REVIEW - MARY POPPINS | PALACE THEATRE MANCHESTER

Mary Poppins poster: Two characters in red and black attire, with a blue silhouette cityscape and dancing figures. Title text: Mary Poppins.

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The world’s most famous nanny has floated into Manchester—and it's a total theatrical treat! Mary Poppins, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s much-loved stage musical, is currently delighting audiences at the Palace Theatre as part of its UK and Ireland tour. Based on the stories by P.L. Travers and the classic 1964 film, this reimagined production first opened in London in 2004, and has since flown across the globe.

This Manchester run is helmed by the original creative team, including the legendary Sir Richard Eyre and co-director/choreographer Matthew Bourne, and features dazzling choreography, stagecraft, and heart by the bucketload.

A woman in a dark coat with a hat holds an umbrella and bag on stage. Two others watch, one in a maid outfit. A warm-lit vintage room.

The Banks family are struggling. George is buried in work, Winifred feels lost in her role as wife and mother, and Jane and Michael are... well, a handful. But then Mary Poppins arrives—blown in on the east wind with her talking umbrella and bottomless carpet bag—and suddenly life at Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane starts to change in magical, mysterious, and deeply meaningful ways.

The plot loosely follows the events of the original film, but with a few tweaks and surprises that keep even long-time fans on their toes. It's a beautifully paced story about love, imagination, and seeing the world through children's eyes.

A woman in a white apron holds brooms, flanked by a boy and girl, in a vintage kitchen. Warm lighting, vintage decor, and brick walls.

It’s hard to describe the staging of Mary Poppins without sounding like we’ve been into the sugar bowl—but it really is practically perfect in every way. The Cherry Tree Lane house is a storybook marvel, unfolding and transforming like a doll’s house full of secrets.

From star-sprinkled skies to upside-down kitchens, and one very unexpected rooftop moment (no spoilers!), the production makes full use of modern magic to transport us into Mary’s whimsical world. The costumes are a colourful homage to Edwardian London, with that signature Disney sparkle, and the orchestra brings the Sherman brothers’ classic score—and new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe—to vibrant life.

"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is an absolute showstopper, as is “Step in Time,” which had the whole theatre buzzing. Honestly, it was impossible not to smile.

Four people in colorful costumes sit on a rooftop, smiling against a painted cityscape backdrop. The atmosphere is whimsical and joyful.

Stefanie Jones is a wondrous Mary Poppins—serene, firm, twinkly-eyed and pitch-perfect. She has a warmth that radiates across the stage, and her vocals are heavenly. Jack Chambers as Bert is a charismatic delight, lighting up the room with every tap and twirl—he’s cheeky, charming, and completely at ease with the show’s physical demands (including a gravity-defying highlight that made the audience gasp!).

Jane and Michael Banks, played by Olaya Martinez Cambon and Oscar McCullough on the night I attended, were brilliantly cast—energetic, believable, and full of the spirited mischief that keeps Mary on her toes.

The ensemble deserve huge applause too, switching between roles and dance styles effortlessly, and injecting every moment with joyful energy.

Performers in colorful costumes pose joyfully on stage under a large umbrella, set against a starry backdrop with glowing lights.

As Mary Poppins took flight over the audience, I couldn’t help but think: Why on earth didn’t I bring Alice and Leo? They would have been utterly enchanted—from the chimney sweeps to the toybox ballet, this is exactly the kind of show that sparks a lifelong love of theatre.

Whether you’re reliving childhood memories or introducing the magic to the next generation, this production is a dazzling, big-hearted reminder that anything can happen if you let it.

A five-star spectacle that soars above the rooftops of Manchester catch it while you can, before the wind changes!

Mary Poppins is at the Palace Theatre Manchester until Saturday 17th May 2025. Tickets are available for purchase through the link provided below.

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If you would like more information about the show, please click the button below to visit the show's official website.

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Photo Credit - Danny Kaan