As the days begin to get lighter and the temperatures ever-so-slightly creep up, the life and soul of Manchester’s beloved theatre scene has come out swinging against two incredibly difficult years.
Here’s what to expect across the stages of the city in the coming months…
The Royal Exchange spring programme kicks off with a powerful adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 A Doll’s House. Journey through 100 years of women’s liberation—from voting rights, to contraception and modern-day life, and hear the stories of three distinct Noras across three pivotal decades: 1918, 1968, 2018.
This gripping domestic thriller marks the Royal Exchange debut of award-winning playwright Stef Smith (Enough, Human Animals) and explores how tightly women continue to be bound by social convention.
Audiences will be transported back to the razzle-dazzle of the 1920s, as the iconic story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to leave, unfolds dramatically.
In her desperate attempts to avoid conviction, Roxie turns to Chicago’s most renowned lawyer to help transform her crime into a wave of sensational headlines.
A celebratory rebellion against society’s expectations of women. How To Keep Up With The Kardashians is as much a protest against the harmful effects of advertisements that promote the ‘perfect body’ as it is a piece of theatre performance.
Ahead of the shows, So La Flair interviewed 50 female-identifying individuals across the UK on how their relationship with their bodies affects different aspects of their life. Inspired by these recordings, along with the cast’s personal experiences. the performance addresses ‘mental health, body dysmorphia, disordered eating, race representation and its entanglement in our everyday existence’.
The term ‘Haram’ refers to something that is forbidden by Islam—this forms the basis of this fascinating, must-see production coming to The Lowry in March.
Exploring faith, sexuality, addiction and human connection, The Chosen Haram blends jaw-dropping Chinese pole skills with visual and physical theatre as it tells the story of two Queer men and the social, cultural and personal barriers they must face.
A special performance to mark International Women’s Day, Sylvia vs The Fascists takes place in 1930s England, as the British government strikes deals with Hitler and Mussolini and the nation’s fascists line the streets.
While authorities turn a blind eye, Sylvia Pankhurst makes her stand against the establishment in this comic retelling of a tumultuous period in recent history right here on our doorstep.
A new production from the award-winning mind of Ian Towsend, My Favourite Place in the Whole World arrives at the Hope Mill Theatre in spring.
J and Ruth are our main protagonists, two people in search of love and purpose in a world packed with confusion and loss. A funny, heartfelt play about growing up, finding your place in the world and the unexpected connections made along the way.
Dolly Parton’s hit musical makes a long-awaited stop in Manchester, complete with an Oscar, Grammy and Tony award-nominated score from the Queen of Country herself.
Following the tale of three colleagues finally pushed too far by their sexist and ego-driven boss, the group dream up a plan to kidnap their supervisor and bring about some much-needed change to the office.
Delivered by the folk/spoken word duo of Isobel and Anna Hughes, A Place to Fall to Pieces is a quest for roots and a love letter to the places we’ve been but are not from.
A lyrical journey that spans original composition, spoken word, storytelling and song will have viewers questioning what the concept of ‘home’ really means.
Written in 2019 as racial divisions escalated in America, before the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests spread across the globe, The White Card makes its UK and European premiere at HOME.
Centred around a wealthy white couple who invite a talented Black artist to dinner, tensions spill over as heated debates highlight the uncomfortable truths about white privilege.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Mon 28 Feb 2022
One of the most popular operas ever produced comes to The Lowry stage next month for one night only in an unmissable performance for any theatre lover.
Carmen, which shocked audiences upon its 1875 debut in Paris with its stark emotional realism, is a tale of lust, desire and tragedy.
Opera North’s fiery production follows the story of Carmen, a strong woman doing everything she can to survive in a poor frontier town—including manipulating and seducing the very men who intend to control her. However, one man’s obsession with Carmen quickly turns into wild jealousy with tragic consequences.