The National Theatre’s smash-hit production of writer James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning play, Dear England, will have a four-week run at the legendary The Lowry Theatre in Salford next year from 29 May to 29 June 2025.
Directed by the Almeida Theatre’s Artistic Director, Rupert Goold, Dear England tells the story of the England men’s football team under current manager, Gareth Southgate.
An award-winning play about England men’s football team is coming to Greater Manchester / Credit: The Lowry
Originally commissioned by the National Theatre, the play had its world premiere in June 2023, and later transferred to the West End following a sold-out run of shows, where it broke several box office records in the process.
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As the nation watches the drama unfold at this summer’s UEFA EURO 2024, the critically-acclaimed play is set to “evolve” in a way that’ll include this key European championship too, all while continuing to examine the crucial role the England team and manager play in English society.
A synopsis of the play reads: “The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?
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It’ll be taking to the stage in Salford for a four-week run next summer / Credit: The Lowry
“The team has the worst track record for penalties in the world, and manager Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.”
Casting for the The Lowry production of the play is set to be announced in due course, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
The Lowry’s CEO, Julia Fawcett, said Dear England‘s run will be a “unique and incredibly special event”.
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BREAKING TRANSFER NEWS! ⚽️
Direct from its sold-out run at the @NationalTheatre, a record-breaking run in the West End, and scooping up Best New Play at this year's Olivier Awards, #DearEnglandOnStage is coming to Salford in 2025.
Speaking ahead of the play’s 2025 run at the MediaCity-based arts venue, Fawcett continued: “With football being so integral to the whole culture of the North West, we know that this production is going to really resonate with our audiences.”
Dear England will be at The Lowry from Thursday 29 May – Sun 29 June 2025, and tickets will go on general sale next Friday (14 June 2024) at 10am to coincide with the start of the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament.
Find out more and grab tickets when they go on sale here.
Featured Image – The Lowry
Theatre
New stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House to arrive in Manchester this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
A brand-new stage adaptation of a bestselling horror novel and TV series is coming to Manchester this Halloween.
Following the critically acclaimed Netflix hit series that introduced a new generation to the eerie masterpiece, author Shirley Jackson’s famous The Haunting of Hill House is being turned into a brand-new stage adaptation later this year, and will be taking to one of Manchester’s most iconic stages at the spookiest season of all.
Written by Olivier and BAFTA award-winner Stef Smith, and directed by Martin Constantine, the new production is set to conjure the iconic supernatural thriller on stage.
It will be making its world premiere with a UK tour this autumn, stopping off in several major towns and cities along the way.
If you’re unfamiliar with the story, The Haunting of Hill House follows a group of daring investigators who take on the mystery of Hill House, before their curiosity quickly descends into fear.
A new stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House is coming to Manchester this Halloween / Credit: Supplied
“The Haunting of Hill House is one of the greatest supernatural novels of the last hundred years and to have the chance to adapt it for the stage is a true privilege,” explained writer Stef Smith, as the UK tour was announced this week.
“I find Shirley Jackson’s world intoxicating, thrilling and gut-wrenching.
“I believe there is something so deeply theatrical at the heart of Hill House. From the spooky, to the surreal, through heartache and hope. I hope that our cast of characters will take the audience along for a ride quite unlike anything else. Above all we will examine that the biggest horrors are usually human.”
The brand-new stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House will arrive in Manchester and take to the stage at Manchester Palace Theatre from Tuesday 27 October right through to Halloween itself (Saturday 31 October 2026).
The full cast and creative team for the new production is set to be announced shortly, so keep your eyes peeled.
Tickets go on pre-sale tomorrow at 10am, before general sale begins on Friday (20 February), again at 10am, and you book your place here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Theatre
Multi award-winning musical Back to the Future returns to Manchester next summer
Emily Sergeant
Nearly six years after making its world premiere here in Manchester, Back to The Future The Musical is returning to our city next summer.
The multi award-winning musical – based off the beloved 1985 film of the same name – held its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House back 2020, but unfortunately, as you can probably guess, its run was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now, flash forward to 2027, the production is returning to ‘settle some unfinished business’.
Lead producer Colin Ingram, together with Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back To The Future film trilogy, have announced that the musical will return to Manchester as part of its first-ever UK tour.
Directed by Tony Award-winning director John Rando, alongside a multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team, Back to the Future The Musical has a book by Bob Gale, and new music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard.
Multi award-winning musical Back to the Future is returning to Manchester / Credit: Supplied
Additional hit songs from the film, including ‘The Power of Love’ and ‘Johnny B. Goode’, are also included in the production, making it a real trip down memory lane for fans.
The show will run at Manchester Opera House from 13 July through to 21 August 2027, following its run in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre, where it’s currently in its fifth year, having broken box office records and being seen by more than 2.3 million people.
“Speaking for the entire creative team, we are beyond thrilled to be returning to the Manchester Opera House, which we consider the birthplace of Back to the Future The Musical and one of the UK’s best venues,” commented co-creator Bob Gale.
“No city has ever given us a better reception and the incredible audience response we received in 2020 helped shape the show creatively in myriad ways.”
Back to the Future The Musical will take to the Manchester Opera House stage from 13 July – 21 August 2027, and tickets officially go on general sale tomorrow (18 February) at 10am.
Emily Sergeant -
5th June 2024 
