& Juliet, a runaway Broadway and West End hit musical, is returning to Manchester next year, with tickets on sale today.
The musical reimagines Shakespeare’s iconic love story from a new angle – what would have become of Juliet if she’d given up on Romeo before their tragic ending?
Audiences are whisked away on a journey that shows Juliet’s life if she’d skipped her famous ending for a second chance at life and love, created by the Emmy-winning writer from Schitt’s Creek.
And with a soundtrack that includes Max Martin-written hits like Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time, Katy Perry’s Roar, and chart toppers Since U Been Gone, It’s My Life, I Want It That Way, and Can’t Stop the Feeling!, it’s clear why the theatre production has been such a success.
& Juliet first premiered here in Manchester back in 2019 before pitching up at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre and the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Broadway.
ADVERTISEMENT
In that time, it has won Olivier and WhatsOnStage Awards, and earned Tony Award nominations.
And now the musical & Juliet is heading back to the stage where it all began, visiting Manchester’s Opera House Theatre as part of a new UK tour.
ADVERTISEMENT
It will return to the city from 8 July 2024 before heading to Southampton, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff, Nottingham, Leeds and more.
Ben Jackson Walker, Lorna Courtney, Betsy Wolfe, Melanie La Barrie in & JULIET. Credit: Matthew MurphyLorna Courtney in & JULIET. Credit: Matthew Murphy
& JULIET is directed by Luke Sheppard (In the Heights, Rent, Little Big Things), with a Book by David West Read (Schitt’s Creek), choreography by Jennifer Weber and set design by Soutra Gilmour.
Music is by Max Martin & Friends, costume design by Paloma Young, musical supervision, orchestration and arrangements by Bill Sherman, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Gareth Owen, video & projection design by Andrzej Goulding, hair, wig and makeup design by Suzy Barrett, musical direction, additional arrangements and orchestrations by Dominic Fallacaro, and casting direction by Stuart Burt.
ADVERTISEMENT
& Juliet will be at the Opera House Manchester theatre between 8 and 20 July.
Tickets go on sale at 10am for ATG Tickets members, and general sale begins from 1pm on Wednesday 1 November.
You can get your & Juliet Manchester tickets here.
Blood Brothers at Palace Theatre, Manchester – a timeless classic
Greg James
Bill Kenwright’s production of Blood Brothers surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End making it one of only three musicals ever to achieve that monumental milestone – and now it’s visiting us here in Manchester.
“Oh Bright New Day”, Blood Brothers has just landed back at the Palace Theatre. This musical written by Willy Russell is a British piece of theatre that is a staple in the musical theatre tapestry of our country.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with this iconic story, it is an emotional tale of two twins who are separated at birth and grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with the most fateful of consequences.
The story’s central character, Mrs Johnston is the linchpin in this whole story and carries us through the show.
This role has been played by many superb women over the years including Mel C, Kiki Dee, Barbara Dickson and nearly all of the Nolan Sisters. This time, Mrs Johnston is performed by Vivienne Carlyle who provides a lovely maternal performance.
The other two lead roles are Mickey and Eddie, played by Sean Jones and Joe Sleight respectively.
These are really complex roles to play as the actors have to portray the characters from early school years to grown adults.
The cast of Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack MerrimanSean Jones, Gemma Brodrick and Joe Slight in Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack Merriman
Sean Jones has been playing the role of Mickey now for nearly 25 years and so he is no stranger to this character. And I must say, he still fantastically plays the part, even when playing young Mickey, and the show really takes off when he enters the stage.
Joe Sleight is someone who I had not seen in the role of Eddie before and he gave just as strong a performance as Jones. He offered a real contrast to his counterpart with a really beautiful, touching performance.
The whole ensemble did a gorgeous job of helping to carry these characters throughout the musical, showing a real flair for multi-roling and beautiful musicality in the group numbers too.
Something which elevates this already gripping story though is the music. There are many recurring musical motifs throughout the show that on the surface may come off as repetitive but they offer perspective on how things can evolve and change over time.
Of course the song though that everybody is perhaps familiar with is the power ballad, ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’. This is the climax of the show and what a climax it is. There’s not a dry eye in the house when we reach this point of the story, I can assure you!
So, whether you are returning to watch this show again, perhaps know the story from studying it in English GCSE or seeing it for the first time, it will always be an absolutely timeless classic.
Blood Brothers is on at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 30 November. Tickets are available HERE.
Chicago the Musical razzles (and dazzles) at the Palace Theatre in Manchester
Clementine Hall
A story of murder, greed and corruption was performed with style, ease and flair; Chicago is the longest-running American musical in Broadway and West End history, and it’s easy to see why now that it’s arrived in Manchester.
The jazz-fuelled fiasco is filled with catchy songs that you can’t help but click along to, funny one-liners, and likeable characters such as Miss Roxy Hart herself.
Best-known for appearing as Kate Connor in Coronation Street, the opening night in Manchester on Chicago‘s UK tour may have been a daunting prospect, but it’s one Faye Brookes pulled off seamlessly.
Here’s our full review…
Image: Press Images (Supplied)
Brookes is fantastically expressive and brings new energy to a classic, complemented throughout by a sultry cast dressed in buckles and mesh that really bring the ‘Razzle Dazzle’ to the stage.
Her co-star, Strictly Come Dancing‘s Kevin Clifton, struts through the show transformed into Billy Flynn – a flamboyant 1920s American lawyer who has the desperate inmates in the palm of his hand.
The opening number, ‘All That Jazz’, is spearheaded by Djalenga Scott as Velma Kelly and she does it brilliantly.
Image: Supplied
The cast slink their way across the stage with Scott at the forefront, who undoubtedly delivers a faultless performance and complements Brookes as Roxie Hart perfectly.
A highlight of course included the hilarious‘Cell Block Tango’, the audience were laughing along as the women sang the stories of their murderous deeds whilst performing sharp and sultry choreography.
Not even a toe out of place.
Image: Supplied
The set is minimalist, dark and simple, but is simply brought to life by the wonderful expression and lively musical numbers performed on stage by the live band.
The live band sits on a staircase centre stage and their playful use of instruments throughout is truly impressive.
Neil MacDonald, the show’s musical director, even got involved with a few on-stage conversations which was a fabulous touch that made the show feel bespoke to us.
Other notable performances included Brenda Edwards as Mamma Morton, whose powerhouse voice left the audience in absolute awe, and Joshua Lloyd as ‘Mister Cellophane’ caused a couple of pitiful “awws” from the auditorium.
Overall, this was a fantastic production of the Broadway classic – the standing ovation at the end proves I wasn’t the only one who thought that too.
Chicago the Musical is playing at the Palace Theatre Manchester until Saturday, 9 November and you can grab your last-minute tickets HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
1st November 2023 
