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Northern Theatre News
January 2026 - Week 1
Anthony Cawood
January 04, 2026
January 2026 - Week 1
Welcome to Northern Theatre News!
We are now into our second year of NTN, thank you to all the subscribers who’s feedback and support has made this possibe - HAPPY NEW YEAR!
As we move out of panto season a lot of theatres take a breather so the news and listings will be light for the next few weeks but we will continue with the usual mix of content for you.
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
The Stage Awards shortlists have been announced, and for our northern venues shout out to York Theatre Royal, Hull Truck Theatre, Royal Exchange Theatre, Hope Mill Theatre, and Laurels in Whitley Bay - all now finalists in their respective categories!
Leeds Playhouse have announced a one-woman show commissioned by London Palestine Film Festival based on testimonies and poems from children in Gaza comes to the Courtyard Theatre from 6 - 7 Feb.
Blending Palestinian folklore and real-life testimonies from children in Gaza, A Grain of Sand brings a story of resilience and hope to Leeds Playhouse in February.
A Grain of Sand, Leeds Playhouse
6 - 7 Feb
The first production images have been released for Alan Ayckbourn’s psychological comedy Woman in Mind. Starring Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan which will be visiting Sunderland Empire 4 - 7 March.
 Sheridan Smith |  Romesh Ranganathan |
 |  |
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!
November’s winner was mcnultylou - congrats!
What’s on over the coming weeks
North East
Alnwick Playhouse have Aladdin 20 - 24 Jan.
Darlington Hippodrome has The Woman in Black 6 - 10 Jan - book here.
Newcastle’s Theatre Royal has Aladdin 25 Nov - 18 Jan.
Whitley Bay Playhouse has moves from one panto to another with Robin Hood on 13 - 18 Jan.
Sunderland Empire has The Rocky Horror Show coming 19 - 24 Jan.
Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond has Cinderella as their Christmas show, 2 Dec - 10 Jan. Check out our Theatre Spotlight on this awesome venue!
Up in Hexham at the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre they’ve followed their two seasonal shows with an extra one Hansel and Gretel running 15 - 17 Jan.
Arts Centre Washington have Beauty and the Beast 16 - 31 Jan
And over at the Empire Consett, we have Robin Hood 12 - 17 Jan.
North West
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse has The Rock 'n' Roll Panto 2025: Jack and the Beanstalk 15 Nov - 17 Jan. Inspector Morse - House of Ghosts arrives 13 - 17 Jan.
Liverpool Empire has the timeless Mary Poppins 14 - 31 Jan.
Still in Liverpool and over at the Royal Court we have The Scouse Christmas Carol 7 Nov - 17 Jan - correction, it has been extended by an extra week, now runs to 24 Jan.
St. Helens Theatre Royal has Dick Whittington 28 Nov - 11 Jan.
In Port Sunlight on the Wirral the Gladstone Theatre has Beauty and the Beast 8 - 11 Jan.
Over at The Atkinson in Southport we have Peter Pan 15 - 25 Jan.
Palace Theatre in Manchester has SIX 13 - 17 Jan.
Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester has Singin’ In The Rain 29 Nov - 18 Jan… hot off the press, this has been extended through to 25 Jan!
Home in Manchester has the UK premiere of Freaky Friday 27 Nov - 10 Jan followed by The Home We Made 28 - 31 Jan
Still in Manchester, Hope Mill Theatre has Noel Coward’s Private Lives 28 Jan - 8 Feb.
Shakespeare North Playhouse has Cinderella 25 Nov - 10 Jan.
Over at the Floral Pavilion they have Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood 8 - 11 Jan.
Over to Blackpool and the Grand Theatre has the very first performances of the touring version of The Constant Wife starring Kara Tointon 16 - 17 Jan followed by Murder at Midnight 28 - 31 Jan
The Lowry, in Salford has a super busy festive period with The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe 3 Dec - 11 Jan… then Unfortunate - The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch 5 Dec - 11 Jan. Then they have the amazing adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird 13 - 24 Jan - check out our review from Leeds dates.
Storyhouse in Chester has The Ghost of Graves End 21 - 24 Jan.
Over in Crewe, The Lyceum Theatre has Blood Brothers 20 -24 Jan
Octagon Bolton has A Christmas Carol 13 Nov - 10 Jan followed by The Memory of Water 29 Jan - 21 Feb.
Theatre by the Lake in Keswick has The Wizard of Oz 14 Nov - 11 Jan. They’ve also just announced their Spring - Summer Season.
Yorkshire & Humberside
Leeds Grand Theatre has Fawlty Towers: The Play 6 - 10 Jan followed by Opera North’s The Marriage of Figaro 30 Jan - 20 Feb.
Still in Leeds and City Varieties has Aladdin: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto 28 Nov - 11 Jan. Check out our review!
Leeds Playhouse have their amazing production of A Christmas Carol 20 Nov - 17 Jan, followed by Uncanny: Fear of the Dark 27 - 29 Jan.
Bradford’s Alhambra has Snow White 6 Dec - 18 Jan. Check out our review! and that’s followed by FRIENDS! The Musical Parody 27 - 31 Jan
Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield has Jack and the Beanstalk 10 - 17 Jan.
York Theatre Royal has The Constant Wife as it starts its UK tour 26 - 31 Jan.
The Grand Opera House in York has The Woman in Black 13 - 17 Jan followed by The Talented Mr Ripley 19 - 24 Jan.
Harrogate Theatre has Jack and the Beanstalk 26 Nov - 18 Jan.
Hull New Theatre has Miss Saigon 20 - 24 Jan, followed by The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical 28 Jan - 1 Feb
Rotherham Civic Theatre has The Incident Room 19 - 23 Jan.
Over in Sheffield at the Lyceum we have Nutcracker in Havana 7 - 10 Jan and The Rocky Horror Show 12 - 17 Jan with Top Hat playing 20 - 24 Jan
The Playhouse has My Brother’s A Genius 28 Jan - 14 Feb.
At The Crucible we have A Christmas Carol 29 Nov - 10 Jan.
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!
Not so much of a ticket offer this time, but an offer to get an additional theatre fix from home with Marquee TV. They have a ton of theatre, opera, concerts and ballet, and they are running a new offer where your first month is subscription is just £1.
Also with a Jan offer we have The Theatre Channel at just £1.99 a month for 6 months! (Before it reverts to £5.99 a month)
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 - Epstein Theatre
All images are Northern Theatre News unless otherwise stated.  Entrance in the heart of the city, the theatre is above street level.  The neon signs acts as a beacon for culture vultures  The ‘N’ above the stage harks back to when the venue was named the Neptune Theatre  Incredible decor throughout!  There’s even room for a balcony level | Stroll down Hanover Street and you’ll spy a little gem that has lived more lives than most theatres could dream of. The Epstein Theatre has been through closures, campaigns and comebacks, yet it always finds a way to shine again. It first opened its doors in 1913 as Crane’s Music Hall, perched above the Crane Brothers’ piano shop. At the time it was mainly a place for musical recitals, but as the city’s appetite grew so did the theatre’s ambitions. By 1938 it was known simply as the Crane Theatre, staging full productions and drawing in loyal Liverpool crowds. Then came 1968, and with it the theatre’s first big transformation. Liverpool Corporation bought the building, spent a small fortune on a revamp (complete with a smart new front-of-house bar) and proudly re-launched it as the Neptune Theatre. The name was a nod to Liverpool’s seafaring soul, and even today you can still see little hints of that nautical theme if you look closely at the details. The Neptune years brought plenty of drama both on and off the stage. In 1993, when closure looked likely, theatre lovers refused to give in. Dame Judi Dench herself threw her weight behind the campaign to save it, and for years a professional Snow White pantomime kept the lights on and the auditorium full of families. The theatre fell dark again in 2005, but Liverpool wasn’t about to let go. A huge £1 million restoration project brought the building back to life in 2011. With its Victorian charm polished up and a brand-new name, it reopened as the Epstein Theatre, in honour of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. The connection to Brian is a quirky one - as a youngster he once performed here, and today his portrait by artist Tony Brown keeps watch from the foyer. Even with such a proud history, the story hasn’t always been easy. In June 2023 the council pulled its funding and the operators couldn’t keep the lease, leaving the Epstein dark once more. For many it felt like a heartbreaking full stop in a century-long story. But Liverpool has never been short on fighting spirit. In 2025, Theatrical Times Ltd stepped in with fresh backing and another £1 million to modernise the place. After a run of test shows through spring and summer, the grand reopening took place on 19 September (Brian Epstein’s birthday) with Ricky Tomlinson hosting a gala night that saw The Christians take to the stage alongside other homegrown favourites. I managed to catch Shake It Up Baby! this week, a brand-new musical about the Beatles’ wild days in Hamburg, and the atmosphere was electric. With history, character and sheer Northern determination on its side, it feels like this much-loved theatre is ready to enjoy the standing ovation it deserves. |
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.
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 spread the news.
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