Category Theatre Venues

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...

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 ...

The cast of GREAT EXPECTATIONS. Photo Credit: Ellie Kurttz

Driven by its immersive set and impressive cast performances, Tanika Gupta’s adaptation of GREAT EXPECTATIONS delivers a fresh perspective on the classic novel.

Tanika Gupta’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ GREAT EXPECTATIONS makes its third outing at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, following its debut in Watford a decade ago and a 2017 stint in Chicago.

Directed by Pooja Ghai, who originally played Krishna in the first product...

The company of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Photo Credit: Paul Coltas

Timothy Sheader’s bold reinterpretation of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR provides the perfect platform for rock-star extravagance.

Timothy Sheader’s fresh take on JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, which initially gained acclaim at Regent Park Open Air Theatre, finally embarks on a UK tour, opening at Manchester’s Palace Theatre this week.

The sung-through rock opera, originally released as a concept album, follows Jesus Christ in his final days be...

The company of EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE. Photo Credit: Matt Crockett

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE is the definition of a musical that will leave you feeling ‘bloody good’ at the end.

It’s true; everybody is talking about Jamie… they’re talking about how fabulously talented this new cast is as it hits The Lowry’s stage.

Based on the true story of Jamie New, “the boy who learned to fly,” EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE follows his journey to find himself and take the lea...