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Northern Theatre News
November - Week 2
Anthony Cawood
November 13, 2025
November - Week 2
Welcome to Northern Theatre News!
They’re behind you…
In front, to the side, every-blinking-where!
We’re getting dizzy trying to get all the listings together for this festive season. We will try to list everything, but we’ve discovered that’s actually quite a lot of pantos, shows and events. So if we miss something, please just let us know and we’ll add it next time.
That said, it’s lovely being able to feature some of our venues that don’t usually make the listings. So if you have the chance, and fancy some festive cheer, get yourself to your local theatre - they’d love the support.
Oh, no they won’t!
Oh, yes they will!
Our review this week is The Book of Mormon which we saw at Leeds Grand Theatre, make sure to catch it if you can, on its three-week visit!
And of course we have the usual mix of news, listings, offers, a bunch of new competitions and so much more in our biggest edition to date.
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
Two bits of linked news we love this week…
The Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere, is to undergo a name change in January… “After many wonderful years as the Old Laundry Theatre, we’re thrilled to announce that from early January, we’ll proudly take on a brand-new name: The Victoria Wood Theatre. Victoria Wood’s long-standing friendship, love of the Lake District and close connection to our theatre comes full circle, as we honour the late Victoria, a much loved and talented star, who will continue to shine brightly, when the theatre is officially renamed. “ |  Comedy royalty |
And… The Victoria Wood Theatre, as it will be by then, are debuting a brand new musical created using songs from Victoria Wood Song Book. Fourteen Again will run through May 2026 - tickets are available now.
In show news… John Godber Company have announced a 2026 tour of Teechers which will be hitting Bridlington, Scarborough, Doncaster, Blackpool, Durham, Windermere, Chesterfield, Barnsley, Hull, Bolton, Bradford, Harrogate. The tour starts in Jan and runs to May, they are also offering facilitated school workshops for the tour. |  |
Also announced this week is a 20th anniversary tour of Jersey Boys, hitting northern venues from June 2026.
We will be seeing it at Bradford Alhambra 20 Jul - 1 Aug, Manchester Palace Theatre 7 - 19 Sept, Hull New Theatre 28 Sept - 3 Oct, Blackpool Opera House 17 - 22 May, Sunderland Empire 25 May - 5 June, Leeds Grand Theatre 7 - 19 June, Sheffield Lyceum 21 June - 3 July, Liverpool Empire 19 - 24 July. Linked venues are on sale already!
 | Lastly, news just in that a brand new stage adaptation of the classic Liverpool tale Letter to Brezhnev will have its debut at Liverpool's Royal Court in Autumn 2026. The show will be adapted by Frank Clarke, who wrote the screenplay for the legendary 80s film. This new stage adaptation will run from 11 Sept to 10 Oct 2026. |
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!
October’s winner is alisonshearerknott - check your inbox and get back to me please.
What’s on over the coming weeks
North East
Darlington Hippodrome has Goldilocks and the Three Bears starring Brendan Cole, 5 - 31 Dec.
Still in Darlington and Hullabaloo has the super-cute The Paper Dolls for the younger children, runs 11 - 24 Dec
Alnwick Playhouse has Dracula 19 - 22 Nov followed by Hansel & Gretel 17 - 28 Dec.
Newcastle’s Live Theatre has Big Ange 6 - 22 Nov, followed by a series of readings of debbie tucker green works, 22 - 27 Nov. Then their seasonal fayre Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go At Christmas? 9 - 21 Dec.
Northern Stage has The Night Before ChrisMouse for the youngsters 22 Nov - 3 Jan. They also have Beauty & the Beast for the whole family 4 Dec - 3 Jan.
Newcastle’s Theatre Royal has Dear England 11 - 15 Nov, (see our review from the Leeds Grand stop). That’s followed by Aladdin 25 Nov - 18 Jan.
Tyne Theatre & Opera House has Cinderella 5 Dec - 4 Jan.
Finally in Newcastle, at the Alphabetti Theatre we have A Queermas Carol (The Gayest Ghost Story Evert Told) 17 - 20 Dec
Want your panto at the seaside with a CBBC star? Whitley Bay Playhouse has you covered, with Beauty and the Beast showing 5 Dec - 3 Jan.
Sunderland Empire has The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe 11 - 15 Nov. followed by Top Hat 18 - 22 Nov and Fiddler on the Roof 25 - 29 Nov.
Over in South Shields we have two seasonal shows at The Customs House, Goldilocks and the Three Bears runs 21 Nov - 3 Jan, with Help! I’ve Lost The Christmas List 29 Nov - 24 Dec.
Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond has Cinderella as their Christmas show, 2 Dec - 10 Jan. Check out our Theatre Spotlight on this awesome venue!
Over at The Phoenix Theatre in Blyth we have Aladdin 6 - 28 Dec.
Up in Hexham at the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre we have The Great Big Christmas Wrapping Disaster 6 - 31 Dec, which runs concurrently with Red Riding Hood 6 Dec - Jan 3.
Over at the Seaton Devalal Arts Centre we have Cinderella 28 Nov - 6 Dec.
In Stockton at ARC we have A Town Called Christmas 2 - 13 Dec and A Proper Merry Christmas 3 - 10 Dec.
Billingham Forum has The Further Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan 1 Dec - 4 Jan.
And over at the Empire Consett, we have Sleeping Beauty 28 Nov - 31 Dec.
The Gala Durham has Jack and the Beanstalk 20 Nov - 31 Dec and for the youger kiddos they have Christmas Eve 2 - 24 Dec.
Middlesbrough Theatre have Goldilocks and the Three Bears 5 - 31 Dec.
In Hartlepool we have Snow White 10 - 27 Dec at the Town Hall.
North West
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse has The Rock 'n' Roll Panto 2025: Jack and the Beanstalk 15 Nov - 17 Jan and transferring from Hope Mill Theatre is Young Frankenstein 3 Dec - 3 Jan.
Liverpool Empire has the hilarious Fawlty Towers - The Play 11 - 15 Nov (such sad news about Prunella Scales!). That’s followed by Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright 18 - 22 Nov, and Here & Now - The Steps Musical 25 - 29 Nov.
Still in Liverpool and over at the Royal Court we have The Scouse Christmas Carol 7 Nov - 17 Jan.
At The Epstein Theatre we have Cinderella 5 Dec - 4 Jan.
And last for Liverpool, Unity Theatre’s seasonal offering is Sleep Can Wait 12 - 23 Dec.
St. Helens Theatre Royal has Dick Whittington 28 Nov - 11 Jan.
In Port Sunlight on the Wirral the Gladstone Theatre has Peter Pan 6 - 31 Dec
Over at The Atkinson in Southport we have Beauty & the Beast 5 - 31 Dec
Up in Lancaster, the Grand has a rotating set of pantos, your choices are Snow White, Robin Hood and Puss in Boots all for different age groups - not seen anyone take this approach, I like it! The shows run between 28 Nov - 28 Dec.
Opera House Manchester has Acorn Antiques The Musical 2 - 16 Nov, followed by Top Hat 25 - 29 Nov, and then their panto offering, Robin Hood 6 Dec - 4 Jan.
Palace Theatre in Manchester has the new adpatation of Miss Saigon 4 - 15 Nov, followed by ENB’s The Sleeping Beauty 19 - 22 Nov, and then TINA - The Tina Turner Musical 25 Nov - 3 Jan.
Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester has Singin’ In The Rain 29 Nov - 18 Jan.
Home in Manchester has a lot coming up! Census 20 - 22 Nov, followed by Mark Thomas in Ordinary Decent Criminal 26 - 29 Nov, then their Dr Who inspired drag cabaret/panto It’s Behind WHO 2 - 6 Dec and finally the UK premiere of Freaky Friday 27 Nov - 10 Jan.
Still in Manchester, Hope Mill Theatre has a musical comedy treat! Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein 10 Oct - 30 Nov, and that’s followed by Jack Off The Beanstalk - not for the youngsters! 4 - 30 Dec.
Contact Theatre in Manchester has Perfect Show for Rachel 19 - 22 Nov, followed by their seasonal offering of Rumpelstiltskin 11 - 31 Dec.
Waterside Arts over in Sale has Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas 4 - 27 Dec
Shakespeare North Playhouse has Alice In Wonderland 21 Nov - 10 Jan.
Over at the Floral Pavilion they have Sleeping Beauty 6 Dec - 4 Jan.
Over to Blackpool and the Grand Theatre has Carlos Acosta's Nutcracker in Havana 12 - 15 Nov followed by their panto, Beauty and the Beast 5 Dec - 4 Jan.
Still in Blackpool and The Winter Gardens has Elf - The Musical 9 - 14 Dec.
Just down (or is it up?) the coast in Lytham St Annes, the Lowther Pavilion has Peter Pan 1 Dec - 4 Jan.
The Lowry, in Salford is heading into a super busy festive period, with the incredible Lost Atoms 11 - 15 Nov - check out our review. That’s followed by a series of Opera North shows 12 - 15 Nov. They also have The Talented Mr Ripley 17 - 22 Nov and Blood Brothers 18 - 22 Nov. If that wasn’t enough they then have The Red Shoes 25 - 29 Nov and The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe 3 Dec - 11 Jan… AND finally Unfortunate - The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch 5 Dec - 11 Jan… AND double finally The Enormous Crocodile - The Musical 10 Dec - 4 Jan.
Blackburn Empire has Snow White running 22 Nov - 4 Jan.
Storyhouse in Chester has the Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift 11 - 15 Nov, followed by their Christmas show - Beauty and the Beast 5 Dec - 4 Jan.
The Lyceum Theatre Crewe has Jack and the Beanstalk 12 Dec - 4 Jan.
At the Stockport Plaza we have Aladdin 5 Dec - 4 Jan.
Octagon Bolton has A Christmas Carol 13 Nov - 10 Jan and Mrs Claus Saves Christmas for the youngsters 10 - 24 Dec.
At The Met in Bury we have The Pied Piper of Hamelin 6 - 28 Dec.
And in Middleton at the Middleton Arena we have Aladdin 25 Nov - 29 Dec.
Theatre by the Lake in Keswick has The Wizard of Oz 14 Nov - 11 Jan, Ibsen’s classic A Doll’s House 26 - 29 Nov, and Little Gift 10 - 27 Dec. They’ve also just announced their Spring - Summer Season.
Yorkshire & Humberside
Leeds Grand Theatre has The Book of Mormon 11 - 19 Nov see our review, that’s followed by Miss Saigon 2 - 13 Dec.
Still in Leeds and City Varieties has Aladdin: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto 28 Nov - 11 Jan.
Leeds Playhouse have their amazing production of A Christmas Carol 20 Nov - 17 Jan with Stick Man running 6 Dec - 4 Jan.
Still in Leeds at the Carriageworks Theatre they have Sleeping Beauty 21 Nov - 4 Jan.
Bradford’s Alhambra has amazing Matilda 30 Oct - 23 Nov, followed by Snow White 6 Dec - 18 Jan.
Meanwhile, Bradford Playhouse has…
 12 - 15 Nov |  26 - 30 Nov |  12 - 30 Dec |
Cast in Doncaster has Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers 11 - 15 Nov.
Doncaster Little Theatre has Rapunzel 6 - 31 Dec.
Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield has Beauty and the Beast 1 Dec - 4 Jan.
Victoria Theatre in Halifax also has Beauty and the Beast 13 Dec - 4 Jan.
Wakefield Theatre Royal has Jack and the Beanstalk as their panto, running 25 Nov - 4 Jan, they have also announced their Spring Season
Over in Scarborough at Stephen Joseph Theatre we have Black Tie Ball 12 - 15 Nov followed by Sleeping Beauty 29 Nov - 31 Dec.
Still on the coast, Bridlington Spa has Dick Whittington 12 Dec - 4 Jan.
York Theatre Royal has Charles Dickens’ Ghost Stories 24 - 30 Nov (at York Medical Society) followed their hugely popular panto Sleeping Beauty 2 dec - 4 Jan.
The Grand Opera House in York has Sunny Afternoon 11 - 15 Nov followed by the seasonal Slava’s Snow Show 19 - 23 Nov and then their panto Cinderella 6 Dec - 4 Jan.
Still in York at the Friargate Theatre we have A Christmas Carol 11 - 13 Dec followed by Christmas Inn Trouble 20 - 24 Dec.
Across at Pocklington Arts Centre we have Jingle All The Way 11 - 23 Dec
Harrogate Theatre has Jack and the Beanstalk 26 Nov - 18 Jan.
East Riding Theatre has Jack The Ripper - The Legacy 19 - 22 Nov followed by The Snow Queen 4 - 27 Dec.
Hull Truck Theatre has The Old Curiosity Shop 13 - 15 Nov followed by Oliver Twist 28 Nov - 4 Jan and The Little Mermaid 11 Dec - 4 Jan. They’ve also just released their new season brochure.
Hull New Theatre has Beauty and the Beast 10 - 31 Dec it’s sure to make you chuckle (see what I did there!).
Down in Barnsley at the Lamproom we have Snow White 6 Dec - 3 Jan.
Barnsley Civic has Sleeping Beauty 6 - 28 Dec.
Rotherham Civic Theatre has Snow White 27 Nov - 4 Jan.
Over in Sheffield at the Lyceum we have The Band 11 - 15 Nov followed by Here & Now 18 - 22 Nov and Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift 25 - 29 Nov and finally their panto Aladdin 5 Dec - 4 Jan.
At The Crucible we have A Christmas Carol 29 Nov - 10 Jan.
And still in Sheffield, at the Montgomery we have The Elves and the Shoemaker 4 - 7 Dec.
From my quick tally we have twenty pantos up north, from infant to adult versions, and the one most performed this year? Cinderella with eight venues staging it, closely followed by Beauty & the Beast and Sleeping Beauty both with seven venues selecting them to show.
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 - “Of course this is from the South Park guys, so nothing is as obvious as it seems, every song, joke and line has a little more to say than just the surface offence it revels in. “
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, so seems fitting for World Ballet day that they are running an offer where your first three months subscription is just 99p per month.
Disclaimer: I subscribed to this offer myself, I make no money from recommending it ;-(
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.
First up we have a trio of competitions from the amazing folks at Official London Theatre.
Theatre spotlight
Repeat this week as I timed out collating all the panto info! But do check out their panto Cinderella and get involved with their star knitting too!
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
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 whole 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 spread the news.
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