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Guides
What's on
Where to go
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Manchester’s season of Shakespeare

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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Manchester's Season of Shakespeare

10 September-19 October 2019

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

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RSC: The Taming of the Shrew at The Lowry
Image courtesy of Ikin Yum Photography.
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Shakespeare retellings and adaptations are popping up all over Manchester this autumn. We’ve got a musical take on the ‘star-crossed lovers’, a trio of outstanding performances from the Royal Shakespeare Company and a critically acclaimed production of Macbeth at the Royal Exchange.

& Juliet is a brand new contemporary musical that remixes the story of Romeo and Juliet. Less Romeo and more Juliet. Fresh, fast and with all of your favourite pop anthems, it imagines how Juliet’s life may have panned out if she hadn’t reached for the dagger. Glittering and fabulous.

In a satisfying contrast, Lucy Ellinson takes on the iconic role of Macbeth at the Royal Exchange. Directed by Christopher Haydon, this is an action-packed contemporary version of the bloodthirsty tragedy. With great reviews from the critics and a truly phenomenal cast, this promises to be an unmissable performance.

This season The Lowry will host three of The Bard’s most celebrated plays. Straight from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company will present As You Like It, Measure for Measure and The Taming of the Shrew. Get your Shakespeare fix – this is a brilliant opportunity to see the Royal Shakespeare Company on The Lowry stage.

Where to go near Manchester’s season of Shakespeare

Castlefield
Restaurant
Trading Route

Trading Route serves up time-honoured Sunday grub, in a modern Manchester setting. Worth a visit for the expertly-curated soundtrack alone.

Side view of mixed race business colleagues sitting and watching presentation with audience and clapping hands
Theatre
Burnley Youth Theatre

Burnley Youth Theatre is a vibrant youth arts organisation based at our purpose built venue in Burnley, Pennine Lancashire.

Bar pub 3
Leeds
Restaurant
Arcadia Ale House

Arcadia Ale house is a sports bar located in the Headingly area of Leeds with a range of drinks offers throughout the week.

Restaurant
Leeds
Restaurant
Pasta Romagna

Pasta Romagna is a family owned, independent restaurant in the heart of the city centre. Bringing you homestyle Italian cuisine since 1982.

wine bar 2
Leeds
Restaurant
Farrands

Farrands is an independent bar located in the heart of Leeds city centre, specialising in a range of fine wine, beer and specialist cocktails.

Restaurant
Leeds
Shop
George and Joseph Cheesemongers

George and Joseph is Leeds’ only specialist cheesemongers, serving some of the city’s best cheese from its home in Chapel Allerton since 2013

Wine bar
Leeds
Restaurant
Wayward Wines

Selling natural wines since before it was cool (well, 2017), this tiny suburban wine house is so much more than just a bar.

Beer shop
Leeds
Shop
Caspar’s Bottle Shop

Independent craft beer and spirits den Caspars Bottle Shop is a quirky Chapel Allerton favourite that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Dry Dock
Leeds
Restaurant
Dry Dock

Dry Dock has carved out a reputation as a fixture for students and locals alike over the last thirty plus years

Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Rat & Pigeon

A slice of alternative Manchester in pub form, down a grotty, gritty backstreet and with a disgusting name. What’s not to love?

See all places

What's on: Theatre

A man (Macbeth) stands in a dark studio lit in vivid green light, with vertical neon-green light bars glowing behind him through light fog. He wears a dark suit jacket over an open-collared shirt, one hand in his pocket, and looks directly at the camera with an intense, brooding expression.
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Macbeth at Storyhouse, Chester

For its first Storyhouse Originals production of 2026, the Chester theatre presents a bold new staging of Macbeth, directed and adapted by Jamie Sophia Fletcher.

From £20.00

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