Theatre in Manchester and the North
Kristy Stott, Theatre EditorInteractive circus, arts festivals and new writing, our guide features a show-stopping selection of theatre happening indoors and outside.
Garnering rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, the Royal Exchange Theatre has extended its run of the Oscar Wilde classic, The Importance of Being Earnest. Propelling high farce into the modern age, you can expect to see Wilde’s dandies transformed into social media obsessives. It’s another bold and brilliant take on a classic text from the Royal Exchange, and you’ve got an extra week to catch it.
Theatre festival season is now in full swing too. We’ve got our eyes on Greater Manchester Fringe, running until the end of July, and the Heading North Fringe at Shakespeare North Playhouse, a new two-week festival showcasing work from artists heading to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. Additionally, Waterside’s Refract is back for 2024. Expect six days of heady performance – happening inside and outside, some ticketed and some completely free – including a showcase from illusionist Ben Hart, snappy family shows and global live music.
And with the lighter nights and (slightly) warmer temperatures, performance moves outside. It’s the start of open-air theatre season, and we’ve got our eyes on Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. Always a fantastic programme, this year the team bring an electrifying version of The Gangs of New York, family favourite The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. And if you like the sound of this, do check out our full guide to all the best outdoor theatre happening this summer.
Read on for details of these and so much more.
