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Northern Theatre News
February 2026 - Week 5
Anthony Cawood
February 25, 2026
In partnership with
February 2026 - Week 5
Welcome to Northern Theatre News!
Another early edition as we were able to get a reviewer over to Bradford Alhambra to see Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, check out our review.
This week is our usual mix of listings, news, competitions and more. 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
Leeds Heritage Theatres have announced a Spring programme of events for little adventurers aged 5–12 (and their grown-ups!) who can enjoy a vibrant mix of free and paid events from creative workshops and imaginative performances to surprising encounters, with a chance to discover Leeds' favourite cultural spaces in brand-new ways.
A joyful, curiosity-sparking programme of films, performances and hands-on fun, Explore will take over Leeds Grand Theatre, City Varieties Music Hall and Hyde Park Picture House from Fri 3 to Sun 18 April, with events at the Howard Assembly Room and on Briggate too.
Over in Liverpool there’s news of another Easter treat, this one at the Epstein Theatre who have The Wizard of Oz 3 - 9 April.
On tour we have news that Paranormal Activity is visiting a bunch of our northern venues later this year and next, including York Grand Opera House, The Lowry in Salford, Leeds Playhouse, Sheffield Lyceum, Bradford Alhambra, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Hull New Theatre and Liverpool Empire.
Later in the year York Theatre Royal will host a revival of Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad. Adapted from her critically acclaimed novella of the same name, this exuberant feminist retelling of Homer's The Odyssey gives voice to the silenced Penelope and her chorus of maids. Runs 10 - 24 Oct.
Last bit of show news, a stage adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s chilling novel The Haunting of Hill House, is coming to Palace Theatre Manchester and Liverpool Playhouse later in the year.
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.
Congrats to Maria Garrick who is our January winner!
What’s on over the coming weeks
North East
Newcastle’s Theatre Royal has Mamma Mia! 11 - 28 Feb followed by TINA - The Tina Turner Musical 3 - 14 March
Live Theatre in Newcastle has Shuggy Boats 6 - 21 March
Over at Northern Stage we have Noughts & Crosses 27 Feb - 7 March followed by I, Daniel Blake 20 March - 4 April
Sunderland Empire has Matilda 11 - 28 Feb followed by Woman in Mind 4 - 7 March.
North West
Liverpool Empire has Red Shoes 24 - 28 Feb.
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse has The Woman in Black 24 - 28 Feb followed by The Memory of Water 25 Feb - 14 March, War of the Worlds 4 - 7 March, and then The Constant Wife 10 - 14 March
Palace Theatre in Manchester has Priscilla Queen of the Desert 19 - 28 Feb followed by Mamma Mia! 3 - 21 March.
Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester has Road 13 Feb - 14 March
Home in Manchester has Kate Ireland 26 - 28 Feb and Tim Key 5 -7 March
Still in Manchester, Hope Mill Theatre has Kind of Love 24 Feb - 1 March followed by Vignettes 4 - 8 March.
Over to Blackpool and the Grand Theatre has Derren Brown 24 - 28 March.
Over in Chester at The Storyhouse we have Macbeth 6 - 21 March and we have a Q&A with Jamie Sophia Fletcher who has adapted and directed this new version of the classic.
The Lowry, in Salford has the eagerly awaited tour of Operation Mincemeat 16 - 28 Feb plus Pinocchio 17 - 27 Feb and I Do 18 - 22 Feb (immersive theatre in a Hotel!) and then War of the Worlds 25 - 28 Feb.
Shakespeare North Playhouse has Two by Jim Cartwright 6 - 28 March.
Dukes in Lancaster has Private Lives 24 - 28 Feb and Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty 10 - 14 March.
Octagon Bolton has Macbeth 4 - 28 March.
Yorkshire & Humberside
Leeds Grand Theatre has Sunny Afternoon 24 - 28 Feb and Gentleman Jack, the brand new Ballet, 7 - 14 March.
Leeds Playhouse has A Midsummer Night’s Dream 14 - 28 Feb, check out our review, followed by Small Island 11 - 28 March
Bradford’s Alhambra has Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story 24 - 28 Feb - check out our review!
Bradford Playhouse has Calendar Girls 11 - 14 March.
York Theatre Royal has Denis Potter’s Blue Remembered Hills 18 - 28 Feb.
The Grand Opera House in York has Barnum 24 - 28 Feb followed by Death on the Nile 3 - 7 March.
Hull New Theatre has Friends! The Musical Parody 2 - 7 March.
Hull Truck Theatre has Macbeth 5 - 28 Feb followed by The Grand Babylon Hotel 10 - 13 March.
Over in Sheffield at the Lyceum we have Single White Female 24 - 28 Feb and Legally Blonde 3 - 7 March.
The Playhouse has Living 14 March - 4 Apr.
The Crucible has The Ladies Football Club 28 Feb - 28 March
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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.
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
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.
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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