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Northern Theatre News
September - Week 1
Anthony Cawood
September 02, 2025
September - Week 1
Welcome to Northern Theatre News!
How is it September already? The year is flying by!
We’ve packed this issue with news, listings, and plenty of new competitions for you to enter too.
As always, 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 theatre!
News roundup
I don’t normally put competitions in this section but you only have a few days to enter this one! See Northern Ballet’s spectacular Merlin at Leeds Grand, on Sat 13 Sept with dinner for two at Kendell’s Bistro included.
News from Doncaster, Cast has sadly announced that its Director, Deborah Rees, will step down later this year after nine years of inspirational leadership. |  Photography by James Mulkeen |
Casting has been announced for A Christmas Carol at Leeds Playhouse. They include Reece Dinsdale – fresh from Through It All Together and West End stars Claudia Kariuki and Obioma Ugoala from Six the Musical and Hamilton! |  |
Subscriber giveaway
£50 monthly prize giveaway
Each month we’ll give away a £50 Theatre Token to one lucky subscriber usable in over 250 venues across the UK including plenty in the North. All you have to do is subscribe to be in with a chance of winning.
Our August winner has been selected, [email protected], and has been notified - congrats!
What’s on over the next few weeks
North East
Newcastle’s Theatre Royal has the incredible War Horse 10 - 20 Sept.
Sunderland Empire has 2:22 A Ghost Story starring Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley, 8 - 13 Sept.
Parkview Theatre, County Durham has We Will Rock You, 3 - 6 Sept.
Darlington Hippodrome has the adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption 9 - 13 Sept.
North West
Liverpool’s Everyman has Romeo & Juliet 13 Sept - 4 Oct.
Liverpool’s Royal Court has Derby Days, a brand new comedy, 12 Sept - 18 Oct.
Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre has I Am Steven Gerrard running 11 - 13 Sept.
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester, has Canal Street Lonely Hearts Club 3 - 14 Sept.
Opera House Manchester has Here & Now - The Steps Musical, 2 - 13 Sept.
Palace Theatre in Manchester has the spectacular Moulin Rouge until 4 Oct.
The Lowry, in Salford, has Derren Brown with his new show - Only Human, 2 - 13 Sept. Followed by Ideal starring Johnny Vegas from 8 - 13 Sept.
Octagon Bolton has a busy month with Yen, the award winning drama, 3 - 13 Sept and Noel Coward’s Private Lives running 4 - 27 Sept.
Running until 6 Sept, Theatre by the Lake in Keswick has the classic Pride and Prejudice. They also have Duets 3 - 6 Sept.
Chorley Theatre has the ever-green The Importance of Being Earnest 1 - 6 Sept.
Yorkshire & Humberside
The beloved adaptation of the Railway Children is staged on the very tracks they used in the film, the show begins when you board a vintage steam train! Sets off daily until 7th Sept and is garnering rave reviews!
Leeds Playhouse have a new musical, Reception, based on the music of David Gedge, at The Warehouse in Holbeck until 6 Sept. They also have the Aaron Sorkin adapated To Kill A Mocking Bird at the Quarry theatre, 8 Sept - 4 Oct. Watch out for a review in the next edition. They also have the award winning Consumed 10 - 13 Sept at the Courtyard
Leeds Grand Theatre has the amazing War Horse until 6 Sept. Check out the Northern Theatre News review here
Bradford Alhambra has Carrie Hope Fletcher in the rip-roaring Calamity Jane, 2 - 6 Sept.
York Theatre Royal has their own production of Military Wives - The Musical, 10 - 27 Sept, watch out for a review in the next edition.
The Grand Opera House in York has The Wizard of Oz 12 - 20 Sept.
Pick Me Up Theatre in York are staging Fun Home in a regional first. 10-19 Sept.
Lawrence Batley Theatre has a new musical farce in-the-round, The Village Hall, 10 - 13 Sept.
Harrogate Theatre has the Dickens’ classic The Signalman 2 - 6 Sept.
Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough has a new production of the classic Noises Off, for the first time ever presented in the round! until 6 Sept.
Check out Northern Theatre News review here!
East Riding Theatre has a brand new production of Answering Machines, 11 - 27 Sept.
Now over to Sheffield theatres, with Ripples staged at Bloc Projects 5 - 13 September.
Sheffield’s Mongomery theatre has Everbody’s Talking About Jamie, 9 - 13 Sept.
Continuing in Sheffield we have TINA - The Tina Turner Musical at the Lyceum 9 - 20 Sept.
An incoming at the Crucible Sheffield, we have Dancing at Lughansa, 13 Sept - 4 Oct.
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.
Ticket offers not to miss!
I’ll try and bring you all the ticket deals and offers I can find!
Summer Saver offers
ATG Entertainment, who run a number of theatres up and down the country, has a Summer Saver offer on, select tickets are discounted on over 120 shows, including the Liverpool Empire, Manchester Palace Theatre, Manchester Opera House, Stockton Globe, and Sunderland Empire.
Other News
I do love a good alternate venue story… 11 - 13 Sept.
One for those with a venue fascination, 16 Sept, Bradford’s St George’s Hall tour.
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
This week we are taking a look at The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, which is one of the oldest theatres in the country.
The Georgian Theatre RoyalAll images are credit The Georgian Theatre Royal unless stated otherwise.  Exterior today  Stunning Georgian interior  To the right is the original exterior  Nick Moyes, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons  Woodland Scene  Nick Moyes, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons  Nick Moyes, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons | Nestled in the northern market town of Richmond is a true jewel of British theatre. The Georgian Theatre Royal first opened in 1788 and proudly stands today as the oldest working theatre in the UK still in its original form. Built by actor/manager Samuel Butler as part of his northern circuit, which also included theatres in Beverley, Harrogate, Kendal, Northallerton, Ripon, Ulverston and Whitby, it gave audiences a chance to enjoy spectacle right on their doorstep. For forty years it thrived, but as the 1830s started decline set in and by 1848 the curtain came down and the little theatre was converted into an auction room, with wine vaults sunk into the pit. However, that long hibernation turned out to be its blessing in disguise. Because the theatre itself was barely touched in its years of neglect, what slumbered was an 18th century time capsule just waiting to be rediscovered. In 1960 a group of passionate locals saw the dormant potential, formed a charitable trust and set about restoring the theatre, which reopened a mere three years later. Another significant refurbishment in 2003 brought a new foyer, bar and modern comforts while considerately preserving the building’s Grade I listed character. More recently, during lockdown, the auditorium gained improved seating, heating and even playful murals depicting a lively Georgian audience in the boxes. With just 154 seats arranged in an intimate courtyard layout, no one is ever more than about thirty feet from the stage. The wooden benches, cosy boxes and tiny upper gallery transport you straight back to the 18th century, yet the stage is very much alive with today’s talent. From high-quality drama and sparkling musicals to stand-up comedy and community pantomimes, The Georgian Theatre Royal continues to offer a vibrant programme to the local community. But, you don’t have to wait for curtain up to explore this treasure. From March to October, guided tours run every hour, letting visitors walk on stage, peek into dressing rooms and see the famous Woodland Scene – Britain’s oldest surviving stage scenery, painted around 1820 and carefully conserved. And if you can’t wait they also have a 360 view of the theatre available. As a charity, the theatre depends on community support and is currently running its “A Living Theatre” campaign to safeguard its future. Patrons can help preserve the historic fabric, sustain productions and back their Youth Theatre so that this gem continues to shine for centuries to come. You can even get involved creatively through their annual ‘Knit‑a‑Star’ Panto campaign as featured on The One Show, you can even tune in to their LiveCam, installed in 2023, which broadcasts real‑time and lets people from around the world peek in on the theatre’s backstage bustle; rehearsals, tech changes, guided tours. With Dame Judi Dench as president and royal patrons adding their weight, The Georgian Theatre Royal has starry supporters, but it remains rooted in the warmth of its community. Visit once and you’ll understand why many consider it not just a theatre but the artistic heart of Richmond. |
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
Had a couple of reader requests to add theatre related courses/training to the newsletter, so when/if I find any I’ll feature them here.
If you know of any 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 even better next time 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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