandemic.

The play centres around the love affair between our protagonist, Phoebe ‘of the r...

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Theatre Review: LET THE RIGHT ONE IN – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

Rhian Blundell & Pete MacHale in LET THE RIGHT ONE IN. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Appealing to both horror connoisseurs and the fainter of heart, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN is a love story with enough ‘bite’ to keep you on the edge of your seat.

4 out of 5 stars

International cult classic, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, makes its Manchester stage debut at the Royal Exchange Theatre this Halloween...

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Theatre Review: THE ADDAMS FAMILY – Opera House, Manchester

Scott Paige as Uncle Fester (centre) with the cast of THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Credit Pamela Raith

Scott Paige and the cast of THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Despite its strong cast performance, THE ADDAMS FAMILY’s musical score lacks memorable melodies and spectacular harmonies to make it something special.

3 out of 5 stars

MOVE TOWARD THE DARKNESS and allow yourself to be PULLED in by THE ADDAMS FAMILY at Manchester’s Opera House: the distinct, gothic musical-comedy will have you laughing and falling in love in perfect synchronicity.

Wednesday Addams (Kingsley Morton) has fallen for a ‘norma...

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Theatre Review: FOOTLOOSE – Opera House, Manchester

The cast of FOOTLOOSE UK Tour 2022. Photo Credit: Mark Senior

The cast of FOOTLOOSE UK Tour 2022. Photo Credit: Mark Senior

Colourful, high-energy and driven by a strong cast performance, FOOTLOOSE successfully transports the audience back to the 1980s.

4 out of 5 stars

80s fever is back in Manchester, as smash-hit musical FOOTLOOSE comes to town. The colourful, high-energy show has the audience dancing in the aisles to hits such as HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO, LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY and, of course, FOOTLOOSE.

Based on the 1987 cult film starring Kevin Bacon, FOOTLOOSE fo...

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