Theatre Reviews North

The northern theatres are buzzing with activity, but not every performance can be a standout. Sadly, your wallet often decides what’s worth your time. Our goal is to help you spend wisely on theatre tickets and maybe even introduce you to productions you might not have considered, drawing on years of experience from reviewing countless shows. Yes, we've been in this industry for quite a while. But does that mean we lack insight in a world that values youth and innovation? Absolutely not! The essence of what makes theatre exceptional – be it powerful writing (both text and music), skilled directing, or outstanding performances – can be found in all kinds of shows. Whether you're watching a contemporary piece critiquing political issues or a classic like Julius Caesar, the core elements of great theatre remain the same (though let’s be honest, Shakespeare set a high bar).

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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).
Noises off in Keswick, Ipswich, Hornchurch... and Luxembourg

1 week ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Alan Hulme

Classsic British farce Noises Off arrives at Keswick's Theatre By The Lake this month (June 25-July 26), in a co-production with the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, the Queen's Theatre in Hornchurch, and... the Theatres de la Ville de Luxembourg.
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.
Macbeth

1 week ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Robert Beale

William ShakespeareHer ProductionsHope Mill Theatre, ManchesterJune 18-29, 2025: 2 hrs 30 mins(Also at Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield, July 2-3)Her Productions has been around long enough not to need any special explanations, but for those not aware, it's a company of female and non-binary theatre people who specialise in finding a female-identifying voice in what they do. With this latest Shakespeare production there’s plenty of scope for that.
Beatles musical world premiere in Liverpool

1 week ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Alan Hulme

Shake It Up Baby! - a new musical telling the story of the Beatles’ time in Hamburg - will premiere at Liverpool's Epstein Theatre in the autumn (September 26-October 11). Written by Liverpool playwright Ian Salmon, the cast of Liverpool actor-musicians will be led by Andrew Schofield as Allan Williams, the fabled "man who gave away the Beatles". It's a story about how the "worst group in Liverpool" became the greatest group the world has ever seen.
75 shows and 17 venues at the Greater Manchester Fringe

1 week ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Alan Hulme

Alan Hulme10 minutes ago2 min readGreater Manchester Fringe Festival is back (July 1-August 2), with 75 shows at 17 venues, showcasing a huge variety of new talent from the area and around the world. Director and Fringe co-founder Lisa Connor said: “Greater Manchester Fringe is about encouraging new ideas, new writers and performers, whether it is a one-off drama, or an established performer previewing a show before Edinburgh Fringe.
Hull Truck and Porto named 'theatres of sanctuary'

1 week ago | theatrereviewsnorth.com | Alan Hulme

Hull Truck Theatre and Ellesmere Port-based Theatre porto children’s theatre have both been named a “theatre of Sanctuary” by City of Sanctuary UK. The sanctuary organisation was founded in Sheffield in 2005. Two years later, with the support of the council and over 70 local community organisations, the city became the UK’s first City of Sanctuary. Since then, many more local councils, schools, universities, libraries, theatres and other places have been awarded similar status.