Theatre in Manchester and the North

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

A true crime rock musical, contemporary dance and punchy new writing feature in this month’s eclectic pick of live theatre.

Dance lovers rejoice. South Korean choreographer Eun-Me Ahn stops at The Lowry with Dragons, an explosive and futuristic dance show and the ever-brilliant Rambert bring Ben Duke’s Death Trap, a terrific double-bill of movement to York Theatre Royal. Meanwhile, the English National Ballet return to the Palace Theatre with Akram Khan’s Giselle this October too.

We’re also championing the Edinburgh Fringe hits: the fast and funny Die hard-themed Yippee Ki Yay at the Lawrence Batley Theatre and the acclaimed musical-comedy Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder at HOME.

There’s lots more too – read on for details on the next Women in Comedy Festival, a new edition of Synagogue Nights at Manchester Jewish Museum and the full lowdown on Free Your Mind, the first production to officially open Aviva Studios, home of Factory International.

Our top picks

Lizzie The Musical at Hope Mill

Lizzie The Musical at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester, Until 30 September 2023, from £25.00 - Book now

Ready to swing her axe in Manchester, get ready for a fresh and thrilling retelling of Lizzie The Musical this September.

Lizzie at Hope Mill Theatre. Image courtesy of Pamela Raith.
Image courtesy of Pamela Raith.

Cuckoo at Liverpool Everyman

Cuckoo at Liverpool Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, Until 23 September 2023, from £11.00 - Book now

A new play by the Olivier-Award winning playwright Michael Wynne heads to Liverpool, getting the theatre’s autumn/winter season off to a flying start.

Cuckoo at Liverpool Everyman
Image courtesy of Manuel Harlan.

The Royal Exchange Theatre Autumn / Winter Season

The Royal Exchange Autumn/ Winter Season at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, Until 14 February 2024, from £10.00 - Book now

Fuelled by some of the most revered love stories, the Royal Exchange’s new Autumn/ Winter Season is absolutely unmissable.

The Royal Exchange Autumn/ Winter Season
Image courtesy of Felicity McCabe.

A View From The Bridge at Octagon Theatre Bolton

A View From The Bridge at Octagon Theatre, Bolton, Until 30 September 2023, from £15.00 - Book now

Simmering and deeply engaging, this is a new production of Miller’s classic drama you won’t want to miss.

A View from the Bridge at Octagon Theatre Bolton
Image courtesy of Octagon Theatre Bolton.

Great Expectations at the Royal Exchange Theatre

Great Expectations at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, Until 7 October 2023, from £10.00 - Book now

Shifting the action to 1903 Bengal, the Royal Exchange and Tamasha Theatre join forces to bring a powerful reworking of the Dickensian classic to the stage.

Great Expectations at the Royal Exchange Theatre
Image courtesy of Felicity McCabe.

Eun-Me Ahn – Dragons at The Lowry

Eun-Me Ahn - Dragons at The Lowry, Manchester, 26–27 September 2023, from £13.00 - Book now

Expect a riot of colour, sound and movement when South Korean choreographer, Eun-Me Ahn brings her latest production to Salford. Read on for a special ticket offer for Creative Tourist readers.

Eun-Me-Ahn - Dragons at The Lowry
Image courtesy of The Lowry.

Yippee Ki Yay at the Lawrence Batley Theatre

Yippee Ki Yay at Lawrence Batley Theatre, West Yorkshire, 27 September 2023, from £19.00 - Book now

Fringe First-winner and London poetry slam champion Richard Marsh takes his fast, funny and utterly absorbing Die Hard-inspired show out on tour.

Image courtesy of Seabright Productions.

Rambert: Death Trap at York Theatre Royal

Rambert's Death Trap at York Theatre Royal, York, 3–4 October 2023, from £15.00 - Book now

The ever-brilliant Rambert bring two “darkly funny” dance works created especially for the company by Ben Duke.

Rambert: Death Trap at York Theatre Royal
Image courtesy of Camilla Greenwell.

Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder at HOME

Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder! at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 5–21 October 2023, from £10.00 - Book now

An acclaimed musical-comedy about two shambolic true-crime podcasters from Hull who find themselves in a whodunnit of their own.

Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder! at HOME
Image courtesy of Mihaela Bodlovic.

Women in Comedy Festival 2023

Women in Comedy Festival 2023 at The Frog and Bucket, Manchester, 6–15 October 2023, from £3.00 - Book now

Described as one of the “UK’s best comedy festivals”, the Women in Comedy Festival MCR returns with its 10th bumper edition of top-notch comedy.

Women in Comedy Festival 2023
Image courtesy of Women in Comedy Festival.

Factory International presents Free Your Mind at Aviva Studios

Factory International presents Free Your Mind at Aviva Studios, Manchester, 13 October–5 November 2023, from £10.00 - Book now

Directed by Danny Boyle, Free Your Mind is a Matrix-themed large-scale performance spectacular and the first production at Manchester’s newest landmark arts venue.

Free Your Mind at Factory International
Free Your Mind at Factory International.

Frantic Assembly: Metamorphosis at Liverpool Playhouse

Frantic Assembly: Metamorphosis at Liverpool Playhouse, Liverpool, 17–21 October 2023, from £11.00 - Book now

Working in collaboration with Lemn Sissay OBE, Frantic Assembly bring a bold theatrical retelling of Kafka’s classic novella to Liverpool.

Frantic Assembly: Metamorphosis at Liverpool Playhouse
Image courtesy of Perou and Paul Reardon at Peter and Paul.

Toxic at HOME

Toxic at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 18–28 October 2023, from £11.00 - Book now

Beautiful, explosive and layered with wit, award-winning writer, actor and HIV activist, Nathaniel J Hall returns to the stage with a brand-new play.

Toxic at HOME
Image courtesy of Lee Baxter.

Beautiful Thing at Leeds Playhouse

Beautiful Thing at Leeds Playhouse, Leeds, 18–28 October 2023, from £15.00 - Book now

One of our favourite plays of all time returns three decades after its debut, and we’re sure it will speak as loudly to audiences today as it did then.

Beautiful Thing at Leeds Playhouse
Image courtesy of Leeds Inspired.

The Book of Will at Shakespeare North Playhouse

The Book of Will at Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot, 19 October–11 November 2023, from £3.00 - Book now

Fast-paced and funny, this award-winning play imagines the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio – the awe-inspiring race to round up Shakespeare’s plays and save them for the ages.

The Book of Will at Shakespeare North Playhouse
Image courteys of Pamela Raith.

English National Ballet: Akram Khan’s Giselle at the Palace Theatre

English National Ballet - Akram Khan's Giselle at Palace Theatre, Manchester, 19–28 October 2023, from £13.00 - Book now

Akram Khan returns with his sensational and sensuous reimagining of one of the most romantic ballets of all time.

English National Ballet - Akram Khan's Giselle at the Palace Theatre
Image courtesy of Laurent Liotardo.

Synagogue Nights 2023 at Manchester Jewish Museum

Synagogue Nights 2023 at Manchester Jewish Museum, Manchester, 22 October–3 December 2023, from £11.00 - Book now

An intimate series of evening events taking place in the atmospheric and beautiful surroundings of Manchester Jewish Museum. Step out and experience something new.

Synagogue Nights at Manchester Jewish Museum
Image courtesy of Manchester Jewish Museum

The Merchant of Venice (1936) at HOME

The Merchant of Venice (1936) at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 28 November–2 December 2023, from £10.00 - Book now

Following a sell-out run in March 2023, this acclaimed production – Tracy-Ann Oberman as Shylock – returns to Manchester this autumn.

The Merchant of Venice (1936) at HOME
Image courtesy of Marc Brenner

Factory International presents Lost and Found at Aviva Studios

Factory International presents Lost and Found at Aviva Studios, Manchester, 13 December 2023–6 January 2024, from £7.50 - Book now

Join the epic journey to the South Pole as a boy tries to take a wandering penguin home. A heart-warming adaptation of Oliver Jeffers’ award-winning children’s story.

Factory International presents Lost and Found at Aviva Studios
Image courtesy of Oliver Jeffers.

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