A live West End recording of one of the best-loved musicals of the last decade is to be screened in two of Greater Manchester‘s biggest cinemas.
And you’ll only have one night to catch it.
Theatre lovers and musicals fans will probably want to make their way down to Vue in the Printworks, or Odeon at the Trafford Centre, at the end of this month, as the smash-hit Broadway and West End production, Heathers: The Musical, will be screened for one-night-only as part of a special nationwide cinema event.
You may recognise that Heathers: The Musical is based on the 1989 cult classic film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater.
The musical adaptation – which was first staged in LA back in 2010, before moving to Broadway in 2014, and then to the West End in 2018 – follows Westerberg High student Veronica Sawyer, whose dreams of popularity finally start to come true when she’s taken under the wings of the three beautiful, yet impossibly cruel, girls named Heather.
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But when mysterious new kid, teen rebel J.D, arrives in town, Veronica realises that “while it might kill to be a nobody, it’s murder being a somebody.”
Live recording of popular West End musical Heathers to be screened in Manchester cinemas / Credit: Heathers: The Musical
Brought to cinemas by Kaleidoscope Entertainment, the version of the production to be screened across the UK is a live recording of the West End show captured in its original London home, The Other Palace, and features some of the incredible 2022 cast.
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Musical star Ailsa Davidson takes on the role of Veronica Sawyer, while Simon Gordon is J.D., Maddison Firth is Heather Chandler, Vivian Panka is Heather Duke, and Teleri Hughes is Heather McNamara.
The recording also stars Mhairi Angus as Martha Dunnstock and Vicki Lee Taylor as Ms. Fleming / Veronica’s mum.
The cast is completed by Liam Doyle, Rory Phelan, and Andy Brady, as well as Oliver Brooks, Jermaine Woods, Benjamin Karran, Chris Parkinson, Eleanor Morrison-Halliday, Mary-Jean Caldwell, Hannah Lowther, and May Tether.
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The West End production was directed by Andy Fickman, who called the gig a “career high”.
We're thrilled to share the trailer for Heathers: The Musical as we count down to its ONE NIGHT ONLY screening in cinemas on 28 March
“But when we got a chance to film the stage capture at our beloved theatre in London where it all began, that was an even bigger high,” he added.
“And thanks to our partners at Bill Kenwright Studios, Village Roadshow, and now Kaleidoscope, we get a chance to share that the magic at cinemas all across the UK.
“I can’t stop smiling and I hope audiences feel the same way.”
The Karate Kid – The Musical, inspired by the iconic 80s film, is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Iconic 80s film The Karate Kid has now been reimagined as a stage musical – and it’s coming to Manchester next spring.
The Karate Kid – The Musical will be heading out on its UK premiere tour in 2026, including a run of dates at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The musical follows the same themes as the original, legendary 1984 film, a coming-of-age story that follows the relationship and teachings between Daniel LaRusso and Mr Miyagi.
It’s not just about karate, it’s about resilience, mentorship, and the quiet strength that bridges generations, and on the stage you can expect movement, music, and energetic storytelling too.
The original blockbuster starred Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita and has gone down in history as one of cinema’s greatest films, earning Morita an Academy Award nomination.
It’s become a major global franchise, including three movie sequels, a remake with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and a Netflix series (Cobra Kai).
The Karate Kid – The Musical made its world premiere in 2022, selling out theatres and earning rave reviews.
Those iconic cinematic moments are brought to life on the stage by a Tony Award-winning design team.
The Karate Kid – The Musical is heading on a major UK tour before it hits the West End and Broadway.
It’s written by Robert Mark Kamen, screenwriter of the original 1984 movie, with music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini.
Kamen says: “William Goldman said about Hollywood “No one knows anything.” He was right.
“Who knew that 43 years after I wrote the original script for THE KARATE KID, we would see these very same characters acting and singing on the British stage in a story that is as fresh and universally relevant as it was four decades ago.”
The Karate Kid – The Musical is at the Palace Theatre from Tuesday 12 to Saturday 23 May 2026, with tickets on sale now HERE.
Legendary musical CATS is coming to Manchester on its UK tour next year
Emily Sergeant
Legendary musical CATS will be taking to the stage here in Manchester next year.
A brand-new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s global sensation, CATS, will embark on a major UK tour from summer 2026 following an open-air residency at Regent Park in London – including dates at Manchester’s prestigious Palace Theatre in November.
Based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS is one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history.
The show originally premiered at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances.
Since its world premiere, the musical has been presented in more than 54 countries, translated into 23 languages, and has been seen by more than 77 million people worldwide – collecting a number of awards along the way.
Legendary musical CATS is coming to Manchester on its UK tour next year / Credit: Feast Creative
This new production of CATS is produced by Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, with Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, as part of Drew McOnie’s second season as Artistic Director, and it marks the third Andrew Lloyd Webber title produced by the venue in the last decade.
Unfamiliar with the show? CATS tells the story of the Jellicle cats.
From Euston station to Victoria Grove, the strays and rebels of London gather under the Jellicle moon in the hope they’ll be the chosen one.
With a legendary score featuring well-known songs like Old Deuteronomy, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, TheJellicle Ball, and, of course, the chart-topping hit Memory, this brand-new production of CATS is gearing up to be one of the best theatrical events of 2026.
“I am very excited to see a totally new production of CATS back on the stage where it belongs,” creator Andrew Lloyd Webber said on the show’s return. “I can think of no-one better than Drew McOnie to bring a new vision to the world of the Jellicles.”
Casting and the full creative team is set to be announced in due course, as is the on-sale date and link for tickets, so keep your eyes peeled.
Emily Sergeant -
8th March 2023 
