From last Friday, Manchester became the centre of the cultural universe with the city’s fifth biennial International Festival.
Jane McDonald heads the cast as Grizabella when Cats starts its eight-week summer run at Blackpool Opera House from next Thursday.
Horrible Histories returns to Blackpool Grand next week with two new shows: Incredible Invaders and Groovy Greeks.
A theatre company of homeless people stages its own outdoor drama this week. Alternative Outcomes, a company formed in 2013 by a group of people who use Lancaster District Homeless Action Service, will perform Twisted, their own version of Oliver Twist, in Williamson Park next Tuesday afternoon.
Knock Knock, a "scathing, unapologetic black comedy that tells the story of fear, rage and redemption in austerity Britain", has been written and directed by Kate Marlow for Love & Light Theatre and will run at the Kings Arms from 11 to 25 July as part of The Greater Manchester Fringe Festival.
Ten Palestinian performers will give a twist to traditional Palestinian celebratory dance dabke by adding hip hop, capoeira and circus in Badke at The Lowry on 11 July.
Manana Productions will present its "sometimes absurdly funny, sometimes painfully raw drama about parents who've each lost a child", Parents Without Children, at Three Minute Theatre from 9 to 11 July.