The best musicals coming to Manchester

The regional premiere of Alison Bechdel’s acclaimed autobiographical musical arrives at the Royal Exchange this month, bringing one of contemporary theatre’s most affecting and celebrated works to Manchester audiences.

Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Fun Home traces Bechdel’s childhood in rural Pennsylvania and her complex relationship with her father through a deeply moving exploration of memory, identity and family life. Blending humour, heartbreak and a richly textured score by Jeanine Tesori, the production remains a landmark piece of modern musical theatre.

Jason Manford leads the UK premiere of the Broadway smash-hit Something Rotten! at Manchester Opera House, alongside Richard Fleeshman and Olivier Award nominee Marisha Wallace.

Set during the Renaissance, the wildly inventive musical follows struggling playwright brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom as they attempt to outdo their greatest rival, William Shakespeare. When a soothsayer predicts that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting simultaneously, the pair set about creating the world’s very first musical, with predictably chaotic consequences.

Richard O’Brien’s legendary cult phenomenon returns this summer as part of a brand-new world tour, bringing another week of glorious excess and audience participation to the Palace Theatre.

Following squeaky-clean sweethearts Brad and Janet after an ill-fated car breakdown, the iconically outrageous rock musical introduces audiences to the unforgettable Dr Frank-N-Furter and an evening of deliciously anarchic entertainment. More than five decades after its debut, the production remains one of theatre’s greatest communal experiences.

Featuring iconic songs including Sweet Transvestite, Dammit Janet and Time Warp, the show continues to deliver the singularly exuberant, gloriously camp spectacle that has captivated millions worldwide.

Heading back to Lowry following another series of sold-out runs across the globe, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ irresistible pop musical transforms the six wives of Henry VIII into chart-topping superstars.

One by one, the Tudor queens reclaim their stories through a succession of infectious anthems, blending contemporary girl-group energy with razor-sharp historical satire. What emerges is a fiercely original celebration of female empowerment that continues to win over audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

With its ingenious lyrics, powerhouse performances and relentless energy, SIX remains one of British theatre’s greatest modern success stories.

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.

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.

Three decades after Danny Boyle’s landmark film adaptation, Irvine Welsh’s legendary Scottish drama returns in an audacious new musical reimagining.

Set amidst the heroin epidemic that gripped Edinburgh during the 1980s, Trainspotting The Musical follows Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie and the rest of the gang through a world of addiction, friendship and youthful rebellion. Welsh himself has described the production as possessing an even greater emotional heart than its predecessors, balancing unflinching social commentary with humour, music and communal catharsis.

Uncompromising yet unexpectedly joyful, the show promises one of the most distinctive musical experiences on Manchester stages this year.

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.