Theatre in the North

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Happening this month…a feminist farce, a magical circus show and Oldham Coliseum return with a brand-new off-site show. We’ve got a bit of everything in this month’s eclectic theatre guide.

Her Productions present the Noel Coward classic, Blithe Spirit in the intimate setting of Hope Mill Theatre. Fierce, funny and feminist, expect to see Coward’s flamboyant wit dialled up to the max in this sassy Northern production.

Meanwhile, in a similar vein, a wonderful spring season gets underway at the Royal Exchange with two incredible short plays by the legendary playwright Caryl Churchill. Domesticity collides with the apocalyptic in this extraordinary pairing of Escaped Alone and What If If Only. Placing the lives of older women front and centre, this is an unmissable evening of theatre.

Over at Aviva Studios, Factory International present the world premiere of Figures in Extinction, co-created by choreographer Crystal Pite and Complicité theatre director Simon McBurney. As big fans of Complicité’s work, this show has been on our radar for a long time – we’re thrilled Northern audiences are among the first to experience this timely triptych of dance.

In contrast, we’re made up that Oldham Coliseum are back with an original off-site show and everybody’s invited. Head to Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham for The Engagement Party, a lively, celebratory drama that plays out around the audience in a cabaret-style setting.

What else? Lowry continue their awe-inspiring season of contemporary dance; Sue Ryding of LipService Theatre presents Funny Stuff, an intimate, humorous and creative evening examining grief and letting go; Gandini Juggling present their magical new circus show, Heka at Lancaster Arts and the ever-brilliant Motionhouse bring their newest dance-circus spectacle, Hidden to the Lawrence Batley Theatre Huddersfield.

Read on for details of all of this and more.

Our top picks

Contemporary Dance at Lowry

Contemporary Dance at Lowry, Manchester, Until 27 May 2025, from £14.00 - Book now

From compelling solo shows to awe-inspiring ensemble pieces, Lowry bring another unmissable season of contemporary dance.

Emilyn Claid: Untitled at The Lowry
Image courtesy of Dahlia Katz/ The Lowry

PUSH Festival 2025 at HOME

Push Festival 2025 at HOME Manchester, Manchester, Until 8 February 2025 - Book now

A celebration of the North West’s creative talents, PUSH Festival at HOME Manchester is always a highlight of the theatre calendar.

PUSH Festival 2025
Image courtesy of Dibby Theatre.

The Merchant of Venice 1936 at Liverpool Playhouse

The Merchant of Venice 1936 at Liverpool Playhouse, Liverpool, Until 8 February 2025, from £11.00 - Book now

Tracy-Ann Oberman will reprise her role of Shylock in the acclaimed production, The Merchant of Venice 1936 when it tours to Liverpool Playhouse next month.

The Merchant of Venice 1936 at Liverpool Playhouse
Tracy-Ann Oberman stars in The Merchant of Venice 1936. Image courtesy of Marc Brenner and Greta Zabulyte (featuring previous cast).

The Shark is Broken at Lowry

The Shark is Broken at Lowry, Manchester, Until 8 February 2025, from £20.00 - Book now

What better way to mark the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s iconic movie, Jaws, than with a dramatic dive behind the scenes into its creation.

The Shark is Broken at The Lowry
Image courtesy of Helen Maybanks (2021), of previous West End production.

Lives at Lowry

Lives at Lowry, Manchester, 6–7 February 2025, from £14.00 - Book now

See the bold and ambitious debut show from Sixth House, a brand-new home-grown theatre company founded at Lowry in 2024.

Lives at Lowry
Lives at Lowry. Image supplied by Quay Tickets/ The Lowry.

Escaped Alone and What If If Only at the Royal Exchange Theatre

Escaped Alone and What If If Only at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, 7 February–8 March 2025, from £10.00 - Book now

Director Sarah Frankcom returns to the Exchange with two short plays by Caryl Churchill, brought together in one evening of theatre.

Escaped Alone and What If If Only at the Royal Exchange
Campaign Graphics by FeastCreative.com

Her Productions’ Blithe Spirit at Hope Mill Theatre

Her Productions' Blithe Spirit at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester, 12–22 February 2025, from £10.00 - Book now

Noel Coward’s classic farce meets fierce, funny, feminism in Her Productions’ first new show for 2025.

Her Productions' Blithe Spirit at Hope Mill Theatre
Image courtesy of Claire Angel.

Gandini Juggling: Heka at Lancaster Arts

Gandini Juggling: Heka at Lancaster Arts, Lancashire, 12 February 2025, from £12.00 - Book now

Taking its name from the Egyptian goddess of magic, the ever-fabulous Gandini Juggling return to Lancaster Arts with a brand-new show.

Gandini Juggling: Heka at Lancaster Arts
Image courtesy of Camilla Greenwell.

Theatre Ad Infinitum: Last Rites at Lowry

Theatre Ad Infinitum: Last Rites at Lowry, Manchester, 18–19 February 2025, from £16.50 - Book now

The ever-brilliant Ad Infinitum return to Lowry with a groundbreaking solo performance – a story of grief and ritual, told from a Deaf man’s perspective.

Theatre Ad Infinitum: Last Rites at Lowry
Image courtesy of Mihaela Bodlovic/ Ad Infinitum

The Engagement Party at Queen Elizabeth Hall

The Engagement Party at Oldham Coliseum, Manchester, 18–22 February 2025, from £10.00 - Book now

Bringing all the drama, laughter and celebration, we’re thrilled that Oldham Coliseum are back with a specially commissioned off-site show this February.

The Engagement Party - Oldham Coliseum
Image courtesy of Oldham Coliseum

Factory International Spring Season 2025

Factory International Spring Season 2025 at Aviva Studios, Manchester, 28 February–29 May 2025 - Book now

Playable art installations, Shakespearean adaptations, contemporary cabaret, hip hop and live photography, Factory International bring another electrifying Spring Season.

Cycles at Aviva Studios: Boy Blue in dynamic poses, wearing coordinated streetwear outfits, performing against a dark background.
Image courtesy of Camilla Greenwell.

Shirley Valentine at Liverpool Everyman

Shirley Valentine at Liverpool Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, 1–29 March 2025, from £11.00 - Book now

Willy Russell’s one-woman show comes home to Liverpool Everyman, bringing the perfect ending to the theatre’s 60th birthday year.

Shirley Valentine at Liverpool Playhouse
Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse

The Parent Agency at Storyhouse

The Parent Agency at Storyhouse, Cheshire, 15 February–2 March 2025, from £23.50 - Book now

David Baddiel teams up with Dan Gillespie-Sells (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) to bring his best-selling children’s book to the stage.

The Parent Agency at Storyhouse
The Parent Agency at Storyhouse

Figures in Extinction at Aviva Studios

Figures in Extinction at Aviva Studios, Manchester, 19–22 February 2025, from £10.00 - Book now

Two of the most distinctive creators – choreographer Crystal Pite and Complicité’s Simon McBurney – will present a thrilling and timely world premiere at Aviva Studios.

Figures in Extinction at Aviva Studios: A group of dancers, dressed in formal shirts, perform in unison on a dimly lit stage.
Rahi Rezvani

Hidden at Lawrence Batley Theatre

Hidden at Lawrence Batley Theatre at Lawrence Batley Theatre, West Yorkshire, 1 March 2025, from £16.00 - Book now

Inimitable and thrilling, internationally renowned dance-circus troupe Motionhouse head out on tour with another gravity-defying spectacular.

Hidden at the Lawrence Batley Theatre - A dynamic performance by a group of contemporary dancers from Motionhouse, showcasing acrobatic choreography. One dancer is mid-air in a dramatic flip, while others form intricate, intertwined shapes on the ground, reaching upward.
Motionhouse

Funny Stuff at the New Adelphi

Funny Stuff at New Adelphi, University of Salford, Manchester, 13 March 2025, from £3.00 - Book now

Head down to this performance to celebrate the outstanding work of LipService Theatre and help Sue on her journey of letting go.

Funny Stuff at the New Adelphi
LipService Theatre

Handbagged at Lowry

Handbagged at Lowry, Manchester, 18–22 March 2025, from £32.00 - Book now

A fresh and fierce musical revival of Moira Buffini’s Olivier Award-winning fly-on-the-wall show.

Handbagged at Lowry
Handbagged at Lowry. Image courtesy of Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch/ Theatre Nation Partnerships/ National Theatre.

Cycles at Aviva Studios

Cycles at Aviva Studios, Manchester, 21–22 March 2025, from £10.00 - Book now

Exploring the beauty of movement and its euphoric connection to music, the Olivier Award winning hip hop dance company, Boy Blue return with a brand-new show.

Cycles at Aviva Studios
Cycles at Aviva Studios

Dear England at The Lowry

Dear England at Lowry, Manchester, 29 May–29 June 2025 - Book now

Don’t miss James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning, big-hearted, ‘pitch-perfect’ celebration of football when it comes to Salford.

This is England at The Lowry
Image courtesy of Marc Brenner.

Come Fall in Love at Manchester Opera House

Come Fall in Love at Palace Theatre, Manchester, 29 May–21 June 2025, from £15.00 - Book now

A high-octane and vibrant new musical comedy dances into Manchester for its UK premiere later this year.

Come Fall in Love
Image supplied by ATG Tickets

More theatre events

Lives at Lowry
TheatreSalford
Lives at Lowry

See the bold and ambitious debut show from Sixth House, a brand-new home-grown theatre company founded at Lowry in 2024.

from £14.00
The Shark is Broken at The Lowry
Until
TheatreSalford
The Shark is Broken at Lowry

What better way to mark the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s iconic movie, Jaws, than with a dramatic dive behind the scenes into its creation.

from £20.00
Hidden at the Lawrence Batley Theatre - A dynamic performance by a group of contemporary dancers from Motionhouse, showcasing acrobatic choreography. One dancer is mid-air in a dramatic flip, while others form intricate, intertwined shapes on the ground, reaching upward.
DanceHuddersfield
Hidden at Lawrence Batley Theatre

Inimitable and thrilling, internationally renowned dance-circus troupe Motionhouse head out on tour with another gravity-defying spectacular.

from £16.00
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