An acclaimed rock opera set in the aftermath of the Peterloo Massacre comes to Manchester this month

An acclaimed rock opera set in the aftermath of the Peterloo Massacre comes to Manchester later this month.

Fusing progressive folk rock, classic rock, indie and blues, The Reformers’ Peterloo in Rock takes place immediately after the events of 1819, guiding the audience through pivotal reforms of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and culminating in the present day.

The principal writer and composer, Robert (Bob) Carter, explains that the early reformers were looking for many things that have now been changed, such as fairer distribution of parliamentary seats, a voice for the working people of the north, universal suffrage, including a vote for all, abolition of the Corn Laws to allow affordable food, and greater equality.

Carter also goes on to poignantly highlight that this struggle for equality persists as an issue today, a theme that resonates through the music.

The show features a striking complementary visual presentation created by Manchester graphic novelist Polyp (Peterloo, Witnesses to a Massacre; Courage), who has contributed to a fully immersive audio-visual experience.

Following a run of sold-out shows last autumn, Peterloo in Rock comes to the Mechanics Institute in Manchester on Sat 25 Jul. Tickets and more information can be found below; use the code HISTORIES 2026 to claim an exclusive discount.