Award-winning musical Jesus Christ Superstar is heading out on a UK tour later this year, and it’s kicking things off here in Manchester.
Following several acclaimed and sold-out runs in the West End, as well as an extensive tour right across the US and Canada, it’s now been announced that the Olivier Award-winning reimagined production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s celebrated musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, will take to the stage at some of the country’s best-loved theatres.
Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, Bradford, Sunderland, and Blackpool are just a handful of the Northern locations the show will be stopping off at – with several other major UK cities also on the lineup.
But what better way to kick things off than with a visit to see us here in Manchester?
Jesus Christ Superstar will be taking over Manchester’s Palace Theatre for a two-week run from Monday 11 – Saturday 23 September 2023.
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📣 NEW SHOW ALERT 📣
We are thrilled to announce that the iconic global phenomenon, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR comes to the Palace Theatre this September.
📅 Mon 11 – Sat 23 September 🎟️ On sale to ATG Theatre Card holders: Mon 20 Feb @ 12pm 🎟️ General on sale: Thu 23 Feb @ 10am pic.twitter.com/lk9k6toGKd
Featuring music and lyrics by Emmy, GRAMMY, Oscar, and Tony winners Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, this version of the beloved production first staged all the way back in 1971 was reimagined by London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – which is actually where it originated – and is headed up by director Timothy Sheader and choreographer Drew McOnie.
Unfamiliar with the award-winning production? A global phenomenon that has wowed audiences for decades, Jesus Christ Superstar’s iconic 1970s rock score was originally released as a concept album and opened on Broadway in 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.
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The show is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas.
The legendary score includes smash-hit songs like ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’, and the stand-out ‘Superstar’.
Jesus Christ Superstar to kick off 2023 UK tour in Manchester / Credit: Supplied
Speaking ahead of the start of the UK tour, the show’s producer David Ian said: “I am thrilled to be taking this award-winning production on tour in 2023 and 2024.
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“Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has created a fresh and bold new version of a beloved classic, which will enthrall both longtime fans of the show and delight those seeing it for the very first time”.
James Arthur to play massive Manchester show on UK arena tour next year
Emily Sergeant
James Arthur is the latest act to announce a massive UK arena tour, and he’ll be paying a visit to Manchester next year.
On the day that Manchester’s newest live entertainment arena,Co-op Live, is set to welcome one of the world’s current biggest pop star, Sabrina Carpenter, another major pop act is set to take to that very same stage around this time next year, as James Arthur has today announced a huge arena tour.
The former X Factor winner is heading out on an 11-date tour of the UK in early 2026, and that includes a visit to our city in mid February.
After performing in some of the UK’s biggest cities in the days prior – including London’s O2, the bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, and shows in other northern cities such as Sheffield and Liverpool – the will 37-year-old singer-songwriter will stop off Manchester to close out his impressive tour.
He’ll be performing at Co-op Live on Saturday 21 February 2026.
The announcement of next year’s UK tour next year’s coincides with the upcoming release of Arthur’s highly-anticipated next studio album, PISCES.
In recent years, Arthur has cemented himself as one of the biggest names in contemporary pop and soul, amassing 11 Platinum hit singles, more 38 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and two UK number one albums along the way – including his most recent release, Bitter Sweet Love, which was celebrated with a sold-out UK and Europe arena tour, culminating in a historic performance in his hometown of Middlesbrough to an audience of 25,000 fans.
James Arthur UK arena tour dates 2025
3 February – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
4 February – Glasgow OVO Hydro
6 February – Newcastle Utilita Arena
7 February – Aberdeen P&J Live
10 February – Birmingham bp pulse LIVE
11 February – Bournemouth International Centre
13 February – Sheffield Utilita Arena
14 February – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
16 February – Cardiff Utilita Arena
18 February – London The O2
21 February – Manchester Co-op Live
James Arthur is playing a massive Manchester show on his UK arena tour next year / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
With the upcoming release of PISCES on 25 April, Arthur is said to be ‘diving deeper into his personal struggles’ to create a collection of songs that is ‘as introspective as it is sonically adventurous’.
Tickets to James Arthur’s 2026 UK arena tour, including the Manchester Co-op Live gig on Saturday 21 February, go on pre-sale next Wednesday 19 March at 9am, and then on general sale on Friday 21 February at 9am.
Find out more and get tickets when they go on sale here.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Popular Manchester comedy festival returns with impressive lineup of local talent and ‘cult sensations’
Emily Sergeant
A popular comedy festival is returning to our city with yet another impressive lineup of local talent and ‘cult sensations’.
That’s right… some of the UK’s best comedy names are coming to Manchester.
Following the success of events held the last two years, renowned production company, A Lovely Time, has once again put together an absolutely jam-packed lineup of television names, internet sensations, hotly-tipped newcomers, and even critically-acclaimed comedians for a weekend full of comedy shows in the heart of the city centre.
Taking place at Fairfield Social Club – which is tucked away down at the Green Quarter – the weekend-long festival, aptly called A Lovely Weekend, will kick off on Friday 6 June.
You can expect three full days of laughter at the hands of an expertly-curated lineup, who’ll mostly be staging ‘work in progress’ shows and sets.
Popular comedy festival A Lovely Weekend is returning to Manchester this summer / Credit: Kristyna Baczyna | Caro Ferretti
This year’s festival is bringing 19 new shows to the mix, including the likes of Edinburgh Comedy Award winners John Kearns and Jordan Brookes, and local talent done-good Rachel Fairburn and Josh Jones, as well rising stars Sharon Wanjohi, Ayoade Bamgboye, and Molly McGuinness.
Plus, you can also catch cult sensations like Mark Silcox and the formidable Frankie Monroe, making for a truly unmissable weekend of comedy.
“It’s such an honour to bring this amazing lineup of comedians to Manchester, which is quickly becoming the most exciting city for comedy in the UK,” commented festival organiser John Stansfield ahead of this summer’s event.
Co-organiser Chris Cantrill, who is also a comedian himself, added: “As a comedy fan I have to say I cannot wait for this year’s festival. It feels positively decadent.”
A Lovely Weekend 2025 will take over Fairfield Social Club from Friday 6 – Sunday 8 June, and tickets are on sale now – with tickets to individual shows, and specific day and weekend-long passes all available to get your hands on.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd March 2023 
