MTA get-together celebrates Manchester Theatre
Manchester Theatre Awards is to host a get-together of the winners and nominees from the 2011 awards plus others involved in the creation of theatre in Greater Manchester.
> Independent informed reviews by the region’s most experienced critics
What's on
Carousel takes its turn
The region has certainly not suffered for want of major musical productions this year, and now along comes a brand new performance of the one often rated as the stage musical of all time
Toxic Bankers at the Lowry
A new musical comedy at The Lowry next Thursday to Saturday pulls no punches in blowing the lid on the murky workings of the City’s square mile
Second helping of Spamalot
Monty Python’s Spamalot returns to Manchester Opera House next week following its hugely successful first national tour Marcus Brigstocke returns as Arthur, King of the Britons; Todd Carty is back as Patsy; and Bonnie Langford joins as Lady of The Lake
Tender Napalm falls on Exchange
One of the most acclaimed plays of 2011 comes to The Studio at the Royal Exchange in Manchester from Wednesday to Saturday
Tiddler tales on the quayside
The brand new stage adaptation of the bestselling books by Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson, with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, comes to The Lowry in Salford from Thursday to Sunday at child-friendly times
Bath night for Norwegian trio
The haunting sound of Trio Mediaeval’s voices join with Arve Henriksen’s hushed trumpet and live electronics to perform music ancient and modern in the unique acoustics and setting of Manchester’s Victoria Baths on Tuesday night
AfterWords in the afterlife
Award-winning theatre production company Organised Chaos Productions debut AfterWords, a new piece of writing from the award-winning Michael Hart, at the Joshua Brooks pub in Manchester this week
When the Fan goes Wilde
A major revival of Oscar Wilde’s classic Lady Windermere’s Fan opened at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre this week
Bringing down the curtain
Following on from their hit trilogy of soldiers’ stories, including the award-winning God Wept And The Devil Laughed, Come As You Arts Northwest returns to the Lowry in Salford this week with the world premiere of a first play in a new series about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances
Manchester's musical collage
Never mind there’s no Glastonbury this year, because 16 acts, including artists who have played Glasto and other major festivals, will take part in this year’s Cultural Collage World Music Festival which runs to May 20 in Manchester
DV8 from the script
Following their critically-acclaimed international tour, award-winning UK dance company DV8 come to The Lowry in Salford on Friday and Saturday with their brand new piece Can We Talk About This? which examines freedom of speech, multiculturalism and Islam
Revisiting the coalface
Alan Plater’s play Close the Coalhouse Door, at the Lowry in Salford this week is a memorial production following the writer’s death in 2010
Sharing with the audience
A new way of making theatre is being rolled out across three regional venues over the next few weeks
Lynda's Phoenix rises
Coronation Street legend Pat Phoenix is celebrated in a new play The Queen of the North at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton until May 26
First bite for Manchester
Vampirette, a new blood-curdling musical comedy, premieres at Manchester Opera House
Steve acts Dumb
Steve Huison joins the cast of Oldham Coliseum Theatre’s production of Dumb Show at the Grange Arts Centre in June
Another ghost in the house
Phantom of the Opera returns to Manchester, starring John Owen-Jones in the title role and Katie Hall as Christine
9 to 5: another first for city
Manchester gets it first again in October when 9 to 5: The Musical has its UK premiere in the city
Dandy Dick takes to the highway
A new production of a 19th Century “rarely seen treasure’ – Dandy Dick – is heading to the Opera House Manchester this summer, starring Patricia Hodge and Nicholas Le Provost
Buxton Festival Fringe
Buxton Festival Fringe organisers have already received more than 60 entries for this summer’s festival, covering everything from theatre to art and music to comedy
Latest reviews
How I Helped End Communism
Justin MacGregor
Come As You Arts Northwest at
Lowry Studio
(reviewer: Philip Radcliffe)
After Words
Michael Hart
Organised Chaos Productions at
Joshua Brooks 106 Princess St. Manchester M1 6NG
(reviewer: Diana Stenson)
Close The Coalhouse Door
Alan Plater, with additional material by Lee Hall
Northern Stage & Live Theatre at
The Lowry
(reviewer: Alan Hulme)
Lyric Pieces/Pineapple Poll
Jessica Lang/John Cranko
Birmingham Royal Ballet at
Buxton Opera House
(reviewer: Philip Radcliffe)
The Pirate Project
Lucy Foster in a co-production with Improbable, in association with Ovalhouse at
Royal Exchange Theatre Studio
(reviewer: Diana Stenson)
Street of Dreams
Trisha Ward and Damon Rochefort
Reckless Entertainment with ITV Studios and SMG Europe at
Manchester Arena
(reviewer: Philip Radcliffe)
Murder On The Nile
Agatha Christie
The Agatha Christie Theatre Company at
The Lowry
(reviewer: Alan Hulme)
Avenue Q
Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx & Jeff Whitty
The Lowry, Salford
(reviewer: David Upton)
Vampirette
Jonathan Choat
Nexus Communications at
Opera House, Manchester
(reviewer: Paul Genty)
The Queen of the North
Ron Rose
Octagon, Bolton
(reviewer: David Upton)
Latest articles
Rollicking Restoration at the Royal Exchange
A rollicking restoration comedy, Imogen Stubbs in a Tennessee Williams classic and a new Christmas show from Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy are among the highlights of the Autumn-Winter 2012/13 season at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre.
David Upton
Changes on the city's fringe
There are comings and goings on the Manchester theatre fringe, while one of the city's stalwart festivals goes from strength to strength.
David Upton
Shades of Gray
The Actors' Touring Company revive Sarah Kane's challenging Crave at the Royal Exchange this week. Artistic Director Ramin Gray explains why touring theatre companies must keep faith with new writing.
Kevin Bourke
High hopes for Library's new play
After last summer’s acclaimed adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Hard Times, in a disused Manchester cotton mill, the city’s Library Theatre are going even further up in the world.
David Upton
Hit The North
Twice MTA-nominated writer Sarah McDonald Hughes helps the Royal Exchange's Truth About Youth programme with a new play, The North. It's not grim.
Kevin Bourke
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