Your Go-To Theatre Blog For Reviews, News, And Insights On West End Shows,
Regional Theatre, Exhibitions, And Family Days Out.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – A Spellbinding Night of Magic at The Lowry After falling in love with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe  at Leeds Playhouse last year, returning to see the production at The Lowry felt like stepping back into something truly special. This beautiful adaptation, directed by Michael Fentiman and originally developed at Leeds Playhouse, has enjoyed a UK tour, a West End run and now continues to captivate audiences with its rich storytelli

Freaky Friday at HOME Manchester – A Joyous, Heart-Filled, Body-Swapping Musical Treat  Freaky Friday  has travelled a long way from Mary Rodgers’ 1972 novel to its various Disney screen adaptations, and this UK premiere marks the story’s latest transformation — now reimagined as a high-energy musical. HOME Manchester hosts this new staging, complete with a contemporary score by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey and direction from Andy Fickman. With such an established creative team

A Christmas Carol at the Octagon Theatre Bolton – A Joy-Filled, Modern Twist on a Timeless Classic There are some stories that feel stitched into the fabric of Christmas, and A Christmas Carol  is one of them. Dickens’ tale of Scrooge, ghosts and second chances has become a festive staple, so seeing how each new stage adaptation reinterprets it is always fascinating. At the Octagon Theatre Bolton, this year’s production arrives as a bright, musical and family-friendly take un

Blood Brothers at The Lowry – A Timeless, Heart-Shattering Classic That Still Hits Like the First Time Blood Brothers  is one of those rare musicals that never seems to lose its grip on audiences — and I’m absolutely one of them. Returning to The Lowry for another UK tour, this beloved Willy Russell masterpiece first debuted in 1983 and went on to enjoy an extraordinary 24-year West End run. I’ve seen it several times over the years, and each visit brings back that same mix o

Miss Saigon Soars in a Thunderous, Soul-Stirring Reimagining Miss Saigon has a very special place in my heart. I first saw it at the Palace Theatre Manchester on its original UK tour when I was just 18 years old. I didn’t want to go—but by the end of the night, I was completely changed. That performance opened the door to my lifelong love of musicals, plays, and live theatre. Returning to the Palace for this brand new reimagining felt like coming full circle, and I’m delighte

Sunny Afternoon The Kinks Musical at the Palace Theatre Manchester – A Bright and Nostalgic Celebration Few bands captured the sound and soul of 1960s Britain quite like The Kinks. With hits such as You Really Got Me , Waterloo Sunset  and Lola , their sharp lyrics and rebellious spirit became the soundtrack to a generation. Written by Joe Penhall and developed alongside The Kinks’ frontman Ray Davies, Sunny Afternoon  brings their story to the stage — from the band’s modest

Young Frankenstein The Musical Brings Electrifying Laughter to Hope Mill Theatre To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre has pulled out all the stops with the regional premiere of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein The Musical . Known for its bold programming and boundary-pushing productions, the theatre’s latest offering is a glorious homage to classic horror, vaudeville comedy, and golden-age musical theatre. Directed and choreographed by Nick Winston,

13 Going On 30 The Musical at Manchester Opera House – A Nostalgic, Feel-Good Hit Full of Sparkle and Heart It’s hard to believe it’s...

SUNRISE, SUNSET, AND A STANDING OVATION – FIDDLER ON THE ROOF SHINES BRIGHT First performed on Broadway in 1964, Fiddler on the Roof...

Oh Boy! Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story Rocks The Lowry Since its debut in 1989, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story  has been delighting...

The Lightning Thief The Percy Jackson Musical - Fun, Fast and Full of Energy (But Missing Its Final Zap) Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson...

MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL – A Confetti-Filled Whirlwind at the Palace Theatre Manchester TheatreFollowing smash-hit runs on Broadway and...

Here & Now The Steps Musical: A Glittering Night of Pop, Camp & Heart Here & Now – The Steps Musical  brings the iconic hits of Steps to...

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – UK Tour Shines Bright at Liverpool Empire Tina: The Tina Turner Musical  first made waves in London’s...

The Diana Mixtape – A Riotous, Glittering Celebration of Princess Diana From the team behind Death Drop  comes something bigger, brasher...

The Addams Family Musical – Creepy, Kooky, and Full of Gothic Fun The Addams Family have been a pop culture favourite for decades,...

High Heels and High Spirits – Kinky Boots The Musical Delivers It’s hard to believe this glitter-soaked, heart-pounding,...

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at The Ambassadors Theatre – A Story for the Ages After enchanting audiences at Southwark Playhouse,...

The Devil Wears Prada  is one of those mid-2000s films that lives rent-free in the minds of fashion lovers and film fans alike. With a...

Hercules The Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane – A Bold and Bombastic Retelling That Doesn’t Quite Go the Distance Disney is no...

Come Fall In Love at Manchester Opera House – A Joyous, Colour-Drenched Celebration of Love and Culture As a lifelong fan of romantic...

Grease The Musical at Blackpool Grand Theatre – A Fresh Spin on a Timeless Classic Grease is the word—and it’s back in Blackpool with a...

& Juliet at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre – A Glittering Pop-Powered Rewrite of the Bard’s Tale Having been there for & Juliet ’s world...

The Rocky Horror Show at The Palace Theatre Manchester – A Wild, Wicked, Wonderful Night Out! Every time The Rocky Horror Show  returns...

Dear Evan Hansen UK Tour at Blackpool Grand Theatre: A Stunning Non-Replica Production That Hits Home After capturing hearts on Broadway...

Hamilton at the Liverpool Empire – A Groundbreaking Musical Masterpiece Since it first hit the stage, Hamilton  has become nothing short...

Heading into A Knight’s Tale: The Musical , I wasn’t sure what to expect. I hadn’t seen the 2001 Columbia Pictures film it’s based on, so...

The world’s most famous nanny has floated into Manchester—and it's a total theatrical treat! Mary Poppins , Disney and Cameron...

Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical  brings the scandalous world of the cult classic 1999 film to the stage, infused with a soundtrack of...

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is one of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s earliest collaborations, first performed in...

Bat Out of Hell first roared onto the stage in Manchester in 2017 before taking the world by storm. I had the opportunity to see it...

David Baddiel may be best known to grown-ups for his sharp stand-up comedy, but he’s also a celebrated children’s author. Now, his...

The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals at the AO Arena in Manchester was a star-studded celebration of all things theatrical, and...

Based on the beloved 1953 film starring Doris Day, Calamity Jane  is a lighthearted musical that brings the Old West to life with classic...

Spend, Spend, Spend  tells the astonishing rags-to-riches-to-rags story of Viv Nicholson, a working-class woman from Castleford who won a...

Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s Little Shop of Horrors  holds a special place in my heart, blending sci-fi, horror, comedy, and rock and...

The Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street  has enchanted audiences for decades, and this season, HOME brought a dazzling new musical...

"Come From Away" is a global phenomenon, celebrated for its deeply moving and profoundly uplifting narrative. Now bringing its magic to...

After the Act , the vibrant 80s-inspired musical from Breach Theatre, boldly tackles the controversial legacy of Section 28, the UK...

Strutting straight into Manchester Opera House with sky-high heels, a glitter-cannon of confidence, and a whole lot of heart, Burlesque...

Here You Come Again  brings Dolly Parton’s infectious spirit and iconic music to the UK stage in a way that is both endearing and...

Having first seen & Juliet  at its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House in 2019, I was struck by its unique, vibrant reimagining...

Play On!  brings a fresh, vibrant twist to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night , transporting the classic tale of mistaken identities and love...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang  is one of those timeless stories that captures the imagination of both young and old. Based on Ian Fleming’s...

Heathers the Musical  has garnered a cult following since its inception, much like the 1989 film it’s based on. With music, lyrics, and a...

"Now That's What I Call a Musical" celebrates the 40th anniversary of the iconic NOW compilation albums. Set in Birmingham, 1989, and...

From fringe roots to global phenomenon, SIX the Musical has rewritten the rule book for what a hit musical looks and sounds like. Toby...

A Chorus Line has captivated audiences since its debut in 1975, showcasing the trials and triumphs of Broadway dancers through their...

"Come From Away" has taken the world by storm with its heartfelt and powerful narrative, and its UK tour at the Lyceum Theatre in...

Hope Mill Theatre offers a delightful peek behind the curtain with Seabright’s production of Alexander S. Bermange’s "I Wish My Life Were...