Niall Horan is the latest headliner to be announced as part of the Co-op Live’s massive opening season next year.
As Manchester‘s newest – and soon-to-be the UK’s largest – live entertainment arena nears closer and closer than ever to officially opening its doors and welcoming visitors, with a huge launch season that’s already jam-packed full of events, Co-op Live has today confirmed the next two music acts set to grace its stage.
JUST ANNOUNCED: Global music superstar @NiallOfficial joins us as part of his "The Show – Live On Tour" run. https://t.co/zB2nxXa4Nz@coopuk Members to get first in line access to tickets.
The former member of boyband One Direction, turned chart-topping solo singer, is already playing the city’s current biggest stage, the AO Arena, on 5 March 2024 – but tickets for that absolutely flew off the shelves, and the show is now sold out.
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Luckily, the Irishman’s planned to pay our city another visit.
Following on from the release of his third studio album, The Show, back in June, Niall is heading out on a global tour in 2024 to celebrate, and he’s set to stop off at the Co-op Live on 27 August.
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The Show – Live On Tour 2024 is the 29-year-old’s biggest tour of his solo career, and his first headline run since 2018’s Flicker World Tour.
Horan is set to performing songs from all three of his solo albums.
Throughout 2024, he’ll play more than 30 shows in arenas right across mainland Europe, and North America in both the US and Canada.
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Niall Horan has been announced as the latest Co-op Live headliner / Credit: Niall Horan (via Instagram)
“My favourite thing in the world is being on tour,” Niall said ahead of 2024’s tour.
“Performing my songs for my fans and sharing those incredible moments together are the reason why I write music in the first place, and this is going to be my best tour yet so I cannot wait to see all you “lovers” on the road in 2024.
“There’s nothing better than watching the crowd sing back to you with all that emotion on their faces and knowing that they’re attaching the song to something meaningful in their own lives.
“To me, that’s always the greatest thing that can ever come from songwriting.”
Once again, as part of the highly-anticipated £365 million venue’s “pioneering” partnership, Co-op members will get the chance to gain early access to tickets through a designated presale on Wednesday 6 September at 10am, all before the general sale takes place.
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General sale tickets are available through Co-op Live from Friday 8 September at 10am, and you can grab them here.
Chicago the Musical razzles (and dazzles) at the Palace Theatre in Manchester
Clementine Hall
A story of murder, greed and corruption was performed with style, ease and flair; Chicago is the longest-running American musical in Broadway and West End history, and it’s easy to see why now that it’s arrived in Manchester.
The jazz-fuelled fiasco is filled with catchy songs that you can’t help but click along to, funny one-liners, and likeable characters such as Miss Roxy Hart herself.
Best-known for appearing as Kate Connor in Coronation Street, the opening night in Manchester on Chicago‘s UK tour may have been a daunting prospect, but it’s one Faye Brookes pulled off seamlessly.
Here’s our full review…
Image: Press Images (Supplied)
Brookes is fantastically expressive and brings new energy to a classic, complemented throughout by a sultry cast dressed in buckles and mesh that really bring the ‘Razzle Dazzle’ to the stage.
Her co-star, Strictly Come Dancing‘s Kevin Clifton, struts through the show transformed into Billy Flynn – a flamboyant 1920s American lawyer who has the desperate inmates in the palm of his hand.
The opening number, ‘All That Jazz’, is spearheaded by Djalenga Scott as Velma Kelly and she does it brilliantly.
Image: Supplied
The cast slink their way across the stage with Scott at the forefront, who undoubtedly delivers a faultless performance and complements Brookes as Roxie Hart perfectly.
A highlight of course included the hilarious‘Cell Block Tango’, the audience were laughing along as the women sang the stories of their murderous deeds whilst performing sharp and sultry choreography.
Not even a toe out of place.
Image: Supplied
The set is minimalist, dark and simple, but is simply brought to life by the wonderful expression and lively musical numbers performed on stage by the live band.
The live band sits on a staircase centre stage and their playful use of instruments throughout is truly impressive.
Neil MacDonald, the show’s musical director, even got involved with a few on-stage conversations which was a fabulous touch that made the show feel bespoke to us.
Other notable performances included Brenda Edwards as Mamma Morton, whose powerhouse voice left the audience in absolute awe, and Joshua Lloyd as ‘Mister Cellophane’ caused a couple of pitiful “awws” from the auditorium.
Overall, this was a fantastic production of the Broadway classic – the standing ovation at the end proves I wasn’t the only one who thought that too.
Chicago the Musical is playing at the Palace Theatre Manchester until Saturday, 9 November and you can grab your last-minute tickets HERE.
Giselle, one of the greatest romantic ballets, has landed in Manchester and it’s a must-see
Eva Claricoates
When the English National Ballet is in Manchester, it’s an opportunity you shouldn’t let slip by, and is almost guaranteed to be one of the most stunning performances to grace the stage– Giselle at the Palace Theatre certainly was.
Giselle tells the story of a young peasant girl, who falls in love with Albrecht, a duke, who pretends to be a peasant in order to seduce the show’s namesake.
Albrecht is not only hiding his status but also an engagement to another. When Giselle finds out about his deception, she descends into madness and dies from a broken heart.
Giselle is summoned from the dead by spirits, the Wilis, all abandoned and betrayed before their wedding day. The Wilis take their revenge by dancing men to death, and Giselle must decide whether her love for Albrecht is too strong to sentence him to the same fate.
Credit: The Manc Group
Giselle tells a story of grief, heartbreak, and love, and how a true heart always avails. Hauntingly beautiful and romantic, Mary Skeaping’s production had been tenderly revived from its original performance, and it’s clear to see why the performance received five-star reviews earlier this year.
The entire production was captivating and dramatic, leaving the audience gasping, laughing and firmly glued to their seats. Adolphe Adam’s score is performed live by the English National Ballet Philharmonic nestled beneath the stage, which compliments the performance beautifully and skilfully.
Perhaps the most mesmerising point of the performance was the Wilis appearing in the forest at the beginning of act two, as they formed perfectly symmetrical formations, and appeared to almost float across the stage.
It served as a great medium for exploring themes of the supernatural exquisitely, providing truly stunning imagery to the audience.
Giselle uses mime to convey its storyline to the audience, and even if you are a first-time ballet-goer, it’s an easy-to-follow, modern performance which can be enjoyed by all audiences. If you’re so inclined, you can even get involved in a dedicated ballet masterclass.
Join our Creative Learning team and English National Ballet on Saturday 2 November for an exclusive ballet masterclass at the Palace Theatre! 🩰
This workshop is suitable for ages 11-17 with a keen interest in dance ranging up to intermediate levels.
Emily Sergeant -
1st September 2023 
