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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Paddy McGuinness announces work-in-progress shows ahead of first stand-up tour in eight years
Danny Jones
Beloved British comic Paddy McGuinness is heading back out on his first live stand-up tour in eight years this year and has announced a new run of work-in-progress shows in preparation, including one right here in Greater Manchester.
McGuinness hasn’t been out on the live comedy circuit for the best part of a decade but announced his long-awaited return late last year, with the 50-year-old heading out on the road this October.
However, as he looks to get stage sharp shape ahead of his ‘Nearly There’ tour, Paddy has picked a pair of local North West venues for the WIP sets, with a trio of shows at The Met in Bury, as well as half a dozen over in Darwen, Lancashire.
Just like the tour itself, these are sure to go quickly.
The Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy star is playing nearly half a century of shows across the UK and Ireland from this fall onwards before closing out his tour in Dublin by April 2025.
His last tour, ‘Daddy McGuinness’ ran from 2015-16 and got pretty decent reviews across the board, with the focus largely revolving around his journey into parenthood, but his latest material is set to be quite the shift in tone.
Speaking ahead of the tour, the former Take Me Out and Top Gear host said: “It’s been eight years since my last tour and there’s lots of things to laugh about! I’m looking forward to getting back in front of a live audience, along with running the gauntlet of cancel culture, clickbait and fake news!”
Paddy also made a bit of a stir around these parts recently after he declared Bolton as still being part of Lancashire. No likey, no lighty on that one – sorry Paddy.
But never mind all that, we’re glad to see him getting back to his roots. The Farnworth-born funny man was also recently given a permanent role on BBC Radio 2 after becoming a firm favourite amongst the listenership. He will now run the 11am-1pm slot on Sundays.
As for his tour, after his warm-up shows in Bury and Darwen, the household name will be heading to The Lowry in Salford in March next year, with other nearby shows in the likes of Blackburn and Blackpool.
Tickets for Paddy McGuinness’ work-in-progress dates go on sale Friday, 3 May at 10am.
There’s a big listening party for Taylor Swift’s new album happening in Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
One of the biggest, if not the biggest, popstars in the world right now will be releasing a brand-new album this Friday, and there’s a dedicated listening party happening in Manchester especially for the occasion.
In case you aren’t a Swiftie, or you just generally weren’t aware, Taylor Swift announced back in early February that she would be unleashing her eleventh studio album, titled The Tortured Poets Department, on the world on 19 April.
Just like anything the 34-year-old singer-songwriter does, the surprise announcement of the new album – which is a follow-up to her 2022 critically-acclaimed and GRAMMY award-winning album, Midnights – pretty much broke the internet when it happened, and her dedicated fans have been counting down the days ever since.
Now, after months of eagerly waiting, the big day is finally happening this Friday, and in a bid to properly mark what a massive day it will be, one popular Manchester venue has decided to host a dedicated listening party, so that Swifties can unite under one roof and celebrate the special occasion together.
Fairfield Social Club (FSC) which has recently opened its doors in the heart of Manchester city centre, is inviting fans to “gather with your closest Swifties” and head on down to its Green Quarter venue this Friday for a night that’s “dedicated to Tay Tay and her legacy”.
Not only will you get to hear The Tortured Poets Department in full from start to finish surrounded by dozens of fellow fans, but there’ll also be a bunch of other Swift-themed activities too.
There’s a big Taylor Swift new album listening party happening in Manchester this week / Credit: FSC
These include a Taylor Swift pub quiz with questions to all about her life and groundbreaking career to test your knowledge, friendship bracelet-making sessions, and just the chance to share the love and swap stories with other Swifties.
If all of that didn’t sound brilliant enough as it is, there’s also set to be a selection of themed cocktails to sip whilst you spend time ruminating on what Taylor meant in the lyrics of her songs only released a few hours prior.
Oh, and the best bit? FSC promises there “won’t be a Scooter Braun in sight” on the night.
The Tortured Poets Department Listening Party is taking over Fairfield Social Club this Friday 19 April from 7pm right through until 10pm – with tickets now on sale setting you back just £6 each, and already selling fast.