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Northern Theatre News
March 2026 - Week 4
Anthony Cawood
March 23, 2026
In partnership with
March 2026 - Week 4
Welcome to Northern Theatre News!
It’s almost April - how has that happened, the year is flying by!
No matter how fast the year is going we’ll still bring you weekly updates with 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, could be good for NW theatres…
Love the creativity…
Leeds Heritage Theatres has expanded the plans for their Explore season with new events and venues added!
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.
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 and then 2:22 A Ghost Story 13 - 18 April
Live Theatre in Newcastle has The Fit Prince 7 - 10 April
Over at Northern Stage we have I, Daniel Blake 20 March - 4 April with Tim Key 23 - 25 April
Darlington Hippodrome has Murder at Midnight 1 - 4 April followed by The Enormous Crocodile 16 - 18 April
Stockton Globe has the amazing Sunny Afternoon 14 - 18 April
Sunderland Empire has Bluey’s Big Play 25 - 29 March followed by Mean Girls 6 - 11 April
The Playhouse over in Whitley Bay has The Tiger Who Came to Tea 14 - 16 April
North West
Liverpool Empire has Derren Brown’s Only Human 24 - 28 March followed by 2:22 A Ghost Story 6 - 11 April and Legally Blonde 14 - 18 April
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse has Waiting for Godot 17 March - 4 April and The Shawshank Redemption 31 March - 4 April.
Palace Theatre in Manchester has Matilda 26 March - 25 April.
Opera House Manchester has the new show from Russell Howard 2 - 5 April, then Diversity with their Soul tour 15 - 17 April and finally Carmen 22 - 25 April
Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester has Private Lives 27 March - 2 May.
Home in Manchester has The Bog Witch and A Grain of Sand 26 - 28 March followed by The City for Incurable Women 2 - 4 April
Still in Manchester, Hope Mill Theatre has Sister Act 9 - 19 April.
Finally in Manchester 53two has The Angry Brigade 25 March - 4 April
Over in Keswick, Theatre by the Lake has Lark Rise to Candleford 26 March - 18 April
The Victoria Wood Theatre over in Bowness-in-Windemere has Teechers 2 - 4 April
Over to Blackpool and the Grand Theatre has the RSC’s Hamlet 24 - 28 March - check out our review! followed by Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty 16 - 18 April
Over in Chester at The Storyhouse we have FRIENDS! The Musical Parody 30 March - 4 April
The Lowry, in Salford has Eric & Ern 24 - 28 March followed by Top Hat 31 March - 4 April and then Murder, She Didn’t Write 2 - 4 April
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 followed by Sherlock Holmes and the Hunt for Moriarty 1 - 4 April
Yorkshire & Humberside
Leeds Grand Theatre has TINA - The Tina Turner Musical 17 March - 4 April followed by Shrek: The Musical 7 - 11 April and The Constant Wife 14 - 18 April
Leeds Playhouse has Small Island 11 - 28 March and War of the Worlds 25 - 28 March followed by Punch 7 - 11 April
Bradford’s Alhambra has Fawlty Towers: The Play 24 - 28 March followed by Barnum 31 March - 4 April and Operation Mincemeat 6 - 11 April
Harrogate Theatre has The Grand Babylon Hotel 1 - 4 April followed by A Squash and a Squueze 10 - 12 April
York Theatre Royal has The Secret Garden - The Musical 17 March - 4 April followed by Meet Fred 31 March 2 April and then Hamlet 14 - 18 April
The Grand Opera House in York has 2:22 A Ghost Story 30 March - 4 April followed by Come from Away 10 - 18 April and then Legally Blonde 21 - 25 April
Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough has Murder for Two 28 March - 18 April
Hull New Theatre has Opera North’s The Marriage of Figaro 26 - 28 March followed by Blood Brothers 31 March - 4 April and then Mamma Mia! 7 - 18 April.
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
Sunderland Empire Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons  At night (ATG)  Stunning auditorium (ATG)  Freethinker / Sunderland Empire  One of the bars (ATG)  Google streetview  A packed house (ATG)  Youth Theatre (ATG) | It’s hard to miss the Sunderland Empire as it dominates the surrounding landscape, with its distinctive domed tower and Edwardian architecture, the Empire is a true landmark. With over 2,000 seats across 4 tiers* it’s also one of the largest stages outside London, often called “The West End of the North East.” Opened in 1907, as the Empire Palace, it was developed by Edward Moss and famously backed by Vesta Tilley, one of the most celebrated drag kings of the music hall era, and her husband Walter de Frece, a theatrical impresario who envisioned a circuit of grand “Empires” across the country. The building itself is stunning: red velvet seats, sweeping balconies, Edwardian plasterwork, and a fully equipped orchestra pit used for major productions. There’s an unmistakable sense of grandeur as soon as you step inside. Whether you’re here to watch a west-end touring production, a festive panto, or a world-class ballet, the atmosphere is always electric. The theatre originally hosted variety acts, opera, comedy and silent films, and over the decades it’s welcomed legends like Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, and Tommy Steele. The Beatles, played there in 1963 at the height of Beatlemania and Helen Mirren made her stage dubut at the Empire. Tragedy however struck in 1976 when the beloved Sid James suffered a heart attack on stage and passed away on the way to hospital. Perhaps that event is partially responsible for the Empire’s reputation as one of the most haunted theatres in the UK, with Les Dawson famously refusing to play there ever again. Check out this cracking Youtube video for more on this spooky aspect of the Empire Now owned by the local council and operated by the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), the Empire has seen significant investment over the years, not just in its backstage and technical capabilities but also in its front-of-house experience and accessibility. But what really sets the Sunderland Empire apart is its strong regional impact alongside big‑scale productions. Through its Creative Learning programme, the theatre delivers workshops, school sessions, and partnerships with major companies like Disney, the National Theatre, and Birmingham Royal Ballet. It also runs the Sunderland Empire Academy of Performing Arts, offering weekly classes in acting, singing, and dance for ages 6–18, and hosts Bright Minds Youth Theatre, a relaxed group for neurodivergent teens performing nationally. These initiatives ensure the Empire remains a true cultural hub for local communities. For more info on the Empire check out this great Youtube video from the Sunderland Echo. *when all standing positions are taken. |
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.
Thanks for reading and subscribing, and please spread the news.
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