Gabriela Garcia and Andy Coxon in WEST SIDE STORY. Photo: Richard Davenport of The Other Richard

Punchy, fresh and more relevant than ever before, Sarah Frankcom’s WEST SIDE STORY brings a whole new energy to the bona fide Broadway classic

Over the past few years, the Royal Exchange has been making a speciality out of reshaping classic musicals. From LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and SWEET CHARITY to GUYS AND DOLLS and THE PRODUCERS, the theatre has gained somewhat of a reputation for its fresh takes ...

Actress Gwyneth Strong talks about her role as Mrs Boyle and what audiences can expect from Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP

The longest-running show in West End history – Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP – heads out on a UK tour with a stop at Salford’s The Lowry next month.

Cut off from the outside world by heavy snow, a group of people gathered in a country house discover that there is a murderer in their midst...

While this latest touring production may not be as polished as previous incarnations, BLOOD BROTHERS still packs a hefty punch

Few musicals can boast as much acclaim as the multi-award-winning BLOOD BROTHERS. Running for more than 24 years in London’s West End, Bill Kenwright’s production has played more than 10,000 performances to become the third longest-running musical production in West End history. It also continues to see great success on tour as fans packed out The Lowry’s Lyric The...

The cast of HAIR THE MUSICAL UK Tour 2019. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

While HAIR THE MUSICAL may not pack the punch it did back in 1967, this psychedelic and electric production is a joy to watch

It’s fair to say that many musicals are based on events that happened in the past but the 1967 phenomenon HAIR took the world by storm, tackling the Vietnam war as it was happening...

Jodie Prenger as Beverly and Calum Callaghan as Tony in ABIGAIL’S PARTY.

Sarah Esdaile squeezes every bit of humour out of Mike Leigh’s bitter comedy ABIGAIL’S PARTY but ultimately undercuts the emotional impact of the ending

As someone who never lived through the 1970s, I always imagine the era to be a mix of bell-bottomed flares, big afros, disco music and dodgy moustaches. These very thoughts were confirmed as the curtain was raised for Mike Leigh’s iconic ABIGAIL’S PARTY at Manchester’...

Fresh after last year’s STRICTLY scandal, comedian Seann Walsh is back on top form with his come back gig AFTER THIS ONE, I’M GOING HOME

Last October’s STRICTLY COME DANCING stint saw Seann Walsh begin to gain momentum with the public...

Paul Wilkins as Claude and the cast of HAIR THE MUSICAL UK tour. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Paul Wilkins talks to Frankly My Dear UK about his role as Claude in the 50th-anniversary tour of legendary rock musical HAIR

Following its critically acclaimed run at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre and a sell-out run at London’s The Vaults, the 50th-anniversary production of the legendary rock musical HAIR bursts out in full psychedelic glory at Manchester’s Palace Theatre this week.

Set in 1967, ...

Award-winning director Ned Bennett talks about EQUUS and the challenges of taking on such a well-known play

This month sees English Touring Theatre bring a new production of EQUUS to Salford’s The Lowry.

Inspired by a true story, EQUUS tells the story a young man who brutally blinded six horses and the psychiatrist tasked with uncovering the motive behind the boy’s violent act...

The cast of AMERICAN IDIOT UK Tour 2019. Photo Credit: Mark Dawson

Expanding on Green Day’s 2004 concept album, AMERICAN IDIOT is an attention-grabbing and entertaining two-hour theatrical rock concert

Sex, drugs and rock and roll take centre stage this week at the Palace Theatre as AMERICAN IDIOT’s spirited rock opera is back in Manchester to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Merging the dingiest Crayola coloured set pieces, confetti canons and a compelling soundtrack, AMERICAN IDIOT expands o...

Adam Jackson Smith and Samantha Womack in THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN. Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan

Despite its slow start, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN successfully transfers from page to stage thanks to a powerful and convincing performance from Samantha Womack

When British author Paula Hawkins released her debut novel THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN back in 2015 it took the world by storm, selling an estimated 20 million copies worldwide and resulting in a major film starring Emily Blunt...