There’s no shortage of movie to musical adaptations, but this one is a cut above the rest.
Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical is a show that truly lives up to its name, a jukebox musical ready to take you on a whistle stop of catchy 90s pop hits.
And yes I’m taking about all the big ones, throughout the production the audience are treated to absolute bangers from Britney Spears and The Verve to Christina Aguilera and NSYNC (seriously, there’s some proper tunes in this).
Based on the 1999 movie, Cruel Intentions tells the tale of step-siblings Kathryn and Sebastian as they engage in a cruel bet on whether Sebastian can take the virginity of the headmaster’s innocent daughter.
Image: Supplied
The script doesn’t vary much from the film, but whilst the plot stays strong the constant flow of songs is stronger.
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From effortlessly belting Wannabe by the Spice Girls to slowly transitioning into Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn, the show takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to the somewhat absurd action of breaking out into song mid-conversation.
And that’s how this production is best enjoyed, it’s a show of pure entertainment that’ll have you giggling in your seat with a glass of vino (or two) in hand.
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Image: Supplied
But that’s not to undermine the absolutely stellar performances from the small but mighty cast.
The first thing that stands out are the impeccable vocals, both Will Callan and Nic Myers who played Sebastian and Kathryn had voices that rivalled any of the pop sensation’s who’s hits they were covering.
Myers specifically had a belt which required the full attention from the audience, she also perfectly captured the cruel and bitchy persona of the role which gives the word ‘cruel’ to the show’s title.
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Image: Supplied
The real standout performance of the evening, though, was Lucy Carter who played the geeky, funny, cheeky but completely hilarious role of Cecile Caldwell.
Her incredible comic timing paired with her jaw-dropping voice completely stole the show, and her interpretation of I’ll Make Love To You had audience members cackling throughout. A real star in the making.
Overall if you’re looking for a night of fun at the theatre, then you absolutely cannot go wrong with getting a ticket for Cruel Intentions. It’s on at the Palace Theatre until Saturday 29 March, and you can grab your tickets here.
Award-winning The Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon to kick off UK tour in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Multi award-winning musical Sunny Afternoon is set to kick off its UK tour here in Manchester later this year.
Following a sell-out run at Hampstead Theatre, the musical production featuring all the hit songs by legendary rock band The Kinks opened to critical acclaim at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End, where it ran for two years ahead of its sensational UK and Ireland tour throughout 2016/17.
It also collected four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Music for Ray Davies, along the way.
Award-winning The Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon is kicking off its UK tour in Manchester / Credit: ATG Tickets
Set against the backdrop of Britain on the cusp of the rebellious 60s,Sunny Afternoon is described as being an ‘exhilarating and moving’ celebration of the music, life, and the band that changed it all, The Kinks.
Sunny Afternoon celebrates The Kinks’ raw energy, passion, and timeless sound.
Charting the ‘euphoric highs’ and ‘agonising lows’, the smash-hit production tells the band’s story through an incredible back catalogue of chart-toppers – including ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Lola’, ‘All Day and All of the Night’, and of course, ‘Sunny Afternoon’ itself.
Tickets are on sale now from just £15 each / Credit: Kevin Cummins
Producers Sonia Friedman Productions and ATG Productions announced last week that the show would be returning for another UK tour later this year, and it’ll be opening right here on one of Manchester‘s most iconic stages.
The hit musical will open at Manchester’s Palace Theatre on 10 October 2025 and it will run right through until 18 October.
Sunny Afternoon has music and lyrics, and an original story, all by the band’s frontman Ray Davies, along with a book by Joe Penhall, direction by Edward Hall, design by Miriam Buether, and choreography by Adam Cooper.
Tickets are now on sale from just £15 each, and you can find out more information and get your hands on them here.
Featured Image – Kevin Cummins
Theatre
A queer comedy night is coming to Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
A comedy night packed with raunch and hilarious storytelling is heading to Manchester and its fronted by one of comedy’s leading queer comedians.
Titled ‘Queer as F*ck’ (we love a good pun), this night is devoted especially to queer comedy and sees Welsh comedian Morgan Rees taking the wheel with a wonderful roster of acts set to play too.
Taking inspiration from the cult-favourite queer comedy, this leading comedian is no stranger to seeing his work in the limelight as he has written for some of the funniest flagship shows like Mock The Week and The Great American Joke-Off.
Rees also doubles as the co-writer for smash internet hit The Uncle Roger Show, starring fellow comic Nigel Ng, and will definitely be bringing some of his razor-sharp one-liners on the night.
Ben Hodge, the MC for the queer comedy night in Manchester.Morgan Rees, the comedian headlining ‘Queer as F*ck’.Jenny Hart, one of the acts lined up for the queer comedy night in Manchester.Credit: Press Images (supplied)
The event, which has the full title of ‘brew. haha: Queer as F*ck comedy night’ will be MC’d by trans-male stand-up Ben Hodge and lesbian comedian Louise Young.
The latter may be a familiar name as she is currently supporting Alan Carr and Tom Allen on their latest tour while also stopping off in Manchester for this very special occasion.
Along with Rees and co., finishing the line-up are two impressive performers ready to raise the roof at this comedy night in Manchester: gay author Martin Dixon and trans comedian Jenny Hart.
Obviously, Rees doesn’t want to give everything away, but he has revealed an insight into what guests can expect to be chuckling away at in their seats.
Morgan Rees is excited to talk about “bad one night stands, growing up queer in a Welsh working class town, coming out late, and starting my first relationship in my 30s – it’s all in there.”
Taking place at Contact Theatre, this much-loved arts space is tucked away just behind the University of Manchester and another impressive city centre venue, Manchester Academy.
And if all this comedy talk wasn’t enough to get you down there, brew will be serving up Detroit-style pizzas with a range of draft beers and ciders – what a night you’re in for.
‘brew. haha: Queer as F*ck’ is coming to the Contact in Manchester on Wednesday, 9 April and ttickets are already on sale.
Clementine Hall -
26th March 2025 
