Category Theatre

Part history lecture and part dramatic performance, Gareth Armstrong’s one-man’s performance of SHYLOCK is powerful and mesmerising.

Who is Shylock? A caricature? A grotesque? A construction of two thousand years of persecution? All these questions are posed and answered in Gareth Armstrong’s one man tour de force, Shylock, where using the device of Tubal, an eight line and one scene associate of Shylock, he takes us on a tour of not only the play but the systematic antisemitism that informe...

Lewis Reeves and Rory Bremner in QUIZ. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Blending populism, impressionist comedy, and social satire, QUIZ is an interactive and thought-provoking theatrical experience.

Six years after its initial success, James Graham’s QUIZ makes a welcome return to the stage as part of a new UK tour.

Based on real events, QUIZ delves into the origins of the iconic quiz show WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE and the notorious “coughing Major” scandal of 2001, where Charles Ingram cheat...

The cast of NOISES OFF UK Tour. Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Inventive, fast-paced and witty, NOISES OFF hasn’t lost an ounce of its humour or heart, even after four decades.

Long before the hilarity of THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG and the mystery of CURTAINS came the timeless comedy gem NOISES OFF. Since 1982, Michael Frayn’s uproarious play-within-a-play has been delighting audiences. Now, it’s back at The Lowry, returning after a triumphant West End run, celebrating its 40th anniversary in all its...

Michael Praed as Julian Marsh in 42ND STREET. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Driven by its talented cast, showstopping tap sequences and fresh direction, 42ND STREET solidifies its place as a beloved classic in the world of musical theatre.

Few shows can boast the spectacle of 42ND STREET, and the latest touring production at Manchester’s Opera House is no exception...

Despite some minor shortcomings, FRANKENSTEIN: AN IMMERSIVE SHOW is a play unlike any other.

FRANKENSTEIN: AN IMMERSIVE SHOW delivers a unique and immersive theatre experience masterfully crafted by Midnight Circle Productions. The play takes the audience on a journey through Frankenstein’s memories, exploring the creation of the monster, its devastating impact on his family, and the inherent risks of human connection...

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.

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...

Designed to frighten and delight in equal measure, CASTING THE RUNES is an excellent retelling of the M.R. James’ supernatural thriller.

Adapting a classic story is always a tightrope; adhere too closely, and the play runs the risk of being slow-paced; adapt too much, and you lose the essence. Pleasingly, Box Tale Soup’s retelling of the classic M.R. James’ story CASTING THE RUNES hits the audience note perfect.

The supernatural tale concerns Professor Duning (Noel Byrne) and Harrington (Ant...

The cast of BY THE WATERS OF LIVERPOOL 2020 Tour. Photo: Ant Robling

Blending comedy and pathos in equal measure, BY THE WATERS OF LIVERPOOL brings Helen Forrester’s autobiographical tale to life on stage.

Adapting a much-loved book, or series of books, is always a difficult proposition, but in BY THE WATERS OF LIVERPOOL, Rob Fennah has pulled off an excellent job of taking Helen Forrester’s autobiographical tale of life in Liverpool on the eve of the second world war from page to stage.

T...

The cast of ANNIE UK Tour 2023. Photo Credit: Paul Coltas

Aided by its colourful set, inspired choreography and incredible cast performance, ANNIE stands the test of time.

Slowly approaching its 50th year onstage after opening in New York in 1977, the beloved ANNIE returns to Manchester’s Opera House every bit as bright and joyful as ever.

Written by Thomas Meehan and featuring classic songs TOMORROW and IT’S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE, it centres on the titular character of Annie, an orphan who seeks...

THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY is not a tribute or a pastiche, but a loving homage to the music we all know and love.

Say the names Simon and Garfunkel to anyone and they will instantly have a place, a time and at least half a dozen song titles immediately in their head. Along with Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel held up a mirror to the immense changes in culture and society happening in the world in the late 1960s. They were simply a soundtrack to a disaffected generation.

Fast forward ...