One of the greatest musicals of all time is returning to Manchester later this as part of its UK tour, and tickets are now on sale.
That’s right – Chicago is back, and we already can’t wait.
Known, loved, and celebrated by millions worldwide, and having scooped up countless awards along the way since first hitting the Broadway stage all the way back in 1975, followed by the West End in 1979, and then its first UK tour back in 2021, it’s been announced this week that Chicago is back to entertain the masses.
The multi award-winning musical production is heading out on a tour of the UK in 2024 and 2025 – and, of course, it will be paying us a visit here in Manchester later this year.
The show’s talented cast and crew will be pulling into our city for one week only in early November.
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The beloved production’s tour of the UK kicks off in Milton Keynes on 12 October, and will stop off at other major cites such as Newcastle, Bradford, and Southampton, before arriving in Manchester and taking to the stage at our city’s iconic Palace Theatre from Monday 4 – Saturday 9 November 2024.
Further tour dates are a set to be announced in the coming weeks, and the cast for the show is to be named in due course too.
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Unfamiliar with Chicago?
Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, the musical tells the story of housewife and nightclub dancer, Roxie Hart, who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her.
As she’s so desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media, and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines.
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It’ll be taking to the stage at the city’s iconic Palace Theatre this November / Credit: Tristram Kenton (via Supplied)
The show was created by musical theatre legends John Kander and Fred Ebb, alongside iconic choreographer Bob Fosse, and includes a score of famous songs including ‘All That Jazz’, ‘Cell Block Tango’, and ‘All That Jazz’.
It’s now the longest-running American musical in Broadway and West End history, and has played in a whopping 38 countries worldwide to an estimated 34 million people.
Chicago the Musical will be at Manchester Palace Theatre from Monday 4 – Saturday 9 November 2024, and tickets are now on sale from just £15.
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.