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Northern Theatre News
October - Week 5
Anthony Cawood
October 28, 2025
October - Week 5
Welcome to Northern Theatre News!
This week we have exciting news on some amazing touring shows, and more casting news hot off the press.
No reviews this week, back next week with a Dear England review at Leeds Grand Theatre, looking forward to that!
Plus we have the usual mix of news, listings, offers, competitions and so much more in another jam packed edition.
I’d love to hear your feedback. So let me know what you’d like to see featured (or not!) in future editions of your newsletter.
Enjoy, and see you in the stalls!
News roundup
Congrats to The Durham Musical Theatre Company who earned top honours at the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) awards in Newcastle, celebrating multiple wins for their April production of The Producers by Mel Brooks.
Rehearsal images just in for Leeds Playhouse production of A Christmas Carol, cannot wait for this one!
In casting news…
 The worst singer in the world(?) | Full show details are out for the 2026 UK tour of Glorious, joining Wendi Peters will be EastEnders’ Matthew James Morrison. The cast also features Caroline Gruber, Sioned Jones, Ella-Maria Danson, and Ryan Hall. The show will be visiting Darlington Hippodrome, and the Epstein Theatre Liverpool for northern fans. |
In new show news…
Here’s a sentence I never expected to write… they’ve made a musical of The Karate Kid! And it’s on a UK tour next year, tickets already on sale for most of our northern venues, here’s what you need to know…
“Producers Naoya Kinoshita, Kumiko Yoshii, John Gore and Kenny Wax are delighted to announce the UK premiere production of THE KARATE KID - THE MUSICAL will embark on a major UK Tour next spring, prior to the West End and Broadway. Written by Robert Mark Kamen, screenwriter of the original 1984 movie that launched a 40-year strong global franchise, with music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini, THE KARATE KID - THE MUSICAL will open at New Wimbledon Theatre on Tuesday 28 April, before touring our venues Palace Theatre Manchester (12 - 23 May), Leeds (26 - 30 May - tickets on sale soon), Liverpool Empire (2 - 6 June), Sheffield Lyceum (7 - 11 July), Sunderland Empire (14 - 18 July).
Next up we have news of a Sylvia tour…
Sylvia, the Olivier-nominated musical production starring Beverley Knight as Emmeline Pankhurst and Sharon Rose as Sylvia Pankhurst to Salford's Lowry in October 2026 as part of a UK tour ahead of five performances at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2026.
Embarking on its 10th anniversary tour is Meet Fred, touring the UK from Jan 2026 with northern stops in Doncaster, Scarborough and York.
“Ten years, 20+ countries, and countless laughs later, Meet Fred is back! This darkly funny, internationally acclaimed satire follows Fred, a puppet fighting for his independence as his Puppetry Living Allowance is under threat. A hilariously subversive take on bureaucracy, disability rights, and what it means to be human. Contains strong language and puppet nudity.”
Subscriber giveaway
£50 monthly prize giveaway
Every month we give away a £50 Theatre Token to one of our subscribers, usable at over 250 venues across the UK (including loads in the North). Just stay subscribed and you’ll be in the draw!
Last month’s winner is verb.man - check your inbox and get back to me please.
What’s on over the coming weeks
Our first offering is a tour that is going all over the north! Between now and early Nov, this show is hitting nine northern venues!
North East
Darlington Hippodrome has the spooky The Signalman 4 - 8 Nov.
Newcastle’s Live Theatre has Mother Courage and her Children 23 Oct - 1 Nov, followed by Big Ange 6 - 22 Nov.
Northern Stage have Noel Coward’s comedy of manners Private Lives 4 - 11 Nov.
Newcastle’s Theatre Royal has the brand new STEPS musical Here & Now 28 Oct - 2 Nov, the is followed by a season from Opera North until 8 Nov.
La bohème, Susanna and The Big Opera Mystery
Sunderland Empire has the terrific Sunny Afternoon, The Kinks musical, 4 - 8 Nov. That’s followed by The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe 11 - 15 Nov.
Over at the Middlesbrough Theatre we have 42nd Street, 28th Oct - 1st Nov.
North West
Liverpool’s Playhouse has the new adaptation of the classic Little Women 4 - 8 Nov.
Liverpool Empire has Top Hat 28 Oct - 1 Nov, followed by the hilarious Fawlty Towers - The Play 11 - 15 Nov (such sad news about Prunella Scales!).
Still in Liverpool and over at the Royal Court we have The Scouse Christmas Carol 7 Nov - 17 Jan.
Opera House Manchester also has Fawlty Towers - The Play, running 4 - 8 Nov, followed by Acorn Antiques The Musical (produced by Hope Mill Theatre!) 2 - 16 Nov.
Palace Theatre in Manchester has Fiddler on the Roof until 1 Nov, and then the new adpatation of Miss Saigon 4 - 15 Nov.
Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester has Dancing at Lughnasa 10 Oct - 8 Nov
Home in Manchester has the excellent Breaking the Code 28 Oct - 1 Nov (check out our review!), also Going Out Out 16 Oct - 1 Nov and Barrier(s) 6 - 8 Nov.
Still in Manchester, Hope Mill Theatre has a musical comedy treat! Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein 10 Oct - 30 Nov, and check out ou previous Theatre Spotlight for an overview of this amazing venue which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year!
Shakespeare North Playhouse have Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty 5 - 8 Nov.
Over in Whitehaven the Rosehill Theatre has a new musical looking at a local tralblazer, Sal Madge ‘The Musical’ runs 28 Oct - 1 Nov.
Over at the Floral Pavillion we have The Shawshank Redemption 4 - 8 Nov.
Over in Blackpool and the Grand Theatre has Blithe Spirit 28 Oct - 1 Nov, followed by Carlos Acosta's Nutcracker in Havana 12 - 15 Nov.
Still in Blackpool, over at the Winter Gardens and we have a Cirque version of Wizard of Oz, 25 Oct - 1 Nov.
The Lowry, in Salford, for the kids at half-term we have The Smeds and the Smoos 27 Oct - 1 Nov. The Lowry also has a new work from Leeds-born playright Philip Stokes, Shell Shocked, 30 Oct - 1 Nov. That’s followed by Christmas Carol Goes Wrong 2 - 8 Nov.
Storyhouse in Chester has the Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift 11 - 15 Nov.
Octagon Bolton has Godber’s sharp comedy Black Tie Ball, so if you missed it recently in Keswick you can catch it here 29 Oct - 1 Nov.
Theatre by the Lake in Keswick has Black Tie Ball 21 - 24 Oct, before it takes the short hop to Bolton!
Yorkshire & Humberside
Leeds Grand Theatre has a range of Opera North shows on over the next few weeks, and that’s followed by Dear England, touring from the NT, 4 - 8 Nov.
Bradford’s Alhambra has amazing Matilda 30 Oct - 23 Nov.
Still in Bradford and as part of Bradford 2025 (BD25) we have a brand new drama, Elmet, running 22 Oct - 2 Nov.
Over in Wetherby at The Engine Shed we have an adaptation of Guys and Dolls that the brave/mad souls have decided to stage in-the-round! Check out this YouTube explainer of just how they are doing this in the round! Running for five performances 28 - 31 Oct. |  |
Cast in Doncaster have Willy Russel’s Blood Brothers 11 - 15 Nov.
York Theatre Royal has Jekyll & Hyde 29 - 31 Oct (at York Medical Society), and The Moors 6 - 8 Nov (at York Mansion House)
The Grand Opera House in York has Bugsy Malone 31 Oct - 8 Nov, followed by Sunny Afrernoon 11 - 15 Nov.
Also in York we have Party Piece written by award winning British playwright Richard Harris. This fast paced and comical play runs at the Theatre 41 28 Oct - 1 Nov. |  |
Harrogate Theatre have my fave comedian, Stewart Lee on tour with Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf 31 Oct - 2 Nov.
East Riding Theatre has Wolf Country, 28 Oct - 1 Nov, followed by Jack The Ripper - The Legacy 19 - 22 Nov.
Hull New Theatre has Inside No 9 Stage/Fright 28 Oct - 1 Nov.
Sheffield’s Playhouse has Gwenda’s Garage set in Thatcher’s 80s Sheffield, running 15 - 25 Oct.
Continuing in Sheffield at the Lyceum we have Inspector Morse - House of Ghosts 28 Oct - 1 Nov and Northern Ballet’s Merlin 4 - 8 Nov.
Northern Theatre News reviews
When we’re lucky enough to be invited to press nights we add the review to the very next newsletter!
Here are the shows we’ve seen recently.
Excerpt - “This production puts the man before the myth and trusts us to see the contradictions as his humanity.”
Ticket offers not to miss!
I’ll try and bring you any ticket deals and offers I can find… speaking of which!
Other News
We are rapidly approaching Halloween so I thought I’d take a look at some of the special events our northern venues are running over spooky season! If you know of any others let us know and we’ll include in a future edition!
Theatre competitions
They’re not all northern, but when they’re not they do involve a hotel stay too, good luck! All are free to enter and run by 3rd parties (not me!), and I will keep them in each newsletter whilst the entry date is still valid.
Theatre spotlight
I’ll look at one of our great Northern Theatres each week and give a little more info on the theatre and its rich history. Repeat this week as I timed out!
Grand Theatre - Blackpool       | In 1887 the local impresario known as the 'People's Showman' Thomas Sergenson, bought a row of old cottages and shops planning to open a theatre. His plans took a turn though when the Opera House opened just a year later. Sergenson didn’t return to his idea until five years later, then with £20,000 and plans from celebrated architect Frank Matcham, he finally set his dream in motion. The result? A stunning venue built with Matcham’s revolutionary cantilevered balconies (no support pillars to block your view) and an opulent Baroque-style corner frontage crowned by a stunning copper dome, all built in just nine months! The Grand opened in 1894 with a sell-out production of Hamlet. A sucession of the day’s stars followed, with the likes of Sarah Bernhardt and Lily Langtry gracing the stage. The theatre was sold by Sergenson in 1909 to the Blackpool Tower Company, who would own it for the next 60 years, until they are bought by EMI. The theatre is Grade II listed in 1971, preventing its demolition, a real prospect at the time as the theatre was struggling and ultimately closed in 1972. Public outcry and local campaigning saw the theatre re-open in 1977, but as a Bingo Hall! But that wasn’t the end of the Grand’s story as a theatre, not by a long shot. With fund raising and council support, the Grand was bought from EMI by the newly formed Blackpool Grand Theatre Trust and re-opened as a live theatre in 1981. In 1988, a five-year restoration began, adding a new 80-seat studio space and, over the decades, more access and front-of-house improvements followed. There’s an amazing 3D VR tour of theatre available online so you can see what it’s like inside now. Or if you want to see it for yourself, check out their What’s On for one of their Heritage Tours Now boasting over a 1000 seats the Grand celebrated its 130th year in 2024 no doubt, with many more to come. Check out the Youtube video of their amazing animated timeline, and try this great Youtube video for a condensed overview of their history. |
Theatre index
I’ve collated an index of all the northern venues I could find, it’s broken down by region so you can find the ones nearest you.
Do let me know if I’ve missed any.
Courses & training
I’ve had a few reader requests to add theatre related courses/training to the newsletter, so when/if I find any I’ll feature them here.
Sheffield Theatres have a number of workshops coming up, covering playwriting, costume design, and a hole host of other sujects. They’re primarily running mid-Nov, visit their What’s On page for more info. |  |
If you know of any more just let me know and I’ll include them
That’s it for this week
I’d love to know what you think about this newsletter, what we could do to make it better, and what else you’d like to see.
Thanks for reading and subscribing and please do spread the word.
Thanks for reading and subscribing, and please spread the news.
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