A musical version of Roald Dahl’s iconic children’s classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is heading out on a UK tour in 2023.
And it’s set to stop off here in Manchester next summer.
After already proving to be a smash-hit on both the Broadway stage and in the West End, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical, which is based off the 1964 Roald Dahl novel of the same name and the Warner Bros. film, is coming to Manchester Palace Theatre from 4 – 30 July 2023, and tickets are due to go on sale very soon.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the story, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical tells “the devilishly delicious tale” of young golden ticket winner Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectionary wizard Willy Wonka.
A synopsis for the musical production reads: “When Charlie wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory, it’s a chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets they’ve always dreamed of.
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“But beyond the gates astonishment awaits, as down the sugary corridors and amongst the incredible and edible delights, the five lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems.
— Palace & Opera Mcr (@PalaceAndOpera) June 24, 2022
“This sensational musical is choc-full of fantastical treats to dazzle your senses taking you to a world of pure imagination.”
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It features memorable songs from the beloved 1970s film, as well as a host of new numbers.
Charlie and Chocolate Factory – The Musical has a book by David Greig, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Mark Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and is directed by James Brining and designed by Simon Higlett.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical is coming to Manchester Palace Theatre from 4 – 30 July 2023 / Credit: Supplied
Liverpool, Hull, and Sunderland are among the other Northern locations making up the UK tour of the highly-anticipated production.
Tickets go on sale on Friday 8 July, and you can grab yours here.
Featured Image – Joan Marcus (via Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical)
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Doja Cat at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
One of the 2020’s leading female artists, Doja Cat, is heading to the UK for a stop on her newest tour and has chosen to host it at Co-op Live in Manchester.
American recording artist Doja Cat is making her long-awaited return to Manchester and an arena debut, with this artist’s first and only visit to the city being back in 2024, headlining Parklife.
Heading to the UK as part of her Ma Vie World Tour, the California-born star is recognised for her spellbinding performances, extravagant outfits and array of UK Top 40 hits.
Not afraid to blend genres, Amala Dlamini, better known by artist moniker Doja Cat, has lent her voice to rap, hip-hop, pop, R’n’B, and now 80’s synths on her newest LP, Vie.
Gig guide | Doja Cat at Co-op Live, Manchester
Doja Cat is coming to Co-op Live in Manchester for one night of her Ma Vie Tour / Credit: Publicity Picture (Supplied)
Doja Cat UK tour dates
Sat 23 May – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Tues 26 May – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Fri 29 May – London, UK – The O2
Are there any tickets left for Doja Cat at Co-op Live?
Do you ‘Need to Know’ about grabbing tickets to see this multi-hyphenate performer live? Well, you’re in luck…
After seeing this iconic ‘Woman’ live on stage in Manchester? Well, if I’ve got your ‘Attention’, you can find tickets and more info HERE.
All you ‘Need to Know’ about Doja Cat’s Ma Vie World Tour in Manchester / Credit: Greg Swales (Supplied) / The Manc Group
Doja Cat setlist for 2026 UK tour
Lipstain
Cards
Get Into It (Yuh)
Kiss Me More
Gorgeous
Couples Therapy
Take Me Dancing
Woman
Acts of Service
Agora Hills
Make It Up
All Mine
Ain’t Sh*t
Paint the Town Red
Silly! Fun!
Juicy
Need to Know
Streets
Wet Vagina
WYM Freestyle
Demons
Tia Tamera
AAAHH MEN!
Boss B*tch
Stranger
Happy
One More Time
Say So
Jealous Type
What are the stage times for Doja Cat in Manchester?
Doors for Doja Cat’s Ma Vie Tour at Co-op Live in Manchester are set to open from 6:30pm with a kick-off time of 7pm from one very good warm-up act.
Supporting the rapper and performer on her UK and EU leg of the tour is alternative-r&b artist Naomi Sharon with singles like ‘Better Days’ and ‘Bittersweet’.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
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Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
The Script are back and have announced a HUGE arena gig in Manchester this year
Thomas Melia
Boyband and radio hitmakers The Script are coming to Manchester and are playing out in the UK’s biggest arena with a big support act.
‘For the First Time’ in their career, The Script are playing their biggest ever live show right here in Manchester at 23,500 seater Co-op Live.
This Irish-based band have soundtracked generations with their hits spanning two decades including ‘Hall of Fame’, ‘Breakeven’, ‘Superheroes’ and more.
Consisting of lead vocalist Danny O’Donoghue with Benjamin Seargent on bass, guitarist Ben Weaver and drummer Adam Marcello, their music fuses pop and rock.
The Script has released three albums that have topped both UK and Ireland charts, as well as four Top 10 singles and they’re hoping to reign supreme on the charts once more with upcoming LP The User’s Guide to Being Human.
Although the full album doesn’t drop until August, Danny and the rest of the lads have just released a new single titled ‘Man In The Arena’.
There’s even a nod to the Northern music scene on the tracklist as one of the upcoming releases is labelled ‘The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall’.
Other tracks on this LP include ‘Living Our Life Without Me’, ‘I’m 100 Different People’ and a song that’s sure to get a few tears out of all of us – ‘Grow Old with Grace’.
As well as announcing this new run of shows set for winter 2026, The Script are joining Take That on a stadium tour titled The Circus Live across June and July.
Joining The Script on their latest UK tour this Winter is James Morrison known for similar ballad-like hits including ‘Broken Strings’ and ‘Wonderful World’.
The Script UK tour dates
Mon 2 November – Belfast, UK – SSE Arena
Thu 5 November – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
Fri 6 November – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Sat 7 November – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 9 November – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
Tue 10 November – Leeds, UK – First Direct Bank Arena
Thu 12 November – Aberdeen, UK – P&J Live
Fri 13 November – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Sat 14 November – Sheffield, UK – Utilita Arena
Mon 16 November – Bournemouth, UK – Bournemouth International Centre
Thu 19 November – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena
Sat 21 November – London, UK – The O2
The Script are visiting Co-op Live on Saturday 7 November 2026 for their The Man In The Arena Tour with tickets and more info HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
27th June 2022 
