North West

Corrina, Corrina

Chloe Moss

Dead Lies

Hilary Bonner

The Cher Show

The Rocky Horror Show

Richard O’Brien

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice

Jim Cartwright

Oh Mother

Devised by Abbi Greenland and Helen Goalen and Simone Seales, music by Becky ...

Hey Bunny Get Loose

Wendy Dickinson

Beryl

Maxine Peake

Passion

Music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine

Macca & Beth

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice

Exchange builds its Den in Manchester

13 May 2022

Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre will set up its eco-friendly mobile theatre in Cheetham Hill and Crumpsall this summer.

All aboard Blackpool Grand: 1

13 May 2022

Titanic The Musical will dock at Blackpool Grand Theatre next year.

All aboard Blackpool Grand: 2

13 May 2022

Blackpool’s Grand Theatre is offering a star role in its development by joining the Board.

Offer dog owners can't refuse

13 May 2022

The 'Dogfather' Graeme Hall brings his first UK tour to The Lowry in Salford June 12.

Octagon hunting for book thieves

13 May 2022

The Octagon in Bolton will be casting four young people to share the roles of Liesel and Rudy in the upcoming production of The Book Thief.

City dates for Classic!

13 May 2022

Classic! is a new comedy play directed by Joyce Branagh that Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre and HER Productions are taking to the Edinburgh Fringe this year.

Hope fulfilled for Lawrence

12 May 2022

The £10,000 2022 Liverpool Hope Playwriting Prize has been awarded to Lawrence Quilty.

Cash to future-proof Royal Court

12 May 2022

Liverpool’s Royal Court will use a capital grant of £551,200 to make the theatre fit for the future.

Electric dreams for Blackpool

12 May 2022

Mykey Young is an independent producer and theatre-maker based in Blackpool, currently working with the town's new and first producing theatre space, The Old Electric.

Gaiman adaptation for Lowry

12 May 2022

The National Theatre’s production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane will tour to The Lowry in Salford.

Wynter time in Blackpool

12 May 2022

Dreamboats & Petticoats will be bringing on back the good times at Blackpool Grand Theatre, with special guest star Mark Wynter.

TV favourite in political thriller

12 May 2022

TV favourite Jeremy Edwards plays popular politician Peter George in the world première of the fast-moving English thriller Dead Lies at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre.

Bunny on loose in Liverpool

12 May 2022

Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre Studio stages Hey Bunny Get Loose, a new comedy about relationships, reflection and rabbits.

Right back at Play That Goes Wrong

8 May 2022

The original cast of The Play That Goes Wrong are reprising their roles for two weeks as part of the production’s current UK tour.

Emergence back at Waterside

8 May 2022

Emergence returns to Waterside in Sale with a mixed bill of dance.

Lizard Boy debut in Manchester & Edinburgh

8 May 2022

Lizard Boy, a new indie rock musical from the US, makes its UK debut at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Oldham legend for The Forgotten

8 May 2022

Dare to Know Theatre's new show The Forgotten, starring Oldham legend Jeff Longmore, starts its short run at the town's Coliseum Theatre.

Unity's online offer

8 May 2022

Unity Online is a new on-demand streaming platform for all of Unity's film content and online programme at the Liverpool venue.

Rose re-born in Manchester & London

8 May 2022

Rose, starring Dame Maureen Lipman, is live on stage at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester and Park Theatre in London this year.

Strictly reunited in Salford

8 May 2022

Two of BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s professional dancers reunite in Salford June 26.

Triple treat from Rambert

8 May 2022

Rambert returns to The Lowry May 25–27 with three contrasting short pieces.

Book Thief musical for Bolton

8 May 2022

The world première of a musical leads the new season at the Octagon in Bolton.

Frank and fearless at Grand

8 May 2022

Some Mother’s Do ‘Ave ‘Em at Blackpool Grand Theatre this week stars Joe Pasquale.

Hound of the Baskervilles overhaul to stream

5 May 2022

Digital Theatre is to stream Original Theatre’s comedy The Hound of the Baskervilles, Lotte Wakeham’s “overhaul” of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated adventure.

Blackpool feels the Burn

1 May 2022

The original Broadway production of Jason Gilkison’s Burn The Floor is being recreated for a limited tour heading to Blackpool Opera House July 21.

Lancaster dance collaboration

1 May 2022

Lancaster's LPM Dance has teamed up with one of the most renowned dance companies in a unique international collaboration.

Cabaret spot plans West End show

1 May 2022

Blackpool’s Viva Showroom celebrates its 10th anniversary with brand new shows, including its first-ever West End musical.

Kaspar the Enigma

1 May 2022

The Enigma Of Kaspar Hauser is brought to the stage at The Lowry May 20–21.

Oh Mother, I'm HOME!

1 May 2022

RashDash’s new show Oh Mother is at HOME Manchester.

Ladyfriends—and opportunities—at 53two

1 May 2022

Ladyfriends is a new LGBTQ+ show coming to Manchester’s 53two venue May 3–4.

High Jinkx at Contact!

1 May 2022

Drag Race star Jinkx Monsoon and Major Scales bring their brand-new work to Contact in Manchester.

Family and fun at the Epstein

1 May 2022

Family friendly shows are amongst the entertainment at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre this May.

Georgia is new associate director

1 May 2022

Bolton Octagon Theatre has announced Georgia Murphy as associate director.

Drama in St Helens

1 May 2022

Drama is on the bill at St Helens Theatre Royal during May.

Gary Barlow with new dates

1 May 2022

Gary Barlow has a host of new dates for A Different Stage.

More Gerry-built comedy!

1 May 2022

Gerry Linford is back with a new comedy at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre, Macca and Beth.

Yasmin gets Patricia Ready

1 May 2022

Yasmin Dawes stars in Patricia Gets Ready (for a date with the man that used to hit her) on a UK tour.

Home to Hope Street

1 May 2022

Home, again, at Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool May 8 is set in October 1945.

Peaceful return to Grand

1 May 2022

Epic drama Private Peaceful marches back to The Grand in Blackpool.

Christina rises to the challenge

30 April 2022

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is coming to The Lowry in Salford.

Ursula dives into her past

30 April 2022

Fat Rascal Theatre and Wildpark Entertainment stage parody musical Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch.

Animal life for students

21 April 2022

Blackpool’s Grand Theatre has been commissioned by Children’s Theatre Partnership to develop and lead a national creative learning programme linked to George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

Rap rebellion for Waterside

21 April 2022

Rap storyteller Jack Dean brings his show Jeremiah to Waterside in Sale, Greater Manchester.

Staves add music to Blood Harmony

20 April 2022

Indie folk trio The Staves has written music for new theatrical production Blood Harmony.

Crossing continents to Contact

20 April 2022

At Contact in Manchester, Between Tiny Cities, follows a dance exchange between Darwin’s D*City Rockers and Cambodia’s Tiny Toones programme.

Lynne, from Ladette to Laundrette

20 April 2022

A one-woman show by playwright Mark Davies Markham is returning to the Liverpool stage.

Monkey's Merseyside tour

20 April 2022

A popular children’s book which teaches youngsters to love themselves, has been turned into a live musical.

Beautiful back in Blackpool

20 April 2022

Beautiful—The Carole King Musical returns to Blackpool.

Casanova returns to Lowry

20 April 2022

Northern Ballet brings history’s most notorious lover back to Salford with its sensual ballet Casanova.

Martin heralds piano week

17 April 2022

Ribble Valley International Piano Week heralds the return of the event with Martin Roscoe’s Live Launch at Westholme School, Blackburn.

Lancaster's got talent

17 April 2022

America’s Got Talent winner Paul Zerdin brings his ventriloquist skills to Lancaster Grand Theatre.

Ockham's outdoor Razor

17 April 2022

Circus company Ockham’s Razor takes its new outdoor performance Public to the outdoors at The Lowry in Salford.

Robin direct to Manchester

17 April 2022

Robin Hawkes has begun his new role as theatre director for ATG’s Palace Theatre and Opera House in Manchester.

Big reveal at Unity

17 April 2022

Unity in Liverpool has announced a June to December season and also reveal its 21 successful Open Call artists.

Monster hit makes Contact

17 April 2022

Frankenstein: How To Make A Monster is at Contact Manchester May 10–14.

East meets Wigan, in Bolton

17 April 2022

Habibti Driver, a new ‘East meets Wigan’ comedy, opens at the Octagon Theatre next week, in the latest instalment of their spring line-up.

A Grand new podcast

17 April 2022

Blackpool Grand Theatre is on the digital airwaves with a new podcast.

Beryl back on her bike

17 April 2022

When actress Maxine Peake was given cyclist Beryl Burton’s autobiography, she questioned why no one had written a play about her.

Comedy for Ukraine

17 April 2022

Comedians John Thomson and Justin Moorhouse stage an Easter Comedy Eggstravaganza for Ukraine at Manchester O2 Apollo.

Liverpool all at sea

17 April 2022

Headlong and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse have cast Corrina, Corrina, a new play by Liverpool-based playwright Chloe Moss.

One Man hit for Bolton

17 April 2022

The Octagon’s spring / summer 2022 season in Bolton closes with hit comedy One Man Two Guvnors.

Hitting the Heights at Lowry

17 April 2022

Emma Rice's Wuthering Heights tours to The Lowry in Salford.

Corrie crew turn up for Kin

17 April 2022

Kin is a new play by Lancaster-based actor Christine Mackie.

Dance towards your future

17 April 2022

The Lowry Centre for Advanced Training in Dance has announced dates for its next two open days.

Jungle park for Lancaster

17 April 2022

The Dukes’ outdoor walkabout theatre season returns to Lancaster’s Williamson Park this summer.

Snatched in Salford

17 April 2022

The Lowry plays host to a world première of Melissa Johns's debut play Snatched.

Pride is back in Trafford

17 April 2022

Trafford’s five-day annual exploration and celebration of LGBTQ+ arts is back.

Court in the acts

17 April 2022

Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre Studio has a line-up of shows ranging from one-nighters to others running 10 days.

North West theatre in 2021

31 December 2021

David Chadderton summarises a mixed year in North West theatre as theatres have opened with both the work we loved before the pandemic and new innovations.

Ring in the new…

4 December 2021

Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre announces the 2022 season; David Cunningham was at the launch.

We’re all in this together

14 November 2021

A reviewer looks at the complexities arising from expecting artists to be socially responsible and decides to run away.

Manchester theatre mourns passing of Chris Honer

12 November 2021

The charming and much-admired Chris Honer, artistic director of Manchester’s Library Theatre from 1987–2014, died last week.

Walking ‘The Walk’: Taking part in 'When the Birds Land'

3 November 2021

A reviewer takes part in the climax of an event to raise awareness of challenges facing refugees by welcoming Little Amal to Manchester.

Exchange disrupts its building's history

22 October 2021

David Cunningham attends the launch of the Royal Exchange Theatre's Disrvpt programme, looking at whether associations with the slave trade in the 18th century via cotton traders are putting off audiences today.

Not Drowning but Waving—Dancing in ‘Sea Change’

3 July 2021

After a lengthy rehearsal period, a reviewer has the chance to dance in Sea Change—the opening ceremony of the 2021 Manchester International Festival.

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.