Affiliate

Wicked is returning to Manchester as world-famous musical announces UK and Ireland tour

It's flying back in to the Palace Theatre. (Contains affiliate links)

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 18th November 2022

One of the world’s most successful and loved musicals, Wicked, is returning to Manchester at long last.

The global theatre phenomenon has announced a major 10-city UK and Ireland tour, to span dates from 2023 to 2025.

Wicked will fly back in to the Palace Theatre in Manchester for six weeks only – and we already can’t wait.

The Grammy and Tony award-winning musical tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz, spinning a backstory for the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Audiences are taken on an enchanting journey where two unlikely university friends go on their way to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

ADVERTISEMENT
Wicked production photography. Credit: Supplied

The stunning production features 350 costumes, 140 wigs, 244 pairs of shoes, 110 hats, 125 pairs of gloves and 30 prosthetic masks.

Dubbed one of the most successful musicals of all time, Wicked has a touring cast and crew of 82 people and played to sold-out audiences during its previous two tours, selling more than 225,000 during its previous visits to the Palace Theatre.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wicked is now in its 17th year at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London and is the fifth-longest running show in Broadway history.

Wicked production photography 2014-2015 Jennifer DiNoia Limited Engagement
Wicked production photography 2016-2017

Over the years, it’s been seen by more than 60 million people around the world and has been performed in over 130 cities in 16 countries.

Wicked executive producer (UK & Ireland) Michael McCabe,said: “We are proud to be bringing Wicked back to the magnificent Palace Theatre, where incredible audiences greeted us during two previous sold-out engagements.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We’re excited to have this opportunity to share once again the spectacle, magic and emotion that has created unforgettable memories for audiences in Manchester and all around the world.”

Read more

Robin Hawkes, theatre director of the Palace Theatre & Opera House, said: “It is a privilege to be hosting this world-renowned, record-breaking production once again after its previous sell-out runs with us.

“Seeing these huge West End productions continue to return to our venues illustrates that the appetite for musical theatre in our region is stronger than ever. We look forward to watching this wonderful show cast its spell over both audience goers and our city.”

Wicked will be at the Palace Theatre in Manchester between Tuesday 3 December 2024 and Sunday 12 January 2025.

Tickets will go on general on sale from Thursday 8 June 2023 at www.atgtickets.com/manchester.

Featured image: Mark Senior

Affiliate

50 Cent announces extra Manchester gig due to phenomenal demand

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson 50 Cent

50 Cent has just added a second Manchester date to his The Final Lap Tour, due to phenomenal demand.

The rapper had already announced a show at the AO Arena on 10 November, but has now announced even more shows.

He wrote: “If we gonna do it, we gonna do it BIG! Due to Fan demand, I’m adding more dates to The Final Lap Tour.”

The tour has been announced to mark 20 years since the release of his iconic debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

With support from special guest and long-time friend Busta Rhymes across all date, 50 Cent – real name Curtis Jackson – is now set to perform twice in Manchester in November.

As well as an extra Manchester show, Fiddy also announced an extra show apiece for London and Dublin.

The Final Lap Tour will kick off in North America in the summer, before heading over to Europe from the end of September.

You can expect to hear dozens of fan favourites and chart-topping hits, like In Da Club, Candy Shop, and 21 Questions, while the rapper is also promising to play select tracks that have not been performed live in decades

50 Cent rose to fame with his record-shattering debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, one of the fastest-selling albums in history, two whole decades ago.

Since then, he has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and has been awarded prestigious accolades, including a Grammy Award and several MOBO Awards.

Announcing the news on social media, 50 Cent said: “You’ve waited long enough! THE FINAL LAP TOUR celebrating GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN’ – 20 YEARS LATER with special guest and longtime friend, Busta Rhymes, across all dates and Jeremih on all North American dates is coming your way in 2023!

“I’m hittin’ the globe on this one, making stops across North America and Europe including Toronto, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Houston, Amsterdam, Oslo, Paris, and many more. Additional markets and special guests to be announced soon.”

50 Cent will be at the AO Arena Manchester on 10 November and 15 November.

Tickets for the new, later date will go on sale at 10am on Friday 26 May through See Tickets.

Featured Image – Publicity Picture

Affiliate

Niall Horan to play massive Manchester gig as part of 2024 world tour

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Niall Horan has announced that he’s heading out on his biggest-ever tour in 2024, and he’ll be stopping off to visit us here in Manchester.

The former member of boyband One Direction, turned chart-topping solo singer, is gearing up to share his third studio album, The Show, with the world in just a couple of weeks time on 9 June, and has revealed that he’ll be embarking on a global tour in 2024 to celebrate the release.

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.

The tour will kick off on 21 February 2024 in Belfast, and will see the Irish superstar – who has sold over 80 million records since going solo – perform massive shows to tens of thousands of people in several major cities such as Dublin, Cardiff, and London, before he takes to the stage at the AO Arena right here in Manchester on 5 March 2024.

Throughout 2024, he’ll then play more than 30 shows in arenas right across mainland Europe, and North America in both the US and Canada.

Niall Horan UK & Ireland Tour Dates 2024

  • 21/02/24 – SSE Arena Belfast
  • 23/02/24 – 3Arena (Dublin)
  • 27/02/24 – Resorts World Arena (Birmingham)
  • 01/03/24 – OVO Arena Wembley (London)
  • 04/03/24 – Cardiff International Arena
  • 05/03/24 – AO Arena (Manchester)

“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.

Niall Horan’s third studio album, The Show, will be released on 9 June 2023 / Credit: Niall Horan (via Instagram)

“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.”

Read more:

General sale for tickets to Niall Horan’s The Show – Live On Tour 2024 goes live at 10am on Friday 2 June, and you can grab them here.

You can also pre-order his album, The Show, available for pre-order here.

Featured Image – Niall Horan (via Instagram)

More Affiliate

Affiliate

How to get tickets for Wicked as hit musical returns to Manchester’s Palace Theatre

Affiliate

Massive festival especially for dogs returns to Tatton Park next month

Affiliate

Some of UK’s ‘most exciting’ comedians to perform at mini Manchester comedy festival

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches