Theatre

Moulin Rouge The Musical is heading to Manchester for the first time EVER

A story about truth, beauty, freedom; but above all things, love. (Contains affiliate links)

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 10th October 2024

For the first time ever, smash hit show Moulin Rouge The Musical is heading to Manchester on its debut world tour.

The multi-award-winning spectacle has announced an eight week run of shows at the Palace Theatre, and has just released the dates for when tickets will go on sale.

Moulin Rouge The Musical is set to bring ‘a world of splendour and romance, eye-popping excess, glitz, grandeur and glory’ to Manchester next autumn.

The musical, based on Baz Lurhmann’s revolutionary film starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, features more than 70 hit songs from across 160 years of music.

Audiences will hear everything from Offenbach to Lady Gaga as the Palace Theatre stage is transformed into 19th century Paris.

The musical is set amidst the unparalleled extravagance and beauty of the iconic Moulin Rouge nightclub, where the space beneath the red windmill is filled with bohemians and aristocrats, boulevardiers and reprobates.

It follows the tale of lovesick American writer Christian and the subject of his affections, Satine, the star of the Moulin Rouge.

Their glittering love story is halted by the nightclub’s host and mastermind, Harold Zidler, and the Duke of Monroth, who wishes to buy the Moulin Rouge – and with it, Satine.

The all-singing, all-dancing cast also includes starving artist Toulouse-Lautrec and tango dancer Santiago, along with a full line-up of Can Can dancers, musicians, and more.

This is the first time ever that Moulin Rouge The Musical has performed in Manchester, landing at the Palace theatre on 20 August 2025.

The show has won a whopping 10 2021 Tony Awards (including Best Musical), an Olivier Award, and masses more.

Carmen Pavlovic for Global Creatures, producer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, said: “It is thrilling that the Manchester Palace will host Moulin Rouge! The Musical next year as part of its world tour.

Moulin Rouge The Musical is heading to Manchester for the first time EVER
Moulin Rouge The Musical is heading to Manchester for the first time EVER. Credit: Matt Murphy

“Manchester is such a welcoming, lively and culturally vibrant city, world renowned for its rich artistic and musical heritage.

“A city also known for defending free speech and liberty of opinion, so we know that the bohemians and artisans of the Montmartre will be embraced with open arms. We can’t wait to welcome Manchester to the Moulin Rouge!”

Casting is still to be announced.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical will come to the Palace Theatre Manchester between Wednesday 20 August and Saturday 4 October 2025.

Pre-sale tickets will go on sale at 12pm on Tuesday 5 November, before the general public sale begins on Thursday 7 November.

Read more: World-renowned Matilda The Musical is coming to Manchester on its major UK tour

Featured image: Matt Murphy

Theatre

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – a masterclass in comedy, colour and movement

Danny Jones Danny Jones Joseph Technicolor Dreamcoat Manchester Opera House review 2025

To start with, we’re going to begin this review by advocating for going into stage shows with as little knowledge as possible because it only dials up the already exaggerated nature even further – we knew next to nothing about Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat before seeing it in Manchester.

And we truly think it helped.

Now, when we say nothing, we’ve obviously heard the title plenty of times over the years as it remains one of the most celebrated musical productions on the planet, and you don’t need to be an avid theatre buff to know who Andrew Lloyd Webber is. The point being is that all we knew was its reputation.

Going along with a second party several decades older than us who shared the same blindspot and just never quite understood what all the fuss was about makes the next part even funnier: we both loved it.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Opera House tickets
Colour, colour and more colour.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat review Manchester
Some impressive yet superbly simple production value.
Our review of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Opera House in Manchester. (Credit: Press Tristram Kenton)

We’re not going to dive too heavily into the story as we’re sure plenty of you who are more well-versed in the genre don’t need a synopsis regurgitating for the umpteenth time, but what we will say is that we’re somewhat glad we weren’t aware of its religious themes and numerous biblical references.

Not because we have any particular issue with Christianity nor adapting stories within theologies to turn them into entertainment, but because as atheists we probably would have been less keen to choose this particular text over another.

However, this is why we’re thankful for going in blind as we fear many others have missed out on this long-standing vibrant, energetic, all-singing, all-dancing twist on the tale of Genesis for decades simply due to being non-believers/agnostic.

That being said, we can confidently assure you that not only can you put your thoughts on faith to one side for the duration of the performance but, for us at least, it felt like it was more of an undercurrent than anything else and had little bearing on what a truly joyful evening for all ages.

You also get hand-held through it through the eyes of the children being retold the story right in front of you by the expert narrator, Christina Bianco, whose interventions and comic timing were lethal on a crowd already easily cracked up by a punchline or two – but she had the best of the lot.

Those Canaan Days song
‘Those Canaan Days’
Christina Bianco actor
Christina Bianco
(Credit: Tristram Kenton)

Where else to begin than with Joseph himself, played by Adam Filipe, who although we’ll admit to being layman on the subject until last night, feels almost born to play the role.

Not only did he bring respite to an otherwise frenetic (in the best way possible) onslaught of singing with his ability to deliver certain lines as nothing more than perfectly enunciated and emotional speech, but his voice was on point throughout and the way he made full use of the stage from the start was great.

One particularly immature slide up the curved wall of the set in the opening five minutes and we knew all we needed to know about not just movement but the rest of the cast too; pretty much non-stop movement and expression virtually at all times.

The dancing – particularly a rather hilarious ‘can-can’ confusion – was top-notch throughout and no matter which bright, flowing costume he or the ensemble was wearing during a specific number, they all looked the part and didn’t put a foot out of place.

Adam Filipe Joseph
Even a more serious interlude was welcome.
opera house manchester shows
We’d have loved more yellow-forward moment and backdrops in the palette but that’s just us being picky…
Credit: Press Images

But much to our delight, there really wasn’t one standout performance that stood head and shoulders above the rest, simply because they were all brilliant.

Whether it was the Jacobs and Sons company of brothers bringing both melodrama and some comic relief, or the score of female dancers delivering an elegance and added level of pageantry to proceedings, they all played their part.

However, every time one or more of the kids took to the stage a show-stealing moment was ripe for the picking and they all seized their opportunity, be it in unison or in the select few solo moments in the spotlight. An audience is always going to get up for youngsters shining front and centre.

But, we suppose if we absolutely had to give another special mention to another member of the production and single them out, there’s only one person it could be…

Having previously played the lead role back in 2016 following his X-Factor success, Joe McElderry returns to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the Manc crowd in the role of the Pharoah and boy was he good having passed the baton and shifted gears. So good and so funny.

joe mcelderry joseph technicolor dreamcoat
joe mcelderry as the pharoah
Credit: Supplied

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As well as an expert command of light, colour and choreography, the one thing we were surprised by was just how well-placed the comedy was throughout.

Not too much, not too little and nothing too contrived – a hard balance to strike and one that helps ease in those rare typically theatre-goers prone to a touch of cringe.

All in all, we sincerely urge you to go and see this show for yourselves, especially if you’re like us and have never given it a chance before. You won’t regret it.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is on in Manchester until Sunday, 9 March. You can still grab tickets HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Tristram Kenton (supplied)

Theatre

Hit theatre production set at a house party to visit Manchester on UK tour

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Hit theatre production set at a house party to visit Manchester on UK tour

Alright then, 24 hour party people, we’ve found a theatre production you might like the sound of – it’s called The House Party, and it’s set in (you guessed it) a house party. 

This smash hit production by pioneering theatre company Headlong is set to land at HOME in March as part of the arts venue’s 2025 theatre season. 

It tells the tale of a wild 18th birthday party, where Christine is trying to pick up the pieces of her best friend, a newly-dumped Julie (who happens to be the birthday girl).

Themes of class, power and privilege are all explored with a raw intensity as the cast on stage plough through shots and dive head-first into a night that will change everything they know. 

The House Party, which has received glowing reviews from previous showings, is filled with ‘privilege, desire and destruction’. 

When it stops off in Manchester, its cast will include Bridgerton’s Sesley Hope as Christine, Synnøve Karlsen (Miss Austen, Last Night in Soho) as Julie, and Tom Lewis (Gentleman Jack, Patience) as Jon.

The ensemble of Frantic Assembly performers includes Ines Aresti, Oliver Baines, Cal Connor, Micah Corbin-Powell, Rachael Leonce, Jaheem Pinder and Jamie Randall.

The House Party is written by Laura Lomas and is a reimagining of August Strindberg’s Miss Julie for today’s generation.

It’s directed by Headlong’s artistic director Holly Race Roughan, who directed the Royal Shakespeare Company’s world premiere of David Edgar’s major new political play The New Real.

The House Party. Credit: Ikin Yum
The House Party. Credit: Ikin Yum
The House Party will be at HOME. Credit: Supplied
The production will be at HOME. Credit: Supplied

Movement direction will come from Frantic Assembly’s Scott Graham. 

Prior to the UK tour of The House Party, Headlong celebrated its 50 year anniversary, including the hit production of A Raisin in the Sun which played nationwide. 

The House Party will be at HOME in Manchester between 25 and 29 March, 2025 – you can get your tickets HERE. 

Read more

Featured image: Supplied

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