Opera North's new production of Mozart's The Magic Flute takes the composer's final opera and brings out the fantastical and often comedic elements of what can at times be a dark story " sev…
Wise Children is the ultimate love letter to theatre. Complete with stars, spotlights, showgirls and Shakespeare " this is a spectacle to behold.
Manchester-based Box of Tricks Theatre Company has spent two years developing SparkPlug with dual heritage writer/performer David Judge.
Billionaire Boy captures the spirit of David Walliams' novel perfectly. There is humour, warmth, disgust, friendship, minor audience participation, a bit of Fortnite and love. And did I ment…
1927's The Animals & Children Took to the Streets is a deliciously dark gem of a show. With a running time of just 70 minutes, you might assume that the action would be rushed. Instead,…
The Band is not just a musical for Take That groupies " it's a musical for anybody who grew up with a boyband. This is a musical which celebrates the music of Take That and so much more besi…
Over 50 years since the release of the original 1967 film starring Rex Harrison, Leslie Bricusse's Doctor Dolittle The Musical receives a major new revival stage revival.
The Christmas musical at the Royal Exchange is fast becoming a Manchester tradition. After a run of hits, The Producers has a lot to live up to, but even so, it surpasses every expectation. …
As ever, JB Shorts has a great reputation and never disappoints. With its host of gripping, 15-minute plays by some of TV's top writers and starring local talent, I would recommend JB Shorts…
With an abundance of laugh out loud moments, Dave Bintley's lively musical score of sing-along chart-toppers, a sterling cast of seasoned performers and a pleasing price-tag " Cinderella at …
Sarah Frankcom steps up to direct Arthur Miller's masterpiece Death of a Salesman and the result is scorchingly brilliant production which shoots straight into the heart of a modern-day audi…
With Everything that happened and would happen, MIF stages another trailblazer event designed to give us a taste of what we can expect from The Factory.
Queen Margaret is an extraordinary production which combines the insight and depth of a Shakespearian history play with contemporary humour and ingenuity.
Laying its cards on the table from the very start, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery is just that " a comedy about a bank robbery. Taking the well-worn but equally well-loved form of a farce, …
The Return of the Soldier is a melancholy musical adaptation of Rebecca West's novel and tells the story of wounded soldier Christopher Baldry's return home.
The National Theatre's War Horse certainly lives up to all of the hype. I'm a hardened theatre critic, aren't I? However, like most of the inspired audience, I was brought to my feet, and to…
As you might expect, Maxine Peake, under Sarah Frankcom's direction, meets the challenges posed by Beckett's Happy Days head-on and gives a perfectly-measured powerhouse performance.
The Lowry's Week 53 festival continues with this new adaptation of Brighton Rock. The festival theme of 'coming of age' seems to have been stretched pretty far in the search for content, but…
Ultimately, #BeMoreMartyn celebrates the life of one extraordinary person who touched the lives of so many people.
Hikikomori is a sonic, visual and theatrical feast " the absolute best of what you want to see when you take a chance on new theatre.
Seven Inch is a fantastic combination of comedy, cartoons, and creativity, and is great for those looking for something uplifting and entertaining throughout. The independent nature of the s…
On the strength of the performances, I cannot help but recommend Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, but be sure to take your patience with you.
This year's JB Shorts is just as unmissable as the last, showcasing some magnificent local talents in an unforgettable evening. When it comes to short plays, JB Shorts has proved once again …
This House performs the miraculous feat of making a play about events which occurred over 40 years ago feel totally contemporary and relevant.
At first, Metta Theatre's Little Mermaid may seem like a simplified interpretation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic, but beneath the surface lies a magical concoction of trapeze, aeria…