Palace Theatre Archives - North West End UK

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Palace Theatre

29Nov

By Harry AltyNo Comments

North West

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Palace Theatre

Fitting the life story of a Grammy-award winning, two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee into a two-act musical is no easy task. But the current production of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, which is in residency over the 2025 Christmas period at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, is an emotional, gripping and entertaining production for both Tina Turner loyalists and those not as familiar with her work. Knowing that Tina was fully involved in the creation of the original West End production, and that she wanted to show both the highs and lows of her career, the show feels honest whilst feeling celebratory of the late legend. Known for her energetic stage presence, iconic looks and truly unique soul-rock vocals – brining Tina Turner to the stage is a demanding role. As such, the pr...

14Nov

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Miss Saigon – Palace Theatre

The 2025 tour of Miss Saigon has descended upon Manchester’s Palace Theatre, a moment I approached with a mixture of excitement and nerves. This musical is, without question, my unrivalled favourite of all time. Having seen it over 50 times, I know the script, staging, and emotional landscape inside out. So, would this new version soar like a phoenix… or fall short? Miss Saigon follows Kim, a young Vietnamese girl forced to work in a Saigon bar after losing her family. There she meets Chris, an American soldier, and over one night their lives become bound by a powerful, unexpected love. When Saigon falls, Chris is airlifted out in the chaos, unaware that Kim has survived and is now raising their son, Tam. Determined to protect her child at any cost, Kim endures years of hardship while C...

22Oct

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Fiddler on the Roof – Palace Theatre

This 2024 Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production has been cleverly restaged for an extensive UK tour, landing at the grand old Palace Theatre on Oxford Road for a two week stay from this evening, Whilst retaining all of the energy that makes this one of the most popular and profitable musicals in theatre history, Director Jordan Fein manages to place a liberal and humanitarian message about the plight of refugees in amongst a fantastic evening’s entertainment. The story centres around Anatevka, a village in Tsarist Russia at the start of the 20th Century, where Tevye (Matthew Woodyat) is the local Milkman, a pious soul struggling to bring up his five daughters with his wife Golde (Jodie Jacobs) in poverty, subject to the cruel whims of an uncaring system. His three oldest girls...

Moulin Rouge! The Musical – Palace Theatre

22Aug

By Katie LeicesterNo Comments

North West

Moulin Rouge! The Musical – Palace Theatre

Step inside Manchester’s Palace Theatre this month and you are no longer in the North West of England - you are transported straight into the beating heart of Montmartre. For its UK tour, Moulin Rouge! The Musical has transformed the venue into a lush Parisian nightspot; its boxes crowned with the glittering red windmill and a striking blue elephant symbolising Satine’s dressing room. Even before the first note is sung, the effect is spellbinding, and the theatre itself is part of the spectacle. Directed by Alex Timbers with a book by John Logan, the musical reimagines Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film for the stage. At its core lies the romance between Christian (Josh Rose), a wide-eyed, penniless songwriter, and Satine (Verity Thompson), the glamorous star of the Moulin Rouge. Christian dreams...

Rocky Horror Picture Show – Palace Theatre

20May

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Rocky Horror Picture Show – Palace Theatre

Time Warping its way back into Manchester, with fishnets and flair, The Rocky Horror Picture show has rolled into Manchester ready to make audiences quiver with antici…pation. Under the stead hand of director Christopher Luscombe, Jason Donovan has returned to the role and high heels of theatre’s iconic transexual scientist, Dr. Frank N. Furter, doing so with gusto. He brings a fabulous balance of louche flamboyance and furtiveness to invigorate the show with the unpredictability and playfulness it needs. He clearly enjoys himself teasing his fellow castmates and the audience and delivers chaos (including a misbehaving pair of heels) and a touch of menace to his performance. Jackie Clune brings a witty edge as the narrator, imbuing the usually ‘stuffy accountant’ vibe with somethi...

12Apr

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

Mary Poppins – Palace Theatre

Disney’s magical nanny is back delighting audiences all over the UK, and children (even the big kids) are bound to leave the theatre with a smile on their face. Based on the book series by P.L. Travers, this production by Disney Theatricals in collaboration with Sir Cameron Mackintosh, first took the West End by storm over twenty years ago. But just the same as its movie adaptation, I believe that this version is ultimately timeless. The Banks family wish for a nanny to fix all their problems, Jane wants someone fairly pretty, Michael wants someone to play games with, and their parents just want one to stay. Blown in by the wind, the “practically perfect” Mary Poppins appears and takes us all on an amazing adventure filled with colour, magic and a song or two. The twelve-piece orches...

Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical – Palace Theatre

26Mar

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical – Palace Theatre

Having not seen the source material for this production - the 1999 hit teen film Cruel Intentions - I had limited understanding of what was in store for me with the theatrical production of Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical. The stage adaptation had been met with a lukewarm critical response since its debut in 2015, and understandably so. It’s clear to see what the intention of this production was, but the execution left a lot to be desired. Let’s start with the storyline: the story follows vindictive stepsiblings Kathryn and Sebastian, who have somewhat of a Freudian infatuation with each other. This dangerous duo makes a cruel pact that Sebastian must seduce fellow classmate - the virginal Annette - which triggers a series of dark and dangerous events that foreshadows the rest of the ...

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Palace Theatre

12Mar

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Palace Theatre

A Truly Scrumptious Spectacle! From start to finish, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the Musical is a magical and thrilling ride that captures the heart and imagination of audiences of all ages. Currently at the Palace Theatre Manchester. This spectacular production, directed by Thom Southerland, brings to life the beloved story with dazzling production values, an outstanding cast, and the timeless music and lyrics of Richard and Robert Sherman. The show’s true star, of course, is the flying, floating Chitty Chitty Bang Bang itself—a breathtaking piece of stagecraft that left the audience gasping in awe. The technical wizardry behind the car’s seamless movements was simply outstanding, adding an extra layer of wonder to an already enchanting production. Complementing this spectacle were the ...

27Feb

By Paddy Darnell-WalshNo Comments

North West

Bat Out of Hell – Palace Theatre

Bat Out of Hell is back in Manchester… and it’s back with a bang! The rip-roaring, high-octane Meat Loaf musical returns to its roots, the home of the show’s premiere, for a limited run. Showcasing the iconic anthems from Meat Loaf’s thumping debut album, with music and lyrics by the wonderful Jim Steinman, this production is a real crowd pleaser from start to finish. Set in the post-apocalyptic, fictional city of Osidian, Bat Out of Hell is loosely based on Peter Pan, following Strat, leader of ‘The Lost’, a group of misfits frozen in time as 18-year-olds. Strat has fallen in love with Raven, daughter of Falco, Osidian’s tyrannical ruler. With a Romeo and Juliet-esque narrative, crossed with an epic rock concert, the show is brilliantly bonkers and unapologetically over the top. Gle...

19Feb

By Harry AltyNo Comments

NEWS, North West

Dear Evan Hansen – Palace Theatre

After debuting a decade ago, audiences are elated to see the hit modern-day musical Dear Evan Hansen finally grace the Manchester stage as part of a UK national tour. With an impressive cast, innovative staging and a host of earworm hits – it was clearly worth the wait. The musical follows Evan (Ryan Kopel) struggling to traverse his high-school days, he is an awkward outsider who struggles to form friendships in his often-cruel teenage years. In his efforts to fit in, Evan gets caught up in a web of lies that sees him finally be the one thing he had always desired – important. Over the runtime the show explores a range of topics from mental health, family roles and friendship all against the backdrop of a generation growing up completely immersed in the world of social media. Set de...