North West

Jigsy

Tony Staveacre

Cinderella shall go the ball—eventually!

24 July 2020

After 60 years, Cinderella shall go the ball at Blackpool Opera House—but not this Christmas.

Oldham initiative launches three audio plays

19 July 2020

Oldham Coliseum, TripleC and Disabled Artists Networking Community have commissioned three short audio plays.

Royal Family launch in St Helens

19 July 2020

St Helens Theatre Royal has launched a new theatre membership scheme to appeal to patrons to support the venue.

Ten Nights in Bolton

19 July 2020

Bolton Octagon has released audio recordings of 10 monologues—winners of the One Night In Bolton creative writing competition.

Ride The White Swan on Youtube

19 July 2020

The White Swan is a monologue performance by writer, storyliner, director and producer Grace O’Leary.

Digital triptych from imitating the dog

10 July 2020

All three episodes of digital theatremakers imitating the dog's Culture in Quarantine commission will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer by this Saturday 10 July.

Ghost of a chance in Blackpool

9 July 2020

Blackpool Ghost Walks are back this month to celebrate their 10th anniversary.

Lowry advanced dance training open for applications

7 July 2020

The Lowry Centre for Advanced Training in Dance has opened applications for the next year of its annual scheme starting September 2020, open to young people from the North West aged 11–16.

'COVID-safe' drive-in venue opens in Manchester

7 July 2020

Immersive theatre company Beyond Theatre claims to have created the world's first COVID-compliant drive-in theatre venue in Manchester.

Blackpool Grand launches recovery fund

7 July 2020

Blackpool's Grand Theatre, the oldest theatre in the town, has launched a recovery fund to help it to survive after more than 100 days of closure.

Octagon announces creative writing competition winners

7 July 2020

Bolton's Octagon Theatre has announced the winners of its One Night In Bolton writing competition, launched to encourage creativity in lockdown.

Cumbrian writers selected for script development

7 July 2020

Theatre by the Lake and Paines Plough have announced the four Cumbrian writers who have been commissioned under their Come to Where I Am project.

Manchester Mayor Burnham responds to Royal Exchange redundancy announcement

6 July 2020

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said he is "saddened" by the announcement from the Royal Exchange Theatre that it may have to make up to 65% of its staff redundant.

Keswick theatre offers online play reading group, exhibition and networking

3 July 2020

Keswick's Theatre by the Lake has announced a programme of free activities while it is closed: the TBTL play reading club, Cumbrian Creatives—a network for local artists—and a community exhibition.

Royal Exchange announces up to 65% redundancies

2 July 2020

Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre has announced that it is to "enter a period of redundancy consultation", which may result in the loss of up to 65% of current staff.

Chester Storyhouse plans early opening

25 June 2020

Storyhouse, an arts centre in Chester that incorporates a theatre, cinema, library and restaurant, has announced that it will reopen as soon as the government allows, possibly as early as 4 July.

Leading actors join calls to support Octagon appeal

25 June 2020

Ian McKellen, Sue Johnston, Sharon D Clarke, Matthew Kelly and more have sent messages of support for the theatre, which has so far raised more than £40,000 for its crowdfunder appeal.

HOME announces plans for reopening

25 June 2020

HOME Manchester has announced plans to reopen its cinemas, bars and restaurant on 4 September, with theatre and gallery programmes to restart later in autumn.

Lowry pledges support for all contracted staff

25 June 2020

Lowry CEO Julia Fawcett has pledged support for the arts centre's contracted workforce until the building can reopen, vowing that “coronavirus WON’T defeat us—but Government must act!”

Hope Mill evening with Jonathan Harvey & £5k playwriting prize

25 June 2020

Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre is to present an online evening celebrating the work of writer Jonathan Harvey and is launching a playwriting prize with a prize of £5,000, a production at the theatre and mentorship from Harvey.

More cancellations and redundancies in Keswick

9 June 2020

Theatre by the Lake has cancelled its Christmas production of The Borrowers and is making staff redundancies to help it to survive the current closure.

Vertigo's Noir adapted into free audio drama

5 June 2020

Manchester-based Vertigo Theatre Productions hopes to raise money for Acting for Others in the UK and The Actors Fund in the US by reviving its 2017 hit play Noir by Craig Hepworth adapted into a two-hour audio play.

Oldham Coliseum’s 'Mini-Podcast Series' continues to present new work

5 June 2020

For each episode of its Mini-Podcast Series, Oldham Coliseum has invited writers to respond to a theme within a specified length, with pieces ranging from 100 words to a 20-minute short audio-play.

Liverpool Hope National Playwriting Prize postponed until 2021

5 June 2020

Liverpool Hope University and Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre have postponed the Liverpool Hope Playwriting Prize, which gives writers a chance to win £10,000 for comedy scripts, by twelve months.

Hope Mill's gonna play Rent, rescheduled

5 June 2020

Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester has announced rescheduled dates for its production of Rent, plus full creative team.

Les Dennis as Jigsy in Royal Court Liverpool online rerun

5 June 2020

Les Dennis has recorded a performance of Tony Staveacre's one-man show Jigsy which will be made available for free on the Liverpool Royal Court YouTube channel.

HOME announces new Homemakers

5 June 2020

Five new Homemakers, a series of online works presented by HOME Manchester alongside national partners, are now available.