The musical revamp of the cult classic teen comedy Heathers is wowing sold-out audiences at the Palace Theatre.
We’ve all seen the classic 1988 high school flick where Winona Ryder leads a world where cliques rule and jocks dominate, with all the ‘popular’ girls being called Heather.
And of course, the musical adaptation that rose to fame in 2018 does not disappoint.
A delightful combination of crunchy, bright, catchy songs alongside a morbid, melancholy plot line – the musical is nothing short of mesmerising.
Following two smash hit West End seasons and a record-breaking run at The Other Palace, Heathers the Musical is in the midst of a national tour and luckily for us, they’ll be in Manchester until Saturday 12 August.
ADVERTISEMENT
Image: Supplied
Following the journey of protagonist and teenage misfit Veronica Sawyer, the musical perfectly depicts high school life and all its challenges.
The talented ensemble include all the stereotypes, the ‘stoner’, the ‘nerd’, the ‘theatre geek’ and of course the macho jocks clad in baseball jackets and six packs.
ADVERTISEMENT
From the offset you are catapulted into high school life, with lockers lining the stage walls and students dancing joyously with cafeteria trays above their heads.
We are introduced to ‘The Heathers’, three leaders of the pack all dressed in primary colours and knee high socks with the school wrapped around their manicured fingers.
Heather Chandler, played by Verity Thompson, was an absolute power house, with vocals that shone to the upper tier of the auditorium leaving audience members stunned and applauding merrily.
ADVERTISEMENT
Image: Supplied
We follow Veronica as she becomes a Heather herself, sporting an electric blue blazer and fake smile to try fit in with the ‘cool kids’.
She meets JD, a morbid troubled teen who leads her down a garden path to revenge, rebellion and inevitably murder.
Both Veronica and JD, played by Jenna Innes and Jacob Fowler, produced stand-out performances which had audience members chatting of their brilliance in the foyer throughout the interval.
We intently followed their love story, and accepted it with all its quirks, as they eliminated class mates who have wronged them one by one.
Image: Supplied
But although the plot line had moments of morbidity, the overall feeling was one of charm, pride and elation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Heathers the Musical shrieks with joy throughout, and is an absolute explosion of a theatrical experience which will leave you wanting more and more.
Heathers the Musical is playing at The Palace Theatre until Saturday 12 August and you can get your tickets here, which we absolutely urge you to do so.
Iconic music festival Suffragette City is returning to Manchester
Thomas Melia
Suffragette City, known for its cracking performances by the greatest female and non-binary acts, is returning to Manchester next month.
Aptly named after the Suffragette movement, this event celebrates and supports ‘women and gender expansive folk’ through charity work and fantastic club nights, bringing together women and non-binary performers, DJs, artists and more for some non-stop music entertainment.
Even better, this club night is being hosted around International Women’s Day, meaning there’s even more reasons to dance the night away.
Manchester was one of the pioneering cities when it came to campaigning for womens’ right to vote.
Emmeline Pankhurst’s efforts will never be forgotten, as she and her fellow advocates managed to securing womens’ right to vote in 1918, a date that is cemented in UK and worldwide history. So much so, there’s a statue of her which sits heroically in St. Peter’s Square overlooking the city centre and all of its many commuters.
This event is named in honour of that very movement.
This year, Suffragette City is being hosted at one of Manchester’s most-esteemed nightlife venues, Yes Bar, where they will be taking over all four floors and you’ll be able to catch some of the hottest talent including Sarah Bates and Afrodeutsche.
As well as making sure people are having a brilliant time, this club night also aims to raise lots of money for a variety of important local charities and causes, all of which help women and non-binary people with different resources.
All the money from each ticket sale goes straight back to the charities MASH (Manchester Action on Street Health), Every Month, SAWN (Support and Action Women’s Network), and Contact Hostel.
Iconic music festival Suffragette City is returning to Manchester next month / Credit: Supplied
As much as technology may be our new best friend, you’ll also find a handful of volunteers spread throughout the venue with buckets for you to put physical donations into, and you can also help contribute by purchasing merchandise online or at the event.
And to make the event even more accessible, for the first time ever, it will broadcast globally online thanks to an exciting collaboration with StreamGM – a not-for-profit streaming service showcasing music, culture, and nightlife from Greater Manchester – and their underground clubbing series, Main Room.
So whether you’re in Manchester, Madrid, Melbourne, or anywhere in between, you’ll be able to experience the magic of Suffragette City from the comfort of your own home.
LF System, DJ Paulette and Turno announced as headliners for ‘The Drop’ music series
Thomas Melia
A returning music series is taking place in Manchester again and it’s bringing together even more great DJs for some fantastic live sets.
Titled ‘The Drop’, this music celebration is the mastermind of Skiddle and Headstock, who have collaborated to raise funds to support the music industry and mental health awareness.
Both the leading organisations put music at the forefront of what they do with Skiddle as a UK-based online ticket platform and Headstock, a hugely important music and mental health social enterprise.
‘The Drop’ is a monthly event series created to raise funds for several charities that exist to support the mental health of people working in the music industry.
Credit: Publicity Picture (Supplied)
This all-new event has support from The Warehouse Project, one of the leading nightlife and music entertainment spots not just in Manchester but the UK, bringing in acts from all over the world.
There are lots of music-tailored companies getting involved too including our very own music counterpart, Audio North.
Currently, there are three big headliners that have just been announced and these acts are certainly music champions in the dance music scene, featuring LF System, DJ Paulette and Turno.
LF System has reached incredible heights thanks to their unforgettable tune ‘Afraid To Feel’, which has now racked up nearly 500 million Spotify streams globally since its release in 2022.
Manchester music legend and Haçienda queen, DJ Paulette has also seen huge success with her mind-blowing mixes and soundtracking various music events.
The final headliner to be announced so far is Turno, who has played out to crowds of 10,000 at WHP and is respected for his eclectic drum and bass beats.
DJ Paulette is always lifting our energy no matter where she goes.Turno is about to bring some drum and bass bangers.LF System are ready to show off some well-crafted mixes.Credit: Publicity Pictures (Supplied)
‘The Drop’ kickstarts on 27 March for the Spring season with international DJ and producer Turno from 6:30-11pm, with sets happening every month following, tickets are already available.
Read more:
Moovin Festival announces 2025 lineup for much-loved Stockport event
You Are Not Alone Festival deliver gutting delay news
Three iconic Manchester bands nominated to join the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Following on from this is the sensational LF System are taking over with a coffee table set joined by some special yet-to-be-announced guests on 24 April – tickets HERE.
Finally, DJ Paulette will be bringing those massive rave bangers and combining it with her usual charismatic energy on 15 May – grab your tickets now.
Clementine Hall -
9th August 2023 
