From Tony Award-winning family dramas to cult rock extravaganzas and Disney nostalgia, Manchester’s musical theatre calendar offers another outstanding year of unforgettable productions across the city and beyond.
Whether you’re after crowd-pleasing singalongs, bold new adaptations or internationally acclaimed modern classics, here are some of the best musicals you can book now in Manchester.
Disney’s beloved teen phenomenon receives a fresh new staging at Lowry this August, complete with immersive set design and on-stage seating that transforms the Lyric Theatre into the recognisable halls and courts of East High.
Featuring Tobias Turley, KayCee Stroh and Jason Donovan as Coach Bolton, the production follows Troy, Gabriella and their classmates as they navigate friendships, expectations and first love while preparing for the school musical. Co-directed by Hope Mill Theatre founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton, the ambitious revival promises a vibrant reimagining of the Disney Channel classic.
Naturally, audiences can also expect every major hit from the original film, including Breaking Free, Stick to the Status Quo and We’re All In This Together.
The original Tony Award-winning sensation returns to the Palace Theatre as Jersey Boys embarks on its twentieth anniversary tour, telling the remarkable true story behind one of popular music’s most influential groups.
Tracing Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons from their humble beginnings in New Jersey to worldwide stardom, the musical balances soaring harmonies and inimitable hits with a candid portrait of friendship, ambition and personal sacrifice, with songs including Sherry, Walk Like a Man, Beggin’ and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.
More than 27 million people worldwide have experienced the smash-hit production, cementing its place as the defining jukebox musical of the modern era.
Taking audiences back to New Year’s Eve 1997 in Manchester, How Soon is Now? is a musical about mates, music and magic, finding your place and finding yourself, all set to a live soundtrack of 90s indie anthems.
Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s triumphant musical adaptation of Calendar Girls comes to Bolton this October, in a new co-production between four leading regional theatres.
Inspired by the true story and subsequent hit film, the uplifting show follows a group of Yorkshire Women’s Institute members whose unconventional fundraising calendar captures national attention after the death of a close friend. Alongside the lightly mischievous humour and endless warmth, Calendar Girls offers a timelessly poignant meditation on friendship, grief and community spirit.
Award-winning children’s book The Littlest Yak receives a charming musical adaptation at HOME this autumn, bringing songs, puppetry and Himalayan adventure to younger audiences.
The heartwarming production follows spirited young yak Gertie as she dreams of becoming bigger and stronger like the older yaks around her, learning valuable lessons about self-acceptance and individuality along the way. Bursting with colour, music and family-friendly humour, it offers a delightful theatrical outing for children aged three and above.
This November, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s enduring theatrical phenomenon returns to Manchester in a vibrant new production from Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the musical invites audiences into the strange and magical world of the Jellicle tribe as they gather for their annual moonlit ball. Featuring dazzling choreography, imaginative costumes and beloved numbers including Memory, the production continues to enchant generations of theatre-goers.
Seen by almost 12 million people across five continents and honoured with more than 80 awards worldwide, one of the most successful and beloved British musicals of all time, Billy Elliot the Musical, finally returns ten years after it last played to audiences in its original home of London.
The award-winning Showstoppers have announced a special festive edition of their much-loved show, bringing Showstopper at Christmas! to Lowry this December.
Looking ahead to 2027, one of the greatest movie musicals ever made returns to the stage as Chichester Festival Theatre’s acclaimed production of Singin’ in the Rain arrives at Lowry.
Set amidst Hollywood’s transition from silent films to talking pictures, the uplifting classic combines lavish set design, exhilarating choreography and a generous helping of old-school romance. Famously featuring more than 14,000 litres of water on stage, the production promises a spectacular recreation of the film’s iconic title sequence.
Filled with timeless songs and infectious optimism, the beloved musical remains a dazzling celebration of the golden age of cinema.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Mon 24 Aug 2026
Grindr, the gay dating app, is given the operatic treatment at 53two this August. The musical parody embarks on a hilarious and thought-provoking journey through the world of gay matchmaking, honing in on how the app has transformed the landscape through catchy songs, witty dialogue and colourful characters.