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Northern Theatre News
October - Week 1
Anthony Cawood
October 01, 2025
October - Week 1
Welcome to Northern Theatre News!
This week saw me venture over to Liverpool to the newly re-opened Epstein Theatre to catch the brand new musical Shake It Up Baby which covers the Beatles during their Hamburg years - Read our review
Plus we have the usual mix of news, listings, offers, competitions and so much more in this week’s 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
News just in that The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are to attend The Tempest at Shakespeare North Playhouse this month! Visiting on 6 Oct I’m sure they’ll have a great time with this classic from The Bard (my personal fave)
Sheffield Theatres have named Dan Walker as Chair of the Board for Sheffield Theatres Trust beginning with immediate effect. The highly respected broadcaster and journalist said: "It is a real honour to be asked to be part of something that I know is so loved and respected in Sheffield. My family always enjoy going to the theatre and we are really proud of the rich heritage and performance quality that Sheffield is known for. I can't wait to try and support the work of our theatres both here in this beautiful city and beyond".
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Producers ROYO, Future Artists Entertainment, Curve and Lowry are delighted to announce the world premiere of BANK OF DAVE THE MUSICAL will open in May 2026 at Lowry and Curve respectively. The musical will have a book and lyrics by Rob Madge (My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?), Cabaret), music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary (The Great British Bake Off Musical, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ ) and will be directed by Curve Artistic Director Nikolai Foster (Kinky Boots, A Chorus Line).
Tickets for the Lowry are on sale now.
BANK OF DAVE THE MUSICAL is based on the Sunday Times best-selling book, BAFTA Award-winning documentary and global-hit Netflix film of the same name with a screenplay by Piers Ashworth.
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!
Our September winner will be announced in the next edition - keep an eye on your inbox!
What’s on over the next few weeks
North East
Newcastle’s Live Theatre has the harrowing Bad Lads, brand new and based on real testimonies from boys held in Medomsley Youth Detention Centre, runs 2 - 11 Oct, and with a post show discussion on 9 Oct.
Newcastle’s Theatre Royal has the brand new adaptation of Miss Saigon 4 - 25 Oct
Darlington Hippodrome has a new adaptation of the classic Little Women, runs 30 Sept - 4 Oct
Sunderland Empire has the incredible Mary Poppins 1 - 25 Oct.
Billingham’s Forum Theatre has Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story 30 Sept - 4 Oct.
North West
Liverpool’s Everyman has Romeo & Juliet 13 Sept - 4 Oct.
The Playhouse in Liverpool has Syncopated, a new play 23 Sept - 4 Oct. Followed by the live experience of Uncanny 2 - 4 Oct
Liverpool Empire has the hilarious Book of Mormon 30 Sept - 4 Oct.
Liverpool’s Royal Court has Derby Days, a brand new comedy that’s more than just a game, 12 Sept - 18 Oct.
Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre has Shake It Up Baby running 26 Sept - 11 Oct. Read our review
Opera House Manchester has 13 Going On 30 - The Musical, based on the hit film and running 21 Sept - 12 Oct.
Palace Theatre in Manchester has the spectacular Moulin Rouge until 4 Oct. Followed by Sunny Afternoon 11 - 18 Oct
Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester has Dancing at Lughnasa 10 Oct - 8 Nov
Home in Manchester has The Shawshank Redemption 7 - 11 Oct
Still in Manchester, Hope Mill Theatre has a musical comedy treat! Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein 10 Oct - 30 Nov
Over in Blackpool, the Winter Gardens have The Bodyguard 1 - 4 Oct
Also in Blackpool and the Grand Theatre has Noel & Gertie 15 - 18 Oct
The Lowry, in Salford, has Death on the Nile 26 Sept - 4 Oct in the Lyric. In the Quays Theatre they have Eddie Izzard’s Hamlet 1 - 2 Oct. Thats followed by Black Sabbath - The Ballet 8at the Lyric - 11 Oct and Far Gone in the Aldridge Studio 8 - 10 Oct
Storyhouse in Chester has the classic Little Women 14 - 18 Oct
Octagon Bolton has King Arthur 30 Sept - 4 Oct. Followed by the Ayckbourn classic Snake in the Grass 9 - 25 Oct
Theatre by the Lake in Keswick has Di, Viv and Rose 19 Sept - 11 Oct.
Touring the North West for the next few weeks we have Silent Approach, based on police officer Rebecca House’s harrowing real-life experience of a drug-induced psychotic episode and psychiatric detention.
Central Library, Blackburn - 1 - 2 Oct - Tickets
Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St Annes - 5 Oct - Tickets
Oak Theatre, Scarisbrick - 11 Oct - Tickets
Yorkshire & Humberside
Leeds Playhouse has Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird at the Quarry theatre, 8 Sept - 4 Oct.
Check out our Northern Theatre News review
Leeds Grand Theatre has a range of Opera North shows on over the next few weeks.
Bradford Alhambra has Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell 30 Sept - 4 Oct
Touring Bradford from 23 Sept - 16 Oct is Otherhood, a new play created for Bradford 2025 - UK City of Culture.
Over at Bingley Little Theatre we have David Ayres’ Dead London 3 - 5 Oct.
York Theatre Royal has Lost Atoms from Frantic Assembly 7 - 11 Oct, review to come.
The Grand Opera House in York has Friends! The Musical Parody 30 Sept - 4 Oct. Followed by the sell-out SIX 14 - 18 Oct
Stephen Joseph Theatre has the premier of Earth Angel, the new play from Alan Ayckbourn,13 Sept - 11 Oct.
East Riding Theatre has Beverly Does Broadway 7 - 11 Oct
Hull Truck Theatre has Pride & Prejudice 18 Sept - 11 Oct.
Hull New Theatre has the toruing production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe 30 Sept - 4 Oct
Sheffield’s Playhouse has the twisted black-comedy Consumed, check out this insightful interview with the award winning playwright Karis Kelly - running 24 Sept - 11 Oct
Continuing in Sheffield at the Lyceum we have the Austen classic Emma, 7 - 11 Oct.
And at the Crucible Sheffield, we have Dancing at Lughnasa, 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 - this week it’s reviews!
Here are the shows we’ve seen recently.
Excerpt - ‘I watched Shake It Up Baby! yesterday, and it fast became one of the best jukebox musicals I have seen in my life.’
Coming soon, Lost Atoms
Ticket offers not to miss!
I’ll try and bring you any ticket deals and offers I can find…
Other News
I don’t normally cover one night shows, but something compelled me to include this one! Playing in Liverpool at The Studio Below is The Last Days of Trump as part of Liverpool Fringe. ‘Less a partisan hit-job than a satire about unintended consequences and the hand of fate, this political comedy explores how we all would love to be a dictator deep down.’ |  |
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. This week we are visiting the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool!
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.
Liverpool's Royal Court is looking for new voices to join its Stage Write programme, which works to develop writing skills and guide writers to developing a full-length script for the stage,
Meeting two evenings a month for nine months, the programme is completely free and is open to writers living or studying in Liverpool City Region. The deadline for applications is 5pm Monday 3 November.
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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