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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

Theatre Review: THE SHARK IS BROKEN – The Lowry, Salford

The cast of THE SHARK IS BROKEN. Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan

Based on Robert Shaw’s diaries, THE SHARK IS BROKEN offers a witty and poignant behind-the-scenes look at the tense, complex relationships between the three JAWS actors.

4 out of 5 stars

Any fan of the 1974 film JAWS will know that its production was notoriously difficult...

Read More

Theatre Review: NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL A MUSICAL – Opera House, Manchester

The cast of NOW That’s What I Call A Musical. Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL A MUSICAL is a fun, nostalgic jukebox musical packed with 1980s hits, strong performances, lively choreography, and plenty of laughs.

4 out of 5 stars

Ah, the 1980s – a time when every hairbrush doubled as a microphone, ra-ra skirts were all the rage, and you could dream of being anything you wanted to be...

Read More

Theatre Review: CALAMITY JANE – Opera House, Manchester

The cast of CALAMITY JANE. Photo Credit: Mark Senior

A whip-cracking production of CALAMITY JANE at Manchester’s Opera House delivers infectious energy, stunning performances, and lively choreography, making it a feel-good musical triumph.

5 out of 5 stars

It’s a cold, wet evening in Manchester but inside the Opera House there’s a whip cracking staging of CALAMITY JANE with an ensemble cast who are more than up to the job of taking the audience on a feel good tale of romance; well, eventually.

Jamie Wilson’...

Read More

Theatre Review: ELF THE MUSICAL – Palace Theatre, Manchester

With joyful performances, seamless set transitions, and engaging audience interaction, ELF THE MUSICAL is a feel-good, festive experience that leaves audiences brimming with holiday cheer.

5 out of 5 stars

This year sees 21 years since the hit film ELF was released, becoming an instant Christmas classic...

Read More