What’s On

Spring is here and as more people venture outdoors and into theatres and concert halls, our venues are staging some brilliant, heart-warming and uplifting productions. Step outside, buy a ticket and see some amazing musicals, fabulous family shows and outstanding world-class drama right on your doorstep

Musicals

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Palace Theatre: 31 March – 4 June Disney first debuted Beauty and the Beast on Broadway 26 years ago. This magical musical returns to the stage with members of the original creative team reuniting on this new production, which features all of the spellbinding music and lyrics of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Don’t miss this beautiful ‘tale as old as time’.

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World

The Lowry: 5-9 April This empowering new stage show will be celebrated by anyone who is prepared to move and be moved and features characters and songs that pack a real popstar punch!

The world premiere of a brand-new kickasspirational pop musical bursts into life on stage as the Fantastically Great Women step forward to tell their stories. Join our inquisitive heroine Jade as she breaks away from her class to take a peek behind the scenes at the not-yet-open Gallery of Greatness in the local museum. From explorers, artists and scientists to secret agents, hear the stories of some of history’s strongest mothers, sisters and daughters; all independent icons who really did change the world.

The Addams Family

Opera House: 19-23 April Everyone's favourite kooky family are back on stage in this spectacular musical comedy from the writers of multi-awardwinning hit musical Jersey Boys. Starring Strictly Come Dancing’s Joanne Clifton as Morticia, it also features a live orchestra and a terrific original score.

Passion

Hope Mill Theatre: 5 May – 5 June Olivier Award winner and musical theatre icon Ruthie Henshall stars in a reimagining of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s multi-award-winning Passion, a ravishing and exciting look at the lengths people will go to for desire. Directed by Michael Strassen, this dynamic revival re-energises a tale of love, sex and obsession.

Singin’ in the Rain

Opera House: 9-14 May Song and dance legend Adam Cooper stars as Don Lockwood in this critically acclaimed production featuring highenergy choreography and sumptuous set design, which includes over 14,000 litres of water on stage every night! This glorious production retains all the charm, romance and wit of one of the world’s best-loved films and includes songs such as Good Morning, Make ‘Em Laugh, Moses Supposes and, of course, the legendary Singin’ in the Rain.

The Cher Show

Opera House: 17-21 May The Cher Show tells the incredible story of Cher’s meteoric rise to fame, flying in the face of convention at every turn. This fabulous new production features no less than three West End stars – Millie O’Connell, Danielle Steers and Debbie Kurup – and is a dazzling glitter-fest sparkling with Cher’s signature wit and style. Hits include If I Could Turn Back Time, Strong Enough, Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves and I Got You Babe.

Family

The Jungle Book

Oldham Coliseum: 7-24 April Packed with memorable characters, original songs, humour and brilliant storytelling, this modern musical reworking of Rudyard Kipling’s famous story is the perfect Easter treat.

The Smeds and the Smoos

The Lowry: 12-16 April Soar into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. On a far off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So, when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back? Music, laughs and interplanetary adventures for everyone aged 3+.

Oh No, George!

The Lowry: Sun 17 April | 1.30pm & 3.30pm Oh No, George! is the delightfully playful tale of a dog who wants to be good but just can’t resist temptation. Adapted from the award-winning picture book by Chris Haughton, this brand-new show uses acrobatics, slapstick comedy, Sign Supported English and live music to bring George’s joyful escapades to life. Age 3+.

Drama

Habibti Driver

Bolton Octagon: 21 April – 7 May Based on co-writer Shamia Chalabi’s real-life experiences, this heart-warming new play will make you laugh and cry as it explores the clashes, compromises and comedy that come with living in a mixed culture family in today’s Britain.

Electric Rosary

Royal Exchange: 23 April – 14 May Bruntwood Prize Judges’ Award winner Tim Foley’s new play is sharp, timely and gloriously funny and brings nuns and robots together on the Royal Exchange stage for the first time. Electric Rosary asks what faith really means in the age of artificial intelligence and what it is to be human in tomorrow’s world.

Wuthering Heights

The Lowry: 3-7 May Rescued from the Liverpool docks as a child, Heathcliff is adopted by the Earnshaws and taken to live at Wuthering Heights. He finds a kindred spirit in Catherine Earnshaw and a fierce love ignites. When forced apart, a brutal chain of events is unleashed. Shot through with music, dance, passion and hope, Emma Rice transforms Emily Brontë’s masterpiece into a powerful and uniquely theatrical experience.

Lucy McCormick leads the company of performers and musicians in this intoxicating revenge tragedy for our time. Age 12+.

One Man, Two Guvnors

Bolton Octagon: 26 May – 25 June This is without doubt the funniest play I have ever had the joy of seeing on stage. It is fast, hilarious and joyous. You don’t need to know anything about the plot –just know that it will make you laugh out loud, a lot! Buy a ticket – you won’t regret it.

Red Velvet

Royal Exchange: 27 May – 25 June Red Velvet is a sharp and thoughtprovoking play based on the true story of groundbreaking African American actor Ira Aldridge who, in 1833, became the first black actor in a leading role on the London stage. In this powerful play, Lolita Chakrabarti explores the far-reaching social repercussions of Aldridge’s infamous performance, a seminal moment in theatrical and social history. Directed by Roy Alexander Weise, this new in-the-round production gives an added intensity to this powerful play.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice

The Lowry: 6-11 June Jim Cartwright’s timeless and iconic tale explores the highs and the lows of smalltown dreams, family rivalry and finding your voice in a noisy world. Starring TV favorite Shobna Gulati, British soap royalty Ian Kelsey and ‘the girl of a thousand voices’ and two-time Drama Desk Award nominee Christina Bianco as Little Voice. This life-affirming show has humour, heart and countless powerhouse ballads – all performed live on stage – and features music from Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Billie Holiday and many more.

Comedy & Spoken Word

Luke Wright

The Edge: 21 April | 7.30pm This is an all-new show from the winner of the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Performance 2021 – deliciously funny poems set against a backdrop of pandemic politics, ageing parents and the endless culture war.

Craig Revel Horwood

The Lowry: Sun 8 May | 7.30pm The star of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing is taking to the road with his debut solo tour! Join Craig as he talks about his life from Australia to the West End to Strictly, revealing a wealth of backstage gossip with his trademark wit and candour and giving a very special performance of some of the music which has been the soundtrack to his career.

Alan Partridge

AO Arena: 13 & 14 May Steve Coogan stars as the esteemed broadcaster and journalist in his first UK tour; bringing fans face to face with their hero (albeit with heavy security in between…)

Dance

Between Tiny Cities

Contact: 10-12 May Choreographed by internationally renowned Sydney hip-hop dance artist Nick Power and featuring dancers Erak Mith from Phnom Penh and Aaron Lim from Darwin, Between Tiny Cities uses the rituals, movement styles and language of their shared hip-hop culture to reveal the dramatically different worlds that surround them and uncover the choreographic links that unite them.

Northern Ballet – Casanova

The Lowry; 18-21 May Consumed by his desires, Casanova lived every minute in a whirlwind of scandal and decadence. But behind the mask, there was more to the man. Casanova takes you inside the heart and mind of one of the most notorious figures in history, exposing a story so sensational, you won’t believe it’s real.

With a cinematic score played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia and opulent sets and costumes, Kenneth Tindall’s Casanova will flood your senses and take your breath away.