A Manchester Anthem – Hope Mill Theatre

For a city steeped in music history, it is no wonder those who grew up in and around Manchester see it as an accompaniment to life. That is evident in A Manchester Anthem, a story that sees our protagonist at a crossroads in life where he must decide either to evolve into someone new or continue being the person he is.

Written as a birthday gift to our solo performer Tom Claxton, playwright Nick Dawkins creates a comedic and poignant piece on that nervous period in the build-up to leaving for university. What shines in the writing is the authenticity and relatability, especially when it comes to the many characters we meet within this one-act play. Nick Dawkins creates a character that quickly gets the audience on his side, bringing them along for a night into the buzzing heart of Manchester.

In what feels like a relatively simple story, A Manchester Anthem is able to explore a range of story beats. The play shines most when discussing class, especially when it comes to environments where these truly mix for the first time – like university or education. A number of lines of dialogue from characters of higher-class status made me cringe with embarrassment, however at no point did I ever feel like they were out of the scope of possibility of being said in that situation.

Expertly performing this superb writing is Tom Claxton who is simply a tour de force throughout. His ability to shift seamlessly between precise comedic timing and raw emotional delivery was a joy to watch. Claxton’s talent in conversing and interacting with the audience whilst storytelling reminded me of celebrated performances like Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Fleabag, with a nod and wink to keep audiences in on the joke. The story requires our lead to meander through numerous characters within the hour running time, watching Claxton change demeanour and voice each time was a masterclass. This was particularly impressive in the nightclub scene, where despite being one actor on an empty stage, I immediately understood the scene being presented.

Creating an immersive experience around music relied heavily on Sam Baxter’s sound design, which created a foundation for this world building. Even simple methods of playing with music levels helped move with the story from inside the chaotic nightclub to the calmer space of the outside smoking area. The ingenious lighting design by Caelan Orlam added depth to not only the set but also helped Tom Claxton switch between his numerous characters, a standout of this being the scene between our protagonist and his brother. Combined with the simplistic but effective set of Anna Niamh Gorman, the city of Manchester was brought to stage. I especially appreciated the nod to the landmarks of Manchester – as did others in the Mancunian venue of Hope Mill Theatre.

As someone who lived the years of our protagonist Tommy’s story in the city of Manchester, some parts of the play felt note perfect for reflecting what that stage of life felt like. All departments that made up A Manchester Anthem were dancing to the same beat, and the results are simply euphoric. In a city that knows about its music, this play feels like a new anthem of its own.

A Manchester Anthem continues at Hope Mill Theatre until August 2nd, with tickets available here – https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/event/manchester-anthem/  

Reviewer: Harry Alty

Reviewed: 31st July 2025

North West End UK Rating: