Fancy an arts and culture reawakening? Well you’re in luck, because some of the biggest theatre shows in the world are set to grace the Manchester stages this season – and that front row seat most definitely has our name on it. From reimagined classics to some of the biggest stage shows of all time, with some new material sprinkled in, here are some of the best theatre shows coming to Manchester this winter.
1. SIX – January 13 – 17, Palace Theatre
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales in smash hit musical SIX, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red.
🎟️ Book here.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird – January 13 – 24, Lowry Salford
Set in 1934 Alabama, To Kill a Mockingbird was inspired by novelist Harper Lee’s own childhood and has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature and was long at the top of the banned book lists. Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkin‘s (The West Wing, The Social Network, A Few Good Men) stage adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird is paired with Bartlett Sher’s visionary direction.
Acclaimed stage and screen actor Richard Coyle (The Player Kings, Macbeth, Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore) returns to the role of Atticus Finch, joined by Anna Munden as Scout Finch, Gabriel Scott as Jem Finch and Dylan Malyn as Dill Harris.
🎟️ Get tickets here.
3. The Bodyguard – January 19-31, Palace Theatre
Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, The Bodyguard features a host of irresistible classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and one of the biggest hit songs of all time – I Will Always Love You, all thanks to Whitney Houston’s original involvement.
🎟️ Get tickets here.
4. Singin’ in the Rain – Until January 25, Royal Exchange
A timeless masterpiece, and perhaps one of the greatest musicals ever made, this charismatic, tap-dancing extravaganza tells the story of the highs and lows of Hollywood through the eyes of the infamous Don Lockwood, Lina Lamont, Cosmo Brown and Kathy Selden as a radical move is made from silent movies to the ‘talkies’.
The musical is packed with iconic songs such as Make ’em laugh, Good Morning, Moses and of course the iconic title tune Singin’ In The Rain. Seamlessly blending song and dance the audience will find themselves in the heart of the action of this much-loved musical on the Exchange’s iconic in-the-round stage.
🎟️ Book here.
5. Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch – Until January 11, Lowry Salford
When Disney released The Little Mermaid in 1989, they had no idea they were giving birth to an icon. Ursula the Sea Witch quickly took her place as the queen of Disney villains: a pop culture legend and a feminist badass. She’s loud. She’s clever. She’s sexy and unapologetically plus-sized. She’s not defined by slipper-sized feet, or enchanted blonde hair, or snow-white skin. Ursula is plump, purple and proud. A queer icon with a message for us ‘poor unfortunate souls’: love the skin you’re in, value your voice over your body, and don’t be afraid to be a little bit nasty.
Cruella told her side, and Maleficent’s had her moment… Now the legendary sea witch is ready to spill in this tell-all tale of sex, sorcery and suckers – a laugh-a-minute dive through Ursula’s backstory filled with a filthy pop soundtrack, much loved characters as you’ve never seen them before and enough (eco-friendly) glitter to keep you sparkling all the way home. Gather up your merfriends; it’s going to be one hell of a beach party.
🎟️ Book tickets here.
6. Operation Mincemeat – February 16-28, Lowry Salford
In Operation Mincemeat, it’s 1943, and the Allied Forces are on the ropes. Luckily, they’ve got a trick up their sleeve. Well, not up their sleeve, per se, but rather inside the pocket of a stolen corpse. Equal parts farce, thriller, and Ian Fleming-style spy caper (with an assist from Mr. Fleming himself), Operation Mincemeat tells the wildly improbable and hilarious true story of the covert operation that turned the tide of WWII.
Launching on 16th February 2026 at Lowry in Salford – the venue that first encouraged the writers’ extraordinary debut musical and hosted its first-ever scratch performance in 2017 – a 40-week run will play at theatres nationwide through 28th November 2026.
🎟️ Book here.
7. Mean Girls The Musical – February 23 – March 7, Manchester Opera House
Meet The Plastics – Regina, Gretchen and Karen. They rule North Shore High and will burn anyone who gets in their way. Home-schooled Cady Heron may think she knows a thing or two about survival of the fittest thanks to her zoologist parents, but high school is a whole new level of savage. When Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung. Expect iconic characters, razor-sharp wit, and killer songs.
Opening at Manchester Opera House on 23 February 2026 before touring to venues across the UK and Ireland until the end of January 2027, Emily Lane will star as Cady Heron, alongside Vivian Panka as Regina George, Sophie Pourret as Karen Smith, Georgie Buckland as Janis Sarkisian and Max Gill as Damian Hubbard.
🎟️ Book here.
8. Priscilla Queen of the Desert – February 19 – 28, Palace Theatre
Priscilla Queen of the Desert, based on the 1994 Oscar-winning film, is set to hit the road bursting onto stages across the UK and Ireland opening at the Palace Theatre in Manchester on 16 February 2026 and touring through to July 2026.
Featuring a hit parade of dance floor classics as well as garnering international acclaim, at its core, Priscilla Queen of the Desert’s enduring appeal lies in its heartfelt exploration and celebration of identity, diversity and the journey toward self-acceptance. Challenging societal norms, and the importance of embracing one’s true self, the characters confront prejudice and adversity, they also discover the strength found in unity, friendship and the beauty of authentic
Packed full of dazzling dance routines, a sparkling array of spectacular costumes and an iconic soundtrack of 80s and 90s disco anthems including Hot Stuff, It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Finally and more, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is an exuberant celebration of acceptance and belonging, bursting at the seams with humour, heart and spectacle. expression.
🎟️ Book here.
9. The Lightning Thief – The Percy Jackson Musical – February 11 – 21, HOME
When 16 year old Percy Jackson discovers that he is the half-blood son of the Greek God, Poseidon, his life takes a dramatic turn as he is plunged into a world much bigger than he could possibly have imagined. With newly-discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want and a whole mythology textbook’s worth of mythical monsters on his tail, Percy must learn what it means to be a hero.
The future of the world hangs in the balance as Percy and his friends embark on an epic adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat. RuPaul’s Drag Race UK champion Danny Beard joins the cast as Mr D. With a dazzling track record, Danny is set to bring his signature charisma, powerful vocals, and stage presence to the mythical world of Camp Half-Blood as the delightfully grumpy god of wine, Mr. D.
🎟️ Book here.
10. Road − February 13 – March 14, Royal Exchange Theatre
It’s 1986. Your rumbustious chaperone Scullery guides you down the road, picking up the raucous and the ready for it, as ‘owt can happen tonight’. From dusk till dawn, the hopelessly hilarious and divinely desperate laugh, sing, dance and eat chips – all searching for something different.
Jim Cartwright’s award-winning masterpiece invites you to join the inhabitants of this derelict northern road on an unforgettable journey. Shockingly relevant to our lives today, the play’s visceral, eloquent poetry paints a tough world with tenderness, starring Lucy Beaumont, Shobna Gulati, Lesley Joseph and Johnny Vegas.
🎟️ Book here.
11. Barnum − February 10 – 14, Manchester Opera House
Step right up and enter the dazzling world of P.T. Barnum (The Greatest Showman), where imagination and ambition know no bounds. Hand in hand with wife Charity, Barnum’s life and career twists and turns as he schemes and dreams his way to headier heights. Come follow the band with the glorious music of multi-award-winner Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart’s lyrics and Mark Bramble’s book. The show features a whole host of classic show tunes including Join the Circus, Colours of My Life, Come Follow the Band and Love Makes Such Fools of Us All.
🎟️ Book here.
Theatre shows in Manchester to look out for this year:
- MAMMA MIA! — Palace Theatre — Mar 3–21
- Crime and Punishment — HOME – Mar 19 – 21
- Matilda The Musical — Palace Theatre — Mar 26–Apr 25
- Bog Witch – HOME — Mar 26 – 28
- Private Lives – Royal Exchange — Mar 27 – May 2
- The Karate Kid: The Musical — Palace Theatre — May 12–23
- Bluey’s Big Play – The Lowry – May 22–31
- Waitress — Palace Theatre — May 26–30
- Annie — Palace Theatre — Jun 9–20
- Something Rotten! – Opera House – June 16 – July 19
- Jersey Boys — Palace Theatre — Sep 7–19
- The Mousetrap — Opera House — Oct 26 – 31
- Cats — Palace Theatre — Nov 10–21
- Legally Blonde — Opera House — Nov 3–1