If you’re ready for some absolute classic pop songs rolled into a theatre show about a girl not needing a man in her life – this is it.
& Juliet is much like a sequel to the Shakespeare classic Romeo & Juliet, but imagines what would have happened if Juliet didn’t die at the end.
It’s all about a life after Romeo – soundtracked by non-stop pop anthems.
After finding out that her star-crossed lover actually dated lots of people, and wasn’t only in love with Juliet (all too relevant to real life I think), she decides to escape with her friends to France and live her best life.
Seeing Juliet’s second chance at love, the story between William Shakespeare and his wife, and also a prince who was being forced to find a princess (but actually was falling in love with Maye, a non-binary character also finding out about themselves), the modern-day musical is bringing love stories bang up to date.
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And the playlist that carries the & Juliet story along throughout its run in Manchester includes hits like Hit Me Baby One More Time, I Want It That Way by Backstreet boys, Roar by Katy Perry, and so many more.
One thing I absolutely cannot skip out on here is how INCREDIBLE the voices of the entire cast are, with Matt Cardle playing Shakespeare, Gerardine Sacdalan playing Juliet, Lara Denning as Anne Shakespeare and Sandra Marvin as Angelique. They really blew it out the park, and had everyone on their feet.
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Sandra Marvin as Angelique & Ranj Singh as LanceMatt Cardle as ShakespeareMatt Cardle as ShakespeareGerardine Sacdalan as Juliet (left) and the cast in & Juliet& Juliet is at the Manchester Opera House this July. Credit: Matt Crockett
A mix of humour and romance, you’ll be belly laughing one minute, then filling up with tears and dancing the next.
Especially with TV doctor Ranj Singh shining in the comedic role of the French King – he was brilliant, and hilarious.
Created by the same writers as Schitts Creek (this sold it to me before I’d even see the show) The producer, Tim Headington, even came on at the end as we went on the first night in Manchester to say: “We wanted to create something where you can escape the world for just two hours, and then get up and dance at the end.” And that is absolutely what they’ve done.
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I’ve seen a lot of theatre shows now, and this has to absolutely be up there with one of my favourites.
& Juliet is on at the Manchester Opera House until 20 July – so make sure to grab your tickets before it’s too late here.
The Karate Kid – The Musical, inspired by the iconic 80s film, is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Iconic 80s film The Karate Kid has now been reimagined as a stage musical – and it’s coming to Manchester next spring.
The Karate Kid – The Musical will be heading out on its UK premiere tour in 2026, including a run of dates at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The musical follows the same themes as the original, legendary 1984 film, a coming-of-age story that follows the relationship and teachings between Daniel LaRusso and Mr Miyagi.
It’s not just about karate, it’s about resilience, mentorship, and the quiet strength that bridges generations, and on the stage you can expect movement, music, and energetic storytelling too.
The original blockbuster starred Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita and has gone down in history as one of cinema’s greatest films, earning Morita an Academy Award nomination.
It’s become a major global franchise, including three movie sequels, a remake with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and a Netflix series (Cobra Kai).
The Karate Kid – The Musical made its world premiere in 2022, selling out theatres and earning rave reviews.
Those iconic cinematic moments are brought to life on the stage by a Tony Award-winning design team.
The Karate Kid – The Musical is heading on a major UK tour before it hits the West End and Broadway.
It’s written by Robert Mark Kamen, screenwriter of the original 1984 movie, with music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini.
Kamen says: “William Goldman said about Hollywood “No one knows anything.” He was right.
“Who knew that 43 years after I wrote the original script for THE KARATE KID, we would see these very same characters acting and singing on the British stage in a story that is as fresh and universally relevant as it was four decades ago.”
The Karate Kid – The Musical is at the Palace Theatre from Tuesday 12 to Saturday 23 May 2026, with tickets on sale now HERE.
Legendary musical CATS is coming to Manchester on its UK tour next year
Emily Sergeant
Legendary musical CATS will be taking to the stage here in Manchester next year.
A brand-new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s global sensation, CATS, will embark on a major UK tour from summer 2026 following an open-air residency at Regent Park in London – including dates at Manchester’s prestigious Palace Theatre in November.
Based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS is one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history.
The show originally premiered at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances.
Since its world premiere, the musical has been presented in more than 54 countries, translated into 23 languages, and has been seen by more than 77 million people worldwide – collecting a number of awards along the way.
Legendary musical CATS is coming to Manchester on its UK tour next year / Credit: Feast Creative
This new production of CATS is produced by Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, with Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, as part of Drew McOnie’s second season as Artistic Director, and it marks the third Andrew Lloyd Webber title produced by the venue in the last decade.
Unfamiliar with the show? CATS tells the story of the Jellicle cats.
From Euston station to Victoria Grove, the strays and rebels of London gather under the Jellicle moon in the hope they’ll be the chosen one.
With a legendary score featuring well-known songs like Old Deuteronomy, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, TheJellicle Ball, and, of course, the chart-topping hit Memory, this brand-new production of CATS is gearing up to be one of the best theatrical events of 2026.
“I am very excited to see a totally new production of CATS back on the stage where it belongs,” creator Andrew Lloyd Webber said on the show’s return. “I can think of no-one better than Drew McOnie to bring a new vision to the world of the Jellicles.”
Casting and the full creative team is set to be announced in due course, as is the on-sale date and link for tickets, so keep your eyes peeled.
Amy Williams -
16th July 2024 
