Affiliate

A musical version of Disney classic 101 Dalmatians is coming to Manchester next year

This article contains affiliate links.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 19th October 2023

A beloved classic Disney film has been turned into a spectacular musical production, and it’s heading out on a UK tour this summer.

And of course, the new 101 Dalmatians stage show will be making a stop off to visit us here in Manchester.

Originally a novel written by Dodie Smith all the way back in 1956, first turned into an animated film by Walt Disney Productions a few years later in 1961, and then most-notably remade as a live-action movie by Disney again starring Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels, and Joely Richardson in 1996, 101 Dalmatians is tale known by millions worldwide.

It tells the story of an evil heiress named Cruella de Vil who decides to make a fur coat for herself out of the skins of Dalmatian puppies, but when teals a litter of 15 puppies, it’s up to their parents to rescue the innocent pups.

As well as the original animated film and the first live-action remake, the story of 101 Dalmatians has also been continued on with a number of sequel films and several spin-off TV shows, as well as through a recent new reimagining in 2021, titled Cruella, starring Emma Stone as the infamous title character.

ADVERTISEMENT

But while the story may be a familiar tale to millions across the world, never has been told quite like this before.

A musical version of 101 Dalmatians is coming to Manchester next year / Credit: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

With a book by Johnny McKnight, and music and lyrics composed and written by Douglas Hodge, this new musical that’s heading out on a tour of the UK tour in 2024 comes from a stage adaptation by Zinnie Harris, and is being reimagined from what was the critically-acclaimed Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production back in 2022.

ADVERTISEMENT

The story is brought to life on stage with spectacular puppetry, show-stopping choreography, hilarious songs, and, of course, irresistible puppies.

It’s now been announced that Kym Marsh will star as Cruella De Vil, with the remaining cast and creative team to be announced in the coming months.

Kym wrote: “I’ve got a tail-wagging announcement for you so lock up your puppies.. Cruella has arrived!

ADVERTISEMENT

“I’m so excited to reveal I will be starring as the greatest villain of them all, Cruella De Vil, in the smash-hit musical, 101 Dalmatians!”

101 Dalmatians The Musical is kicking off its 2024 UK with a launch in Wimbledon, before visiting several other major cities such as Birmingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool, Cardiff, Glasgow, and so many more.

It’ll take to the stage here in Manchester at the Palace Theatre from 30 July – 10 August 2024, with tickets on sale now.

Read more:

Featured Image – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Affiliate

Fast-rising Manc rockers ROLLA announce biggest-ever headline show

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rolla Manchester gig New Century Hall tickets

Manchester band ROLLA have announced their biggest-ever headline gig right here in their hometown and it’s set to be a barnstormer.

The local rock and roll outfit are on the up not only amongst the Manc music scene but Britain at large, notching huge nods from the likes of Rolling Stone as well lots of love from us here at Audio North, and now the in-your-face five-piece are set for a landmark show.

Having crossed a number of city centre venues already, ROLLA have now revealed they will be playing none other than New Century Hall for the first time in their career.

Still only a few short years into their journey to stardom (and yes, we do believe they’re going to be that big), this latest date is a huge milestone for the Mancs.

It was only last month that the ferocious indie rockers put their ever-growing fan base to good use by throwing a sold-out charity gig at Salford Lads’ and Girls’ Club in a successful campaign to save it from closure, and the scenes from the show were unbelievable.

Speaking on what was a momentous night for the band and Greater Manchester as a whole, ROLLA hope it will go down as something “current and future members of the club and our fans can always look back on it as a special moment in time.”

They also detailed how the atmosphere at the gig was so electric that they used a lot of the footage to create the music video for the new single, ‘It Ain’t Easy’, labelling it “the perfect nod to the massive achievement of helping towards keeping the clubs’ doors open.”

And they really did put their money where their mouth was, raising a whopping £8,000 through ticket and merch sales on the night – a huge 24-hour contribution towards the overall £250k target which was finally reached with just a few days to spare last week.

You can hear the track and see the fantastic visuals that go along with it down below:

As far as memorable Manchester gigs, this is just the start for ROLLA.

Going to discuss the landmark headline show, the band added: “This is more than just a gig—it’s a defining moment for the band and our fans – a coming together of everything we’ve built so far and we mean to make it special. It’s gonna go off.

“New Century Hall is a proper Manchester institution. It’s been a part of the city’s music scene for decades, and after its recent revival, it’s sounding and looking better than ever. We can’t wait to fill it out with our sound.”

If you’ve not come across their sound before, there are some very noticeable Oasis influences – not just because of some very familiar-looking haircuts and use of sunglasses in their photoshoots either – but, put simply, they deliver some of the punchiest rock riffs around right now.

Music outlet Gigwise has hailed them as “one of the most energetic and full displays of indie rock ‘n’ roll on offer today” and we tend to agree, having also named them on our Manc Bands of the Month just this past October.

Read more:

With their four-track debut EP set to release on 7 March, two tracks from which we’ve already heard and immediately added to our playlists, they’ll be bringing their tunes and hopefully more new music to the much-loved city centre venue on 3 May 2025.

We have every faith that they will set out the 1,300-capacity New Century Hall thanks to their already die-hard cult following alone, so you best be quick if you want to be there.

You can grab tickets to Rolla’s biggest-ever Manchester gig, not to mention for less than £20 per person, right now via the DICE anti-touting app or directly HERE.

We’ll see you out there.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)

Affiliate

Fawlty Towers – The Play is coming to Manchester Opera House next year

Danny Jones Danny Jones Fawlty Towers The Play Manchester tickets

John Cleese’s much-loved Fawlty Towers – The Play is landing at the Manchester Opera House next year and we cannot wait.

The critically acclaimed theatre adaptation of the iconic sitcom, still revered as one of the greatest UK comedies of all time, first came to fruition back in 2016 and is now set to land here in Manchester city centre for the first time ever.

We’ve been treated to Fawlty Towers The Dining Experience at The Lowry Theatre in Salford before, but this is the first time the smash-hit West End stage production has headed North and judging by the reviews, audiences are about to be belly-laughing all the way to Torquay.

Coming to Manc crowds this time next winter, you can expect this one to be a sell-out.

Still busy playing a fully booked-up run at London’s Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue, the twice-extended West End show is packing up its stage for a massive tour across the UK and Ireland.

Announcing dozens of dates next year and well into the summer of 2026, including shows in Leeds, Liverpool, York, Stoke, Sunderland and many more, the show has earned four and five-star reviews from countless publications.

The Arts Desk have hailed it as a “comedy masterpiece [that] makes a seamless transition to the stage”, with actor Adam Jackson-Smith playing the lead role of Basil Fawlty and the entire cast said to leave viewers cackling with some of the best bits from iconic TV series recreated in the flesh.

Speaking on the stage adaptation, John Cleese said: “When we came up with the idea of bringing Fawlty Towers to the stage, I never thought it would get the reception that it has.

“On 23 December it will be 50 years to the day since we recorded the pilot at BBC Television Centre and I’m delighted the audiences we’ve had in the West End still think it’s as funny as ever. The announcement of the tour means many more people will now have the chance to laugh themselves helpless.”

John Cleese, now 85.

Set to hit the road 50 years on from the broadcast of the first episode on BBC Two back in September 1975, before going on to win countless awards including two BAFTAS and even being voted the best British programme of all time as part of a British Film Institute poll, it all feels very full circle.

Brought to life on stage by a creative team consisting of Cleese and fellow writer Connie Booth and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger – best known for her work on Blood Means Nothing (2019), My Week with Maisy (2024), Early Doors: Live (2021) and the Monty Python live show, there’s non-stop talent both on and off the stage.

One of the best part parts about a series that was stretched across just 12 half-hour episodes of TV is that you can just about manage to squeeze in the majority of the most memorable highlights into the approximately 1h50m run-time.

You can see the cast’s recent interview on This Morning HERE and for a short trailer for a better look at what to expect down below:

Read more:

Fawlty Towers – The Play comes to the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, 4 November 2025 and will be there until Saturday, 8 November.

General admission is live as we speak, with ticket options starting from £20 and going all the way up to £147.50 for the best premium seats and experience in the house.

You can grab your tickets HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)

More Affiliate

Affiliate

Iggy Pop announces landmark gig in Manchester next year

The Black Keys Castlefield Bowl Manchester tickets

Affiliate

The Black Keys are coming back to Manchester for their Castlefield Bowl debut

Affiliate

Hacienda DJs announce new gig series – and it’s way more intimate than you think

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches