Tickets to the most hotly-anticipated show on the Manchester theatre scene in recent memory officially go on sale today.
In case you missed it, it was announced to serious excitement among theatre fans at the end of last month that Hamilton – one of the most successful musicals of the 21st century – is heading out on its first-ever tour of the UK later this year.
The multi-award winning musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda has captivating and engaging audiences like no other for close to a decade, and has taken Broadway and the West End – and the world – by storm since it first hit the stage.
First premiering Off-Broadway back in February 2015, the Olivier, Tony, Grammy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical production opened at the newly re-built and restored Victoria Palace Theatre in London in December 2017, where it continues to play to sell-out audiences, while also still drawing in record-breaking crowds on Broadway
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The smash-hit production has also transferred over to Toronto in Canada, as well as Australia, and Germany, with other international ventures also planned – but a UK tour is on the agenda first.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Hamilton 2023 UK Tour.
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What is Hamilton about?
Unfamiliar with the cultural phenomenon that is Hamilton? Well, to put it simply – “Hamilton is the story of America then, told by America now.”
Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, Hamilton has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre – going on to become a musical that’s had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education.
Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography, Hamilton has a book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire.
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An original Broadway cast recording of the show also became a hit movie on Disney+ in 2020.
When does the UK tour start? And what cities is it heading to?
The Hamilton 2023 UK Tour starts on Saturday 11 November.
Although it’s being billed as a UK tour, the production is actually only heading to two cities – with Manchester being the first place it takes to the stage, before it heads on up to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh for a run at the Festival Theatre from Wednesday 28 February – Saturday 27 April 2024.
When is Hamilton playing in Manchester?
The Hamilton UK tour will open in Manchester on Saturday 11 November 2023 for a 15-week season until Saturday 24 February 2024.
When do tickets go on sale? And where can you buy them?
While tickets for ATG Theatrecard holders already went on sale last Friday 10 March at 10am, and other priority access sales have already been held, the question you’ve presumably all been looking for the answer to is when can you grab general sale tickets in Manchester.
General sale tickets for Hamilton at Manchester Palace Theatre officially go on sale this morning (Monday 13 March) at 10am.
You can get your hands on them exclusively from ATG Tickets here.
The Hamilton 2023 UK Tour will be at Manchester’s Palace Theatre for 15 weeks. / Credit: Manchester Palace Theatre
How much will tickets cost?
With shows happening six days a week, excluding Sundays, and two shows a day every Saturday and selected Wednesdays – including several captioned performances, and facilities catering for the deaf / or hard of hearing – tickets will be available in a range of prices.
Tickets for the cheapest seats in the venue start from just £13, or from £36 on opening night.
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What are the producers saying?
Hamilton producers Cameron Mackintosh and Jeffrey Seller are “excited” to be bringing the production to Manchester.
“Since the day the show opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London has embraced Hamilton with an enthusiasm we could never have imagined,” Jeffrey Seller explained.
“We are excited to embark on a UK tour and share this special musical with audiences in Manchester and Edinburgh first.”
The room where it happens is The Palace Theatre, Manchester!#HamiltonUKTour arrives November 2023 for 15 Weeks Only.
Producer Cameron Mackintosh added: “Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton is indisputably the most brilliant, ground-breaking, contemporary musical of modern times. I feel extraordinarily fortunate that Lin and my friend Jeffrey Seller, the show’s original producer, have entrusted me with their wonderful musical in the UK and Ireland.
“The London production opened in 2017 at the Victoria Palace, a theatre I completely rebuilt to house Hamilton, where it continues to play and has proved to be as big a success as the Broadway original.
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“So, I am thrilled that it is time to put together a second British national touring company to bring this great show to our leading cities.”
General sale tickets are available from Monday 13 March at 10am / Credit: Danny Kaan (via Hamilton West End)
Find out more about the Hamilton 2023 UK Tour in Manchester here.
Featured Image – Hamilton West End
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The Pogues announce Manchester gig on first tour since death of frontman Shane MacGowan
Danny Jones
The Pogues have announced their first UK tour since the death of former frontman, Shane MacGowan, with Manchester one of just half a dozen cities chosen.
Nearly a full year on from his death at just 65, the Anglo-Irish favourites best known for their eternal Christmas classic, ‘Fairytale of New York’, are gearing up for their first outing since their iconic lead singer’s passing as a celebration of his life and their seminal second album.
It’s been 13 years since their last headline tour shortly before their split and it will be 40 years since the release of Rum Sodomy and the Lash by the time they hit the road along with special guests.
Safe to say it’ll be an emotional series of shows for everyone involved.
The Pogues return in 2025 for their first UK Tour since 2012 to celebrate 40 years of Rum Sodomy & the Lash Ft James Fearnley, Jem Finer, Spider Stacy & special guests. Tickets go on sale 9:30am Fri 22 Nov. Sign up at https://t.co/PxhZ8bnwBA by 5pm on 19 Nov for presale access ⚓️ pic.twitter.com/hFACjdf7yc
Revealing just six shows here in the UK, the long-standing band are set to play their sophomore release in full as well as a selection of their greatest hits.
The tour will feature remaining original members James Fearnley, Jem Finer, and Peter Richard ‘Spider’ Stacy, as well as a series of support that are yet to be confirmed.
Speaking on the upcoming dates, The Pogues said: “After the uproarious bash which was the 40th anniversary of our first record, Red Roses for Me, in 2024, we wanted to do it again, but with Rum Sodomy & the Lash.”
The music veterans are remaining tight-lipped about who they’re bringing along but they have promised their selections have been “thoughtfully chosen”.
With MacGowan, lead guitarist Philip Chevron (2013), bassist Darryl Hunt (2022) and long-time collaborator Kirsty MacColl (2000) now having passed away, the band will be roping in plenty of help on vocals and instrumentation.
Even though the gigs themselves will be coming at the of next spring, you can rest assured you’ll get to hear your beloved festive ballad.
Kicking off the tour in Leeds, The Pogues will play their first Manchester show in over a decade – and without Shane MacGowan front and centre – at the O2 Apollo on Wednesday, 7 May 2025.
Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/Mordac (via Flickr)
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Rizzle Kicks announce massive Manchester comeback show at Castlefield Bowl
Danny Jones
In case you missed it, Rizzle Kicks are BACK and they’re making their return to Manchester in a big way with a massive outdoor show at Castlefield Bowl.
Named as the latest artists to join the Sound of the City (SOTC) lineup for 2025, with only a few acts having been named thus far, the British pop duo will be playing a huge sun-soaked set next summer.
The 2010s hit-makers were a regular presence in the UK charts for a good few years, releasing just two albums in 2011 and 2013 before slipping into a somewhat unannounced hiatus to work on other things.
Jordan Stephens and Harley ‘Sylvester’ Alexander-Sule have both enjoyed multiple other music projects separate from the group, as well as getting into presenting, podcasting, acting and more, so they’ve been plenty busy while they’ve been away. But now they’re back with new music on the horizon too.
MANCHESTER. WHO’S READY? FRIDAY 11 JULY 2025 ‼️
We told you that more shows are coming and we’re so buzzing to announce that we’ll be playing Castlefield Bowl this July. This is going to be a big one and we’d love to see you all there.
Confirming their SOTC festival gig on Monday, 18 November, Rizzle Kicks said on socials: “We told you that more shows are coming and we’re so buzzing to announce that we’ll be playing Castlefield Bowl this July [2025]. This is going to be a big one and we’d love to see you all there.”
The announcement also comes not long after the pair revealed their third studio album is on the way almost 12 years on from their sophomore record, Roaring 20s.
Speaking on their return to the music scene and the upcoming release, Jordan said: “We allude to the fact that we acted off the cultural encouragement and the reality of the time. I think now we’d like to believe that we’ve distanced ourselves from those just through experience.”
The new Rizzle Kicks sound touches on sobriety and paternity,“not just with Harley becoming a father and all the growth that comes with that role, but also in a larger sense as we get older we feel a responsibility to share our wins and our failures”, added the 32-year-old.
Entitled Competition is for Losers, the new studio LP is set to release on 14 February next year just before their official tour gets fully underway in March. Stephens and Sule played their first show together in nearly a decade at KOKO in Camden earlier this month and are eager to get back to business as usual.
Their other Manchester date, which was already announced, is set to take place on 19 March at the O2 Ritz and sold out – along with all the other shows – in just 15 minutes. Wow.
For those fans dying to be at their Castlefield Bowl gig on Friday, 11 July, you can pre-order Competition is for Losers to access pre-sale from 10am this Thursday.
General admission tickets will be available from the same time on Friday (22 November).
Issuing a call-out to the die-hard Rizzkle Kickers, lovingly referred to by the band as the #tunesquad, they said: “You already know the drill, tickets are going to go fast. LET’S DO THIS.”