North West

Fidelio

Ludwig van Beethoven, libretto by Joseph Sonnleithner (narration by David Pou...

A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare

See You at the Octagon

Becky Prestwich

Meet Me at Dawn

Zinnie Harris

Bridge to connect in Liverpool and London

24 June 2021

Bridge, an outdoor experience produced by Coventry-based live events company Imagineer, is to have two residencies in 2021, in Liverpool and the London borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Royal Ballet and Imperfect Pointes sustainable activewear

24 June 2021

Stockport-based Imperfect Pointes has teamed up with The Royal Ballet for the launch of a new range of sustainable activewear.

Oldham reassures audiences

20 June 2021

Following the Government extension of the last stage of unlocking to July 19, Oldham Coliseum reassures audiences that all June and July events go ahead as planned.

Open auditions for The Wiz

20 June 2021

Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester has announced the full creative team for its new production of The Wiz plus details of open auditions in London and Manchester.

Trailer Story traces origins

20 June 2021

A tour of Trailer Story comes to Crow Park in the Lakeland town of Keswick, as well as Newcastle in July and August.

Hello and Goodbye goes worldwide

20 June 2021

A theatre company’s latest live-streamed production will see it broadcast to potentially thousands of people worldwide—including the play’s writer 8,500 miles away.

Little LTF gets under the skin

20 June 2021

The inaugural new works festival Little LTF will feature two LGBTQ-themed shows being premièred in Liverpool.

Lockdown romance for two

20 June 2021

A tender comedy-drama about a lockdown romance visits The Dukes in Lancaster.

Tatton pop-up in the Park

20 June 2021

Cheshire's Tatton Park will host 10 weeks of live, socially distanced events this summer, at the first Tatton Park Pop Up Festival.

Kenneth Alan Taylor recognised by Queen

15 June 2021

Writer, manager, director and actor Kenneth Alan Taylor has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday honours for services to theatre and pantomime.

Theatre bursaries for directors

14 June 2021

A leading theatre charity is launching new opportunities for directors.

It's Grimm up North!

13 June 2021

The Dukes walkabout theatre season is back in Lancaster this summer.

Bedknobs & Broomsticks for Manchester

13 June 2021

Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks will make its way to the Palace Theatre, Manchester in October.

Dragon act at the Dukes

13 June 2021

Families can enjoy a thoughtful and heart-warming show When Another Dragon Roars, at The Dukes in Lancaster.

Anna X at The Lowry

13 June 2021

Following performances at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Joseph Charlton’s Anna X will run at The Lowry, Salford.

World première for MIF

13 June 2021

A stage version of Notes on Grief, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s reflection on family, love and loss, will première at Manchester International Festival.

Summer of Play in Manchester

13 June 2021

Z-arts in Manchester has set up a Summer of Play.

Civic start to new-look Octagon

13 June 2021

The Octagon in Bolton marked the reopening of its brand new building.

Festival organiser honoured

13 June 2021

Kay Dunbar, founder of the Ways With Words Literature Festivals organisation which runs the festival in Keswick, has been recognised with an MBE.

Drama graduates bring back live theatre

13 June 2021

Preston’s 2021 UCLan Acting Graduate Season is open to public audiences at Preston Playhouse.

Day job in Chicago...

13 June 2021

Darren Day will play Billy Flynn in the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of Chicago coming to the Opera House, Manchester on May 23, 2022.

Nigel Above Board for new comedy

13 June 2021

The Northern Comedy Theatre has been working with British comedy legend Nigel Planer to bring his latest play, All Above Board, to the stage.

COVID toll on theatre freelancers

13 June 2021

The impact of COVID-19 has left nearly three quarters of theatre freelancers feeling pessimistic about their futures according to Freelancers in the Dark.

Bolton's Hound cast

3 June 2021

The Octagon in Bolton has announced the cast for The Hound Of The Baskervilles.

Emergence three!

3 June 2021

Emergence, the touring company formed from MA dance students from the University of Salford, is to tour a triple bill of works.

Waterside refracts fourth festival

3 June 2021

Waterside in Sale, Greater Manchester, has outlined the programme for its annual summer arts festiva: Refract:21l.

Freedom tour heads to Manchester

3 June 2021

Strictly star Johannes Radebe brings his first UK tour to Manchester Opera House.

One Night in Bolton on air

3 June 2021

A new radio play will make its debut on Bolton FM, performed by members of the Young Octagon Company.

Judy & Liza play the region

3 June 2021

The Judy & Liza Musical brings the real-life story of Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli to venues across the North West.

Bloody Elle—Exchange is back

3 June 2021

Bloody Elle—A Gig Musical reopens Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre.

More big hits for MIF

3 June 2021

Rema, Damon Albarn, Midas The Jagaban, Billy Nomates, a Laurent Garnier documentary screening and a tribute to Nina Simone join the Manchester International Festival line-up.

Planting an autumn panto

3 June 2021

Panto producer Regal Entertainments is bringing its recent online panto to the stage at St Helens Theatre Royal.

Jodie's Sunday best in Salford

3 June 2021

Jodie Prenger stars in Tell Me On A Sunday at The Lowry in Salford.

Salford musicals showcase

3 June 2021

A festival designed to give new musicals their big break is coming to The Lowry in Salford.

Little means a lot in Liverpool

23 May 2021

A programme of 14 new works will be premièred at the inaugural Little LTF event in Liverpool.

Exchange is back in business

23 May 2021

On June 23, Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre reopens after more than a year.

Scandalous dance in Salford

23 May 2021

Northern Ballet is commencing its first national tour in over a year with performances of Dangerous Liaisons at The Lowry, Salford.

Family magic in Lancaster

23 May 2021

Families can enjoy a magical adventure at The Dukes in Lancaster with a brand-new, socially distanced production of Sleeping Beauty.

Angel Field fest for Liverpool

23 May 2021

Audiences will be welcomed back to Liverpool theatres for a 10-day arts festival.

Merseyside gets physical again

23 May 2021

The UK's only international physical theatre festival returns to Liverpool.

Preston fest announces line-up

23 May 2021

Preston Live Arts Festival, a celebration of arts, culture, and homegrown talent in the city, announces the initial line-up for events.

Blackpool welcomes back big shows

23 May 2021

Blackpool continues to plot its way back out of COVID with two more big shows announced for this summer and next.

The Nabe loses out on premises

23 May 2021

Liverpool’s new youth, community and performing arts centre The Nabe is on the hunt for new premises.

Hope Fest for Manchester

23 May 2021

Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre will launch a three-week festival in Ancoats this summer.

£50,000 for five in Salford

23 May 2021

The Lowry In Salford has announced details of five new companies and projects that will be supported with £50,000-worth of investment.

Lowry back in C-O-N-T-A-C-T

16 May 2021

The first performance at The Lowry in Salford takes place outdoors from this Tuesday.

A Giant step for Tori

16 May 2021

Tameside-based Tori Burgess has devised short audio dramas suitable for children, families and seasoned giant-spotters.

Home from HOME for Sheena

16 May 2021

Manchester International Festival has appointed four new board members and a venue director.

Five new audio dramas from Lakeland

16 May 2021

Theatre By The Lake in Keswick commissioned five Cumbrian writers to pen audio drama and the results are a mix of tales performed by a single actor.

Pegeen will See You at the Octagon

16 May 2021

The Octagon in Bolton plans to open its doors for its Warm Up season later this month.

Jersey Boys head for Blackpool

16 May 2021

Jersey Boys will once again tour the UK and Ireland heading to the Opera House Blackpool.

Winter Gardens back in bloom

11 May 2021

Blackpool’s Winter Gardens reopens next Monday.

Set to release The Hound in Bolton

10 May 2021

Bolton Octagon presents a programme of warm-up events and its first main house production, The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Hole lot of Wonderland

10 May 2021

Alice in Wonderland—Down the Rabbit Hole returns on a UK tour featuring children’s TV presenter Kerry Boyne.

Island posting for Todd Carty

10 May 2021

Grange Hill’s Tucker and Dancing on Ice contestant Todd Carty swaps the screen for St Helens Theatre Royal to appear in the summertime family pantomime Treasure Island.

Going The Distance going online

10 May 2021

Going The Distance, the world première of a digital production of a new comedy, is available on demand.

HER in hymn to Hope!

10 May 2021

One of the first plays in England to take to the stage after lockdown will be at Manchester Hope Mill Theatre.

Write up your street?

10 May 2021

The creative team behind Preston Live Arts Festival are on the lookout for submissions from musical theatre book-writers or scriptwriters.

Frank in praise of youth

10 May 2021

Leading screenwriter and novelist Frank Cottrell Boyce has praised the ‘resilience and kindness’ of the UK’s young people.

Gates stars in Liverpool Sleeping Beauty

10 May 2021

Gareth Gates stars as the handsome prince in Sleeping Beauty—The Pantomime of Your Dreams.

Rock Of Ages ready to roll

10 May 2021

Rock Of Ages will return to tour the UK opening at The Alexandra, Birmingham.

Show Must Go On in Liverpool

10 May 2021

Actors from across TV and theatre lend their support to a new show opening in Liverpool this month.

Swan to watch on tour

10 May 2021

Swan Song, a revised comedy by playwright Jonathan Harvey, is heading out on a northern tour in July.

Touch & Go for 20 Stories High

10 May 2021

In late 2019, 20 Stories High created a piece of theatre inspired by the concept of touch. But soon after, touch became prohibited...

MIF returns to Manchester with a snapshot of the past year

28 April 2021

Manchester International Festival 2021 will feature indoor, outdoor and online performances from artists including Akram Khan, Boris Charmatz, Cillian Murphy, Deborah Warner and Lemn Sissay.

M6 route through lockdown

27 April 2021

Rochdale-based M6 theatre company has been creating work for children and young people across the UK.

80s Mania in Lancaster

27 April 2021

80s Mania is revived at Lancaster Grand Theatre June 25.

To The Digital Lighthouse

27 April 2021

Theatre by The Lake will stage the world première of a major new adaptation of To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf.

Greatest way back for Oldham Coliseum

26 April 2021

Oldham Coliseum Theatre is preparing to welcome audiences back with Julie Hesmondhalgh in The Greatest Play in the History of the World….

Three chances to catch Dreamgirls in the North West

26 April 2021

The first-ever UK tour of the musical Dreamgirls will now open at Liverpool Empire before visiting Manchester and Blackpool in the region.

A magical end to Liverpool Lockdown

26 April 2021

A spectacular magic show is set to be the first performance of the year at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.

Call out for Preston Live Arts Festival

26 April 2021

Celebrating the city of Preston and its people, the recently announced Live Arts Festival is looking for locals to submit work.

A Dancer Dances: taking part in ‘Sea Change’

24 June 2021

A reviewer switches from observer to participant and reports on the development of Sea Change—the opening ceremony of the 2021 Manchester International Festival.

A Chain of Moral Dilemmas

28 May 2021

Our editor's trip to Bolton has become mired in political controversy.

North West theatre in 2020

6 January 2021

David Chadderton summarises a year of both devastation and impressive innovation in North West theatre.

Popular

15 November 2020

Conservative MP Jake Berry’s remarks that northern communities prefer football to opera, ballet and theatre can be dismissed as nonsense but reflect an attitude that may deter, or limit the enjoyment of, potential theatregoers.