Paul Genty

Manchester

Writer at Theatre Reviews North

Featured in: Favicon

theatrereviewsnorth.com

Articles

Hope Mill announces 10th birthday expansion plan

4 days ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Paul Genty

Manchester's highly-successful Hope Mill Theatre has announced expansion plans - including the relocation of its award-winning community hub - as part of its 10th birthday celebrationThe theatre is relaunching its community hub, which won an I Love Mcr award just months before it closed in early 2024 due to rising costs. Situated close to the theatre, the hub was home to the organisation’s outreach programmes, including a theatre school, a community choir and orchestra and a play-reading club.
Oldham Coliseum multi-media mashup

6 days ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Paul Genty

Oldham Coliseum is looking for creatively-minded 18 to 25-year-olds to work on their dance, music, drama, film, writing, digital or completely out-of-the-box ideas in Mashup, a special, week-long programme this August. The theatre company is looking for around 15 people living in Oldham who are keen to create and perform original work, and are even more keenly looking for a wider circle of people to respond to and be inspired by. No experience?
Theatre Book prizewinner announced

1 week ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Paul Genty

The Society for Theatre Research has awarded Straight Acting: The Hidden Queer Lives of William Shakespeare by Will Tosh (published by Sceptre) the society's theatre book prize for 2025. Straight Acting asks if Shakespeare was gay, and offers an answer by exploring everything from Shakespeare’s schooling to the representation of queer lives in his plays and poems. Tosh's book is a call to readers to recognise how queerness shaped the life and career of the world’s most famous playwright.
Mamma Mia! back on tour next year

1 week ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Paul Genty

Feelgood stage musical Mamma Mia! Is back on UK tour next year and is heading for several northern venues. The show - casting still to be announced - will play Newcastle Theatre Royal (February 11-28), Manchester Palace (March 3-21); Hull New Theatre (April 7-18); Llandudno's Venue Cymru (April 21-25); Blackpool’s huge Winter Gardens (April 28-May 3), and Leeds Grand (June 16-27).
Barnum to tour again

1 week ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Paul Genty

Classic circus musical Barnum - the show that made UK comedy actor Michael Crawford a stage musicals star - is to have a major new UK tour next year. The Bill Kenwright Productions tour will open in Windsor in February and in can be seen in our region at the Manchester Palace (February 10-14) and the Grand Opera House in York (February 24-28), with more dates to be announced.
A twisted new Dickens story

1 week ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Paul Genty

Theatre enthusiasts get a different, even twisted, look at Charles DIckens' classic Oliver Twist from this month. Twisted! The Musical will make its debut with a tour of smaller-scale venues after opening on June 18 at Bolton's Albert Halls. This original production continues the story of Oliver Twist 15 years after events in the novel, offering audiences a different perspective on the characters we know and love.
Beware of the theatre poultry

2 weeks ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Paul Genty

New Manchester theatre company Beware of the Theatre takes its courage in both hands this August by making its first appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. No Higher Purpose is a farmyard tale with hidden depths: Speckle can't shake the feeling that something isn't right. Could it be that chickens are not, in fact, all-powerful gods, like she has been led to believe?
Oldham Coliseum reopening date slips

3 weeks ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Paul Genty

Oldham Coliseum will now reopen in 2026 - later than the original aim to return the theatre to activity for the 2025 Christmas panto season. Initial construction work revealed more time will be needed to ensure the building is ready to welcome back audiences. Councillor Arooj Shah, who is leader of Oldham Council, said: “It’s disappointing not to be reopening the theatre for panto this year, as it’s such a special part of Oldham’s festive season.
More music under the Mersey Moon

4 weeks ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Paul Genty

New country musical Under the Mersey Moon is set to return to New Brighton's Floral Pavilion in 2026 with three special dates over the Valentine’s day weekend. The show was a huge success on its premiere at the waterfront Blue Lounge earlier this year, becoming the performance space’s best-selling new musical, with sold out performances and standing ovations.
Slaying dragons in the city

1 month ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Paul Genty

Manchester venue 53two and Take Back Theatre present the world premiere of a play by well-known writer Rebekah Harrison in June. What Does It Take To Slay a Dragon (52two, June 11-20), is an unflinching play about nationalism and identity. When delivery driver Billy is asked to remove an England flag from his van dashboard, what seems like a small request ignites a sequence of events that upend his life.