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Northern Theatre News
March 2026 - Week 3
Anthony Cawood
March 18, 2026
In partnership with
March 2026 - Week 3
Welcome to Northern Theatre News!
Another week and another theatre trip, this time to Bradford to see The Woman in Black at the Alhambra - check out our review. We’ve also done a Theatre Spotlight on the Alhambra this week, so scroll down for more info on this amazing venue!
Also special shout out to Northern Ballet and the stunning Gentleman Jack! I thought I was going to miss it but managed to grab a last minute ticket and see it on the penultimate night - incredible!
And of course we have 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
First up, congrats to Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester which has started 2026 – its 10th Anniversary Year - in award-winning fashion by winning two major national awards for its work and productions.
In January Hope Mill was named Fringe Theatre of the Year in the prestigious The Stage Awards held at the Royal Opera House and on Sunday its hit musical Young Frankenstein won the Best Studio Production in the What's On Stage Awards held at the London Palladium.
Still with Hope Mill Theatre, and their co-production with Chris Harper Productions with Lowry are delighted to announce that Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL starring Tobias Turley, Leonor Correia, Caitlin Tipping and Luke Bayer as Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay and Ryan respectively, will extend its run at Lowry, Salford due to phenomenal demand.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the iconic movie, Lowry, Salford, will open the first UK non-replica production on 22 August 2026, and will now run until Saturday 19 September 2026.
More casting news…
Producers Naoya Kinoshita, Kumiko Yoshii, John Gore, Kenny Wax, Michael Wolk, Jack Lane and Leo Stages today announce the full casting for the UK premiere production of THE KARATE KID - THE MUSICAL. Based on the smash hit Columbia Pictures motion picture, this new stage adaptation features a book by Robert Mark Kamen, screenwriter of the original 1984 film that launched a 40-year global franchise, and music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini. The production will embark on a UK tour beginning in April 2026, before heading to Toronto from September, where it will make its Canadian premiere.
Adrian Pang will lead the company as Mr. Miyagi, with Gino Ochello as Daniel LaRusso, Abigail Amin as Ali Mills, Joe Simmons as Johnny Lawrence, Matt Mills as John Kreese, Sharon Sexton as Lucille LaRusso, and Finley Oliver as Freddie Fernandez.
The ensemble includes Ambra Caserotti, Johndeep More, Ria Tanaka, Elena Breschi, Aden Dzuda, Elliott Evans, El Haq Latief, Isaac J Lewis, Emily Rose-Davis, Aaron Archer, Dylan Blake-Colbet, Serenar Douch, Esme Rothero and Sok-Ho Trinh.
The tour is hitting a host of northern venues from May, including Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and Sunderland.
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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.
What’s on over the coming weeks
North East
Newcastle’s Theatre Royal has Hamlet 31 March - 4 April followed by Priscilla Queen of the Desert 6 - 11 April.
Live Theatre in Newcastle has Shuggy Boats 6 - 21 March followed by The Fit Prince 7 - 10 April
Over at Northern Stage we have I, Daniel Blake 20 March - 4 April
Sunderland Empire has Blood Brothers 17 - 21 March followed by Bluey’s Big Play 25 - 29 March
North West
Liverpool Empire has Derren Brown’s Only Human 24 - 28 March.
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse has Waiting for Godot 17 March - 4 April and The Shawshank Redemption 31 March - 4 April.
Palace Theatre in Manchester has Mamma Mia! 3 - 21 March followed by Matilda 26 March - 25 April.
Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester has Private Lives 27 March - 2 May.
Home in Manchester has Crime and Punishment 19 - 21 March - check out our review!
Still in Manchester, Hope Mill Theatre has Sister Act 9 - 19 April.
Over to Blackpool and the Grand Theatre has the RSC’s Hamlet 24 - 28 March - check out our review!
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 Constant Wife 17 - 21 March - check out our review!
Shakespeare North Playhouse has Two by Jim Cartwright 6 - 28 March.
Dukes in Lancaster has I, Daniel Blake 14 - 16 April.
Octagon Bolton has Macbeth 4 - 28 March.
Yorkshire & Humberside
Leeds Grand Theatre has TINA - The Tina Turner Musical 17 March - 4 April.
Leeds Playhouse has Small Island 11 - 28 March then War of the Worlds 25 - 28 March.
Bradford’s Alhambra has The Woman in Black 17 - 21 March - check out our review!
Georgian Theatre Royal, in Richmond has The Mirror Crack’d 18 - 21 March
York Theatre Royal has The Secret Garden - The Musical 17 March - 4 April.
The Grand Opera House in York has Bluey’s Big Play 19 - 22 March.
has The Grand Babylon Hotel 18 - 21 March, followed by Murder for Two 28 March - 18 April
Hull New Theatre has Derren Brown’s Only Human 17 - 21 March.
Hull Truck Theatre has Teechers 21 - 30 April.
Over in Sheffield at the Lyceum we have The Cher Show 24 - 28 March and Northern Ballet’s Gentleman Jack (which is amazing!) 31 March - 4 April.
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.
Theatre spotlight - Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
All images are credit The Alhambra or NTN unless stated otherwise.  The original site prior to building  Impressive!  Stunning at night!  New glass frontage installed in 1985  Spacious foyer  Stunning ceiling rose  Amazing boxes in the plush red auditorium | Sitting proudly in the city centre, this Bradford landmark has been part of the cultural life of the city for more than a century and still has that rare knack of making a night at the theatre feel like a proper occasion. Opened in 1914, the venue has long been one of Yorkshire’s great homes for big touring productions, and it remains a major stop for musicals, dance, drama and the kind of festive pantomime chaos that audiences return for year after year. And what a building it is. The Alhambra’s grand exterior, with its domes and striking white frontage, gives it real presence before you’ve even stepped through the doors. Inside, it delivers all the classic theatre magic you’d hope for, with an auditorium that feels suitably grand without losing that sense of welcome. The Alhambra has built its reputation on scale. This is a theatre known for attracting the big hitters, whether that means blockbuster musicals, major dance companies or much loved touring productions. Bradford Theatres describes it as “a historic venue presenting musicals, drama, dance and Yorkshire’s biggest pantomime”, which feels about right. It is very much one of those places where theatre lovers can settle into the plush seats and expect something sizeable to be happening on stage. But what makes the Alhambra especially lovely is that it is not just a handsome old building trading on its past glory. It still feels active, relevant and rooted in the life of the city. Its city centre location makes it an easy choice for a proper day or night out in Bradford, and for many audiences it is woven into personal history too, whether that means first musicals, annual panto trips, or those unforgettable evenings when a touring show absolutely knocks your socks off. There is also something reassuringly Northern about the Alhambra. It is grand, yes, but never aloof. It feels like a theatre that belongs to its audience. A place for big nights, shared laughs, collective gasps and the occasional interval debate over whether one ice cream is ever really enough. In short, Bradford Alhambra is one of the North’s true theatre heavyweights. Historic without feeling dusty, impressive without feeling intimidating, and still delivering the kind of nights out that remind you exactly why live performance matters. |
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 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.
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