One of the most beloved musicals of all time is stopping off here in Manchester as part of a major UK tour next year.
Fresh off-the-back of successful run down at The London Palladium, and just a couple of years since it played to packed-out crowds here in 2022, it’s just been announced this week that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat will be making its way back to Manchester next year, and will be taking over one of our city’s most iconic stages.
The sensational musical production was first staged all the way back in 1968, and is known for being the first major collaboration between theatre legends, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice.
On its way to becoming one of the world’s best-loved family musicals, the multi award-winning show has been performed hundreds of thousands of times – including multiple runs in the West End and on Broadway, as well as international tours in more than 80 countries worldwide.
THE SMASH-HIT SPECTACLE RETURNS 🌈 We’re delighted to announce that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is coming to the Opera House from 26 Feb – 9 Mar 2025🤩.
Whether you can believe it or not, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat actually started out as a concept album based off a small-scale school show, before it grew into what we know today.
Told entirely through song with the help of the narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat follows the story of Jacob’s favourite son, Joseph, who after being sold into hardship by his 11 brothers, tries to ingratiate himself with Egyptian noble, Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the advances of Potiphar’s wife.
Beloved musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is coming to Manchester / Credit: Tristram Kenton (via Supplied)
While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams, and soon finds himself in front of the mighty but troubled showman, the Pharaoh. As Joseph strives to resolve Egypt’s famine, he becomes Pharaoh’s right-hand man and eventually reunites with his family.
The show features songs that have gone on to become musical theatre stapes, including ‘Any Dream Will Do’, ‘Close Every Door To Me’, ‘Jacob and Sons’, and ‘Go, Go, Go Joseph’.
This particular production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat that’s coming to Manchester in 2025 is produced and directed by acclaimed musical theatre duo, Michael Harrison and Laurence Connor.
It’ll be taking over one of our city’s most iconic stages early next year / Credit: Tristram Kenton (via Supplied)
Speaking ahead of the show’s return to our Manchester Opera House next year, producer Michael Harrison explained: “After two sensational runs at The London Palladium and a celebrated tour, which saw audiences up on their feet when we played in Manchester in 2022, I am delighted to bring Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat back to the Opera House next year.
“Few shows bring the generations together the way Joseph does, and we can’t wait to welcome audiences new and old to make memories that will last a lifetime.”
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat will be on the Manchester Opera House stage from Wednesday 26 February – Sunday 9 March 2025, and tickets are set to go on general sale from as little as £15 each tomorrow (Friday 14 June) at 10am.
Find out more and grab your tickets when they go on sale here.
Featured Image – Tristram Kenton (via Supplied)
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Rick Astley to play Co-op Live on major UK arena tour – with big-name supporting act
Emily Sergeant
Rick Astley has announced a major UK and Ireland arena tour, and of course he’ll be playing a huge gig here in Manchester.
The Newton-le-Willows native started his remarkable career all the way back in 1987 when he became an unlikely global phenomenon after his era-defining smash ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ established him as an international chart-topping, BRIT Award winning global star, following by a debut album that sold a whopping 15.2 million copies worldwide.
But then he stepped away from the spotlight, and seemingly left that chapter of his life behind – that was until he returned to the charts in 2016 and has stayed at the top of his game ever since.
He has collaborated with everyone from Foo Fighters to Blossoms along the way, and even did a double-bill of festival sets at Glastonbury in 2023, before releasing his latest album titled ‘Are We There Yet?’.
JUST ANNOUNCED: Rick Astley Rick returns to Co-op Live on 17 April 2026
Throughout his career, Rick has released eight studio albums, sold more than 40 million records worldwide, and has played and toured around the world multiple times.
And now he’s heading back out on the road, and will be taking to the Co-op Live stage here in Manchester next April.
He’ll be playing Co-op Live on Friday 17 April 2026, and support for the tour comes from none other than the legendary Gabrielle herself.
Other major cities Rick’ll be stopping off at along the way include the capitals London, Cardiff, Belfast, and Dublin, as well as Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, and more.
Rick Astley – The Reflection Tour 2026
With special guest Gabrielle
Friday 10 April – Glasgow OVO Hydro
Saturday 11 April – Newcastle Utilita Arena
Monday 13 April – Belfast SSE
Tuesday 14 April – Dublin 3Arena
Thursday 16 April – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
Friday 17 April – Manchester Co-op Live
Saturday 18 April – Leeds First Direct Bank Arena
Monday 20 April – Bournemouth International Centre
Tuesday 21 April – Cardiff Utilita Arena
Wednesday 22 April – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
Friday 24 April – Birmingham bp pulse LIVE
Saturday 25 April – London The O2
After taking a break in 2025, Rick says he’s excited to head out on his UK and Ireland arena tour next year, and is looking forward to performing live again.
Rick Astley begins The Reflection Tour on 10 April 2026, before he arrives in Manchester on 17 April, and tickets go on sale this week – with presales for Co-op Live members starting at 9:30am this Wednesday (3 September), before general sale begins this Friday 5 September, again at 9:30am.
Feeling a little fancier? You can treat yourself to some VIP tickets to Rick’s Co-op Live show via SeatUnique, with a range of different packages available here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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A new music showcase is taking place at a beautiful and historic Stockport venue
Danny Jones
A new live showcase is coming to Stockport town centre as part of a wider music, art and cultural celebration next month.
And by new, we mean the artists; if you went to the last edition, you’ll know it delivers some serious talent.
Teaming up with the likes of Manchester-based music magazine and promoters, The Rodeo, as well as ticketing platform Skiddle, Stockport is set to welcome the return of Mercury Climbing Festival.
This week-long celebration of music, art and culture around parts of the Greater Manchester borough’s historic old town, and there are some exciting names on board already.
As for Mercury Climbing 2025 itself, the multi-day festival spread across several locations boasts the best in native and Northern music, visual arts, and comedy.
Popping up across a total of eight different spaces, including the likes of the brand-new Stockroom, pubs, and headline music venue St Mary’s Church – quietly one of the coolest places we’ve ever seen a gig – you have plenty of reason to be excited about this one.
Speaking of St Mary’s, while artists such as local legends Badly Drawn Boy, Manc indie outfit The Covasettes and Riding The Low – fronted by actor Paddy Considine – are set to play the stunning ceremonial space, The Rodeo is also hosting its own dedicated stage at the church.
Highlighting emerging new talent on Saturday, 20 September, Manchester-based solo indie project Better Joy is set to headline, with Denver County Council (who featured on our Manc artists of the month round-up), Henry Webb-Jenkins, Katie & the Bad Sign, plus more to be announced in support.
The last time we saw a ‘Live at St Mary’s’ event, we can’t stress this enough: it was nothing short of an unforgettable experience.
You don’t get to enjoy a ‘religious’ gig experiences like this often…
Taking place from Friday, 19-26 September, the festival as a whole will transform Stockport’s historic Old Town into a vibrant cultural hub.
And it isn’t just music: there are local food and drink traders getting involved, artwork from the one and only Stanley Chow, as well as plenty of other entertainment.
Above all else, the event is not only steeped in SK and Greater Manchester’s rich heritage, but it’s a great way of supporting new art coming out of the region.
The Rodeo’s St Mary’s stage gets underway from 4pm and is scheduled to finish at 10:30pm, but the wider Mercury Climbing programme is an all-day festival that won’t end until late. You can grab your tickets right HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
13th June 2024 
