Shannon Wild Archives - North West End UK

As part of an ambitious and exciting 2026 season, Manchester Musical Youth returned to Z-arts with a vibrant, heartfelt revival of 13 The Musical, only the second time in the company’s history they have staged this beloved coming-of-age musical, with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. At the heart of 13 is a story about identity, friendship, belonging, and the sometimes-painful journey of figuring out where you fit in. Set against the chaos of adolescence, the musical follows Evan Goldman (played by Jasper Holden), a young teenager uprooted from city life and dropped into the complex social ecosystem of middle school. What unfolds is far more than a story about fitting in before a Bar Mitzvah; it is a witty, honest and deeply relatable exp...

It has been a long time since Manchester Musical Youth’s (MMY) apprentices got to shine on the Z-Arts stage, so tonight was a personal joy to be back in the auditorium to witness a triumphant return with their latest production of Sister Act Jr. Sometimes, for me junior versions of full-scale shows seem cut too short and the story suffers because of this. I get the idea behind these versions and the opportunities it gives young performers, but tonight’s version of Sister Act did not seem to suffer from this, albeit some of the story was rushed. One thing MMY does better than most is find and cultivate young talent, many of which in previous years have gone on to some of the best theatre schools in the country and even the West End. Tonight, was no different as two young actors shone ...

Tag: Shannon Wild

13 The Musical – Z-arts

Sister Act Jr – Z-Arts