Do you hear the people sing? Yes, I do. And I hear them cry – there are even nose-blowing sobs to the left of me. I also hear the roar of approval with thunderous applause that sees the whole auditorium on its feet as soon the stage goes black. This...
It may have been going for more than five decades but you will not see a more vibrant show this year than the current touring production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Given its popularity and longevity it is hard now to imagine...
“Where did all the happy endings go? Where can all the good times be?” asks Eglantine Price. Is there an adult in the audience who isn’t thinking the same? As the song goes, many of us are at ‘The Age of Not Believing’ but Disney always has the...
Blood Brothers continues to live up to its reputation as the “standing ovation musical,” finds Georgina Wells Blood Brothers tours the UK once again – stopping at the Palace Theatre for 12 nights – it is easy to see why Willy Russell’s...
For those who’ve never seen Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show before, it can be summed up in three words: crazy, catchy and confusing. In fact, the plot is so baffling and nonsensical that it is hard to explain. Directed by Christopher...
After the sadness and gloom of last year, I’m dreaming of a normal Christmas with all the essential ingredients – and where better to kick off festivities than at the Palace Theatre with White Christmas? With an audience keen for a night of...
Joe’s Pie Diner has opened its doors in Manchester for the first time, with the arrival of Waitress at the Opera House. Boasting a female creative team and a female-fronted cast and storyline, this heart-warming musical focuses on Jenna (Lucie...
From the roaring standing ovation to the audience hum of “You can’t stop the beat” following us into the street, it’s abundantly clear the opening night of Hairspray at the Palace Theatre was a resounding success. After more than 30 years on the...
There’s no such thing as an unlikely musical, though some don’t stick around long enough to make an impression. Does anyone remember Fields of Ambrosia, a mid 90’s affair about a travelling executioner who falls in love with one of his victims...
Four years after the world premiere at Manchester Opera House, Bat out of Hell makes a triumphant return, bringing back a string of awards. Unlike some other jukebox musicals, the songs make perfect sense in their placement and in moving the story...
Carmel Thomason
Paul Thomason
Georgina Wells
Niamh Melody
Steve Timms