Fancy taking a trip under the sea and stopping off at Bikini Bottom?
We know that might sound like a rather bizarre question, but it’s actually set to become a reality next year as the UK tour of the Broadway smash-hit SpongeBob SquarePants musical stops off right here in Manchester city centre.
Fans of the iconic 00s Nickelodeon cartoon by Stephen Hillenburg can expect to be entertained by the brand-new musical production that’s been described as “brilliant, bright, and hilarious.”
The SpongeBob Musical – which is written by Kyle Jarrow, conceived by Tina Landausees, and has additional music and lyrics by Jonathan Coulton and Tom Kitt – sees the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, so SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world.
With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up – optimism.
ADVERTISEMENT
SpongeBob is making a splash in the must-see musical of 2023! 🙌#SpongeBobUKTour features irresistible characters, magical choreography and dazzling costumes.
The future is bright, the future is bold, the future is The SpongeBob Musical. 🍍 pic.twitter.com/SVEX3M5auA
The new “all-singing, all-dancing dynamic stage show” features a tidal wave of original songs by the world’s most iconic rock and pop artists – including Aerosmith, Cyndi Lauper, Sara Bareilles, The Flaming Lips, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, and more.
Following what was an extremely successful debut on Broadway in New York, The Spongebob Musical is heading out on a long-awaited tour of the UK in 2023.
ADVERTISEMENT
It will be stopping off at the Manchester Opera House for a five-day run next May.
The new production is said to feature “irresistible characters, magical choreography, and dazzling costumes”, and is ready to “make a splash with audiences” of all ages as one of the must-see musicals of 2023.
There’s a SpongeBob SquarePants musical coming to Manchester next year / Credit: The Spongebob Musical (via Twitter)
The Spongebob Musical will be at Manchester Opera House from Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 May 2023, with tickets already on sale from as little as £13 each.
Featured Image – Jeremy Daniel (via The Spongebob Musical)
Affiliate
Smash-hit West End musical Trainspotting is coming to Manchester later this year
Emily Sergeant
Trainspotting The Musical is coming to Manchester.
30 years on from the film that changed everything, and following its successful world premiere run in London’s West End, Trainspotting The Musical is heading out on a major UK tour later this year, and will be taking to one of Manchester‘s most iconic stages in the autumn.
Written by Irvine Welsh – as adapted from his best-selling debut novel – and directed and developed by Caroline Jay Ranger, Trainspotting The Musical has been described by critics as ‘radical, invigorating and life-affirming’ since its premiere.
It’s said to be an unforgettable production that’ll have even the most sceptical audiences leave on a ‘consciousness-altering high.’
➕ ATG+ PRESALE ➕
CHOOSE LIFE.
Trainspotting: The Musical is coming to the Palace Theatre this November. Written by Irvine Welsh.
Groups presale 👉 Tues 12 May 10am General sale 👉 Wed 13 May 10am
— Palace & Opera Mcr (@PalaceAndOpera) May 11, 2026
In 1996, the breakthrough British film of the same name was released and became the biggest grossing UK film of the year, winning a slew of awards in the process – including a BAFTA for Best Screenplay, and even being ranked tenth in the BFI’s top 100 greatest British films of the 20th century.
Now, three decades later, the industrial drug crazed working-class heroes of British youth culture are back… but this time, live on stage.
Trainspotting The Musical is coming to Manchester later this year / Credit: Supplied
“I believe the musical has a bigger, loudly beating human heart than either the book or the film,” creator Irvine Welsh commented as the UK tour was announced this week.
“People need to think about the world we’re living in, and we offer that inspection, but they also need to sing their hearts out and laugh their heads off. It’s what being human is all about. We’ve put together an incredible Scottish cast and I can’t wait to see them bring the musical to life.”
Trainspotting The Musical will taking to the stage at Manchester Palace Theatre later this year from Monday 2 – Saturday 7 November 2026, and tickets officially go on general sale tomorrow (Wednesday 13 May) from 10am.
Pretty Woman The Musical will be returning to the stage in Manchester next year
Emily Sergeant
“Big night out. Big. HUGE.”
This is your chance to experience one of Hollywood’s best-loved romcoms of all time, as following a record-breaking run in the West End and a sell-out first UK tour in 2023, Pretty Woman The Musical is heading back out the road again next year, and it’ll be taking to one of Manchester‘s most iconic stages.
With direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, an original score by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, it’s no wonder Pretty Woman The Musical is one of the most popular productions of the 21st century.
Just like the 1990 film of the same name, Pretty Woman The Musical tells the story of Vivian and Edward, two unlikely soulmates who overcome all odds to find each other… and themselves.
Pretty Woman The Musical will be returning to the stage in Manchester next year / Credit: Supplied
The musical – which is described as being a ‘dazzlingly joyous love story for the ages’ – lets you experience all the moments you know and love from the movie, all while getting to know these iconic characters in a whole new way.
Stopping off at Manchester Palace Theatre next spring, the show will be in our city from Tuesday 23 March through to Saturday 3 April 2027, before visiting other northern cities like Leeds, York, Sunderland, Hull, and Liverpool, as well as major locations like Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.
Tickets officially go on sale this week – with the pre-sale for ATG members beginning this Wednesday (13 May), before general sale starts on Friday 15 May at 10am.
Emily Sergeant -
11th November 2022 
