What’s On

Theatres and venues are packed with top drama, brilliant musicals and some outstanding comedy and music over the next few months. All the venues are working hard to make everyone feel safe and opening their doors wide to welcome you back to enjoy the very best in live entertainment

Drama

An Adventure

Fri 4 – Sat 26 February: Bolton Octagon An Adventure follows the journey of husband and wife Ahmenabad and Jyoti across seven decades and three continents as they navigate political tensions in 1950s Kenya and the turbulence of first generation life in Britain in the 1960s and beyond. This is a witty, charming and moving story of upheaval, progress and revolution.

Private Lives

Tue 15 – Sat 19 February: The Lowry Noël Coward’s gloriously entertaining Private Lives is the inaugural show from The Nigel Havers Theatre Company. Nigel Havers and Patricia Hodge play Elyot and Amanda, who were once married, but now find themselves on honeymoon with their new partners in the same hotel on the French Riviera, admiring the view from adjoining balconies.

Fatal Attraction

Tue 22 – Sat 26 February: Manchester Opera House Based on the classic motion picture, James Dearden’s intoxicating Fatal Attraction brings the definitive movie thriller to the UK stage. Starring Kym Marsh (Hear’Say, Coronation Street, Morning Live) as the iconic Alex Forrest, soap star favourite Oliver Farnworth (Coronation Street) as Dan Gallagher and Footballer’s Wives siren Susie Amy as Beth Gallagher.

Nora : A Doll’s House

Fri 4 March – Sat 2 April: Royal Exchange 1918. 1968. 2018. Three distinct and remarkable women illuminate this cleverly distilled contemporary retelling of Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House across three pivotal decades. Over a century after A Doll’s House shocked audiences with its stark portrayal of female married life, this searing adaptation by award-winning writer Stef Smith is rooted in the women’s rights movement, exploring how tightly bound women still are by social convention, even as the world seemingly opens up.

As You Like It

Tue 8 – Sat 12 March: The Lowry Northern Broadsides take to the road once more with a celebration of the transformative power of love and the natural world, featuring some of Shakespeare’s most vivid characters and memorable poetry. With a cast of 12 northern actors, this brilliant production by Laurie Sansom captures the sheer joy of live performance and the crazy power of love to change the world.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Tue 8 – Sat 12 March: Manchester Opera House Winner of the Olivier Award and Tony Award for Best Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time brings Mark Haddon’s international best-selling novel to thrilling life on stage in a dazzling adaptation by two-time Olivier Award winner Simon Stephens and directed by Olivier and Tony Award winner Marianne Elliott (War Horse, Company).

Kes

Thu 10 March – Sat 2 April: Bolton Octagon Kes is a moving and powerful coming-ofage story based on the much-loved book and film and is adapted by Robert Alan Evans in this uplifting and fiercely warm stage production.

Animal Farm

Tue 22 – Sat 26 March: The Lowry This brand-new production of Animal Farm is directed by Robert Icke, whose version of 1984 (co-adapted and directed with Duncan Macmillan) was a smash hit in the West End and on Broadway. This imaginative and bold adaptation features puppetry by Toby Olié (whose credits include War Horse, Running Wild and Goodnight Mister Tom) and is designed by four-time Olivier Award winner Bunny Christie.

Musicals

9 to 5 the Musical

Tue 1 – Sat 5 March: Palace Theatre Dolly Parton’s smash-hit musical has a rip-roaring score from the Queen of Country herself. 9 to 5 the Musical tells the story of three workmates pushed to boiling point by their sexist and egotistical boss. The women concoct a plan to kidnap and turn the tables on their despicable supervisor with hilarious consequences. This fabulous new production is about teaming up, standing up and taking care of business!

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Tue 15 – Sat 19 March: The Lowry Enter a world of magic and fantasy as Disney’s classic movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks comes to life as an exciting new stage musical. With original songs by the legendary Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ), including Portobello Road, The Age of Not Believing, and The Beautiful Briny.

Les Misérables

Tue 29 March – Sat 23 April: The Lowry Hold onto your hats! One of the world’s most famous, most fabulous and well-loved musicals arrives in Salford this month! Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical Les Misérables has the most magnificent score, including I Dreamed

a Dream, On My Own, Bring Him Home, One Day More, Master of the House and many more. Get a ticket – you won’t regret it!

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Thu 31 March – Sat 4 June: The Lowry Speaking of well-loved musicals, here’s another one! Beauty and the Beast first debuted on Broadway 26 years ago and has now been reimagined using some of the latest theatrical innovations. We are promised that this ‘tale as old as time’ will be brought to life like never before!

Family

The Smartest Giant in Town

Mon 14 – Sat 19 February: The Lowry This heart-warming tale about friendship and helping those in need is brought to life in a musical, puppet-filled adventure, following on from Little Angel Theatre’s bestselling adaptations of Julia Donaldson’s picture books, including The Singing Mermaid and The Everywhere Bear.

Tweedy’s Lost Property

Sat 26 February: The Lowry No matter what he does, Tweedy seems to get into a mess but, to the delight of audiences of all ages, he can always find a creative way to get out of it. Tweedy will never get too big for his pants, his pants will always be too big for him. A one-man family show.

Dance

Anton & Erin

Sun 20 February Bridgewater Hall Join the nation’s favourite ballroom couple on their brand new tour for 2022. SHOWTIME is a glittering celebration that pays tribute to some of the world’s greatest icons of entertainment as Anton & Erin present world-class dance inspired by an array of classic performers.

Acosta Danza: 100% Cuban

Tue 22 – Wed 23 February: The Lowry International ballet superstar Carlos Acosta’s critically acclaimed Cuban company Acosta Danza has gained an unrivaled reputation for creating work that combines both classical and contemporary genres effortlessly, infused with Cuba’s rich musical and dance influences. The company returns with a programme of new and existing exceptional works.

Music

RUSH A Joyous Jamaican Journey

Wed 2 March: The Lowry RUSH tells the story of reggae music and the Windrush generation and how this music took the world by storm. Narrated by comedian John Simmit and featuring ska, rocksteady, calypso, gospel, lovers rock, dancehall and reggae played live by the JA Reggae Band.

Marc Almond In Concert: Chaos and the Hits

Mon 4 April: Bridgewater Hall Marc will be singing songs from his last top 20 album, Chaos and a Dancing Star, plus many favourites from his extensive catalogue and his greatest hits.

Craig David

Sun 23 April: Manchester AO Arena Craig David is back with the Hold That Thought tour and is heading to the Manchester Arena.

Comedy

Chris Ramsey

Fri 18 February: Stockport Plaza Critically acclaimed comedian Chris Ramsey is hitting the road for his biggest stand-up tour yet.

Henning Wehn

Fri 25 February: The Lowry ‘German Comedy Ambassador’ Henning Wehn is back on tour and you can be sure he will give everything a good rinse and ring sense out of the nonsensical. Henning has no agenda, he just happens to be always spot on. It’s a curse.

Opera

Opera North

Wed 9 – Sat 12 March: The Lowry Opera North return to The Lowry with Verdi’s dramatic masterpiece Rigoletto, a bewitching tale of deception and seduction in Alcina and the return of their wonderful new production of Carmen. For show dates and times check thelowry.com/opera

Exhibitions & Events

Manchester Open Exhibition

Mon 24 January – Sun 27 March: HOME A biennial celebration of creativity with HOME’s gallery walls filled with work from 400+ Greater Manchester residents, selected by a panel consisting of art experts and community representatives.