Lizzie The Musical at Hope Mill

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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Lizzie The Musical

Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
1-30 September 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Lizzie at Hope Mill Theatre. Image courtesy of Pamela Raith.
Image courtesy of Pamela Raith.
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Hope Mill Theatre brings a fresh and thrilling new production of Lizzie The Musical to the stage. The true crime punk rock musical will premiere in Manchester in autumn 2023 before heading off on a short UK tour.

Lizzie The Musical tells the true story of Lizzie Borden, who was accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe in the late summer of 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Appealing to fans of true crime, horror and musical theatre, the production explores the life and motivations of Lizzie Borden. Delving into her complex character and her experiences of sexual abuse, loss of inheritance, oppression and madness, the infamous story is brought to life by a talented cast of four performers and an all-female band.

Lizzie The Musical was first performed at the Living Theatre, New York in 2009, before the Danish production played at the Greenwich Theatre, London in 2017. To date, Lizzie has swung her axe in over 60 cities, in six countries, in five languages, across four continents and has won dozens of awards including eight Best Musical Awards. Most importantly, this 2023 revival will be the first UK-created version of the musical and its first UK tour.

Directed by William Whelton, the phenomenal cast is headed up by Lauren Drew (Six The Musical, Legally Blonde) as Lizzie; Maiya Quansah-Breed (Six The Musical, Rent) as neighbour, Alice; Shekinah McFarlane (Six The Musical, Parade) as Lizzie’s older sister Emma and Mairi Barclay (Pippin, Mother Goose) as maid Bridget. The cast is completed by Ayesha Patel and Emma Louise Hoey as understudies.

Of the show, director William Whelton told us, “As a massive true crime fan myself this musical is the perfect way to explore this infamous story with the added extra of an incredible punk rock score. The retelling of this story is with an incredibly talented all-female cast and on stage all-female rock band, but the real heart of this show is how it explores the power, resilience and strength of women and their relationships.”

Where to go near Lizzie The Musical at Hope Mill

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Le Social Wine Bar

Le Social is a stylish wine bar and tasting room, focusing on exhibitions by local artists as well as natural wines, deli boards and continental plates.

Manchester
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Flawd

Flawd is a neighbourhood wine bar based in Ancoats, from the team behind the wonderful Higher Ground dining experience.

Ancoats
Bar or Pub
Finders Keepers

Welcoming waterside bar in New Islington Marina, serving a wide array of carefully-curated cocktails.

Pollen Bakery
Manchester
Restaurant
Pollen Bakery

Popular bakery in the Ancoats and New Islington area, specialising in sourdough bread and viennoiserie baked goods.

Cask Ancoats
Manchester
Cask Ancoats

Cask in Ancoats opened in November 2018, it is the flashy sister bar to Cask on Liverpool Road.

Ancoats
Café or Coffee Shop
Companio Bakery

Started by artisan baker Russell Goodwin, Companio Bakery sells freshly-baked bread from a small unit in Manchester’s Ancoats.

Stacks of croissants
Ancoats
Café or Coffee Shop
Café Cotton

This café in Ancoats is locally famed for its lunchtime deals and sandwiches

Track Brewing Co Taproom
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Maray x Track

Ahead of its upcoming Manchester launch, acclaimed Liverpool restaurant Maray has teamed up with Track Brewing Co Taproom.

Alcohol Delivery in Manchester
Manchester
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Cloudwater Brew Co

Cloudwater is a world-renowned brewery in Manchester. Set up in 2014 by Paul Jones and James Campbell, they’re a shining example of the best of modern British beer-makers.

Manchester
Restaurant
Erst

Perfectly-formed, eye-catching small plates with a focus on environmentally-friendly practices.

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