The world-renowned Matilda The Musical is set to head out on a major tour of the UK and Ireland from next year.
And, of course, it’ll be stopping off here in Manchester.
It has been announced that the Royal Shakespeare Company’s smash-hit musical production, which is based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book of the same name, will embark on its second tour of the UK and Ireland in October 2025, and this includes a special four-week run at Manchester’s iconic Palace Theatre.
The critically-acclaimed musical has been seen by 12 million people across 100 cities around the world since it first debuted, and it continues to play to packed houses in London’s West End and on Broadway each week.
Maggots, it’s time to be REVOLTING! 🦎@TheRSC‘s Matilda The Musical is heading back on tour across the UK and Ireland from Oct 2025, returning to a venue near you.
The beloved production about a determined heroine with a vivid imagination has won more than 100 global awards – including 24 for Best Musical.
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Written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and developed and directed by Matthew Warchus, the show will be celebrating its 15-year anniversary when it heads out on its UK tour towards the end of next year.
It’ll be opening at Leicester Curve in October, before travelling to other major cities like Bradford, Liverpool, Plymouth, Sunderland, Edinburgh, and of course, Manchester – where it’ll run through March and April 2026.
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The cast of Matilda The Musical on stage in the West End / Credit: Manuel Harlan
“When we first started working on the show, our aim was to make a lovely little jewel of a musical for the RSC’s Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon,” explained composer and lyricist, Tim Minchin. “We never imagined that all these years later it would still be running in the West End, have been made into a film, and is now about to embark on its second tour of the UK and Ireland.
“I’m deeply proud of Matilda The Musical, and every single talented person who continues to work on it with passion and enthusiasm.”
The cast of Matilda The Musical on stage in the West End / Credit: Manuel Harlan
Matilda The Musical will be on stage at Manchester Palace Theatre from Thursday 26 March – Saturday 25 April 2026, and tickets go on sale next week.
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Priority Booking for RSC and Theatre Members, and ATG Cardholders, will be from 10am on 22 October 2024, with general on sale for all venues, including Manchester, from 10am on 24 October 2024.
There’s a non-alcholic pairing dinner coming to Manchester this Dry Jan
Thomas Melia
A one-night-only pairing of two dining out staples from the food and drink world is coming to Manchester next month, and it also happens to be non-alcoholic for anyone doing Dry January.
Taking place at the wonderful Maray over on Lincoln Square, each dish served throughout the night will be expertly paired with a non-alcoholic drink from zero-per cent experts, Lucky Saint.
This Middle Eastern eatery is always surprising its diners, last September they made their infamous roasts free for one day only, and this upcoming event is sure to be as exciting with its unique tastings.
Lucky Saint came to fruition after partnering with a historical brewery in Bavaria who’ve produced beer for over 400 years, creating a non alcoholic alternative which greeted UK drinkers in 2020.
Lucky Saint will be readily available and paired with every meal.Diners can expect some sensational food as always from Maray. Credit: Publicity Picture (Supplied)
Titled ‘The Official Beer Of Dry January’, supplying IPAs and lagers to a host of stockists, not only are their products fully non-alcoholic but they’re also entirely plant-based – meaning they’re the perfect tie-in with Veganuary.
If their website is anything to go by, diners are set to enjoy refreshments such as their unfiltered lager and a 0.5% ‘Hazy’ IPA which contains juicy tropical notes. Don’t mind if we do.
Although it’s hard to say what the food offerings may be, it’s guaranteed that anyone who attends is in for a treat as this site has even served famous faces like Dua Lipa back in 2022 while she was on tour.
Their vegan menu features some meat free feasts like a falafel sharer and a delicious oyster mushroom shwarma, it’s a well-loved restaurant.
Vegans are certainly catered for at this event as it’s not only the free-flowing drinks that contain no animal products, there will also be an entirely vegan menu on hand.
Maray have multiple locations but anyone who couldn’t get enough of the flavours the first time in Manchester can attend their Liverpool pairing dinner which is happening the very next day.
The Maray x Lucky Saint Dry January Pairing Dinner is coming to Manchester on Wednesday, 15 January from 7-9:30pm with tickets live HERE.
And if you’re looking for other places to enjoy a guilt-free drink in the city centre this month, we’ve got a few suggestions for you:
Doing #DryJan doesn't have to mean staying in or saying goodbye to the pub. 🍹
US comedian Shane Gillis is coming to Manchester very soon
Danny Jones
Popular comedian, writer, producer and actor Shane Gillis is coming back to Manchester for one of his biggest UK shows ever as he prepares to play Co-op Live.
Known for his acclaimed stand-up shows Live In Austin and Beautiful Dogs, as well as sketches on Saturday Night Live and cult-hit Netflix comedy, Tires, he is currently selling out stadiums and huge rooms all across the US – and it won’t be long before he crosses the Atlantic.
The last time the Manc comedy scene saw Shane Gillis’ name on a dressing room door was back in March 2022 when he was playing the second-largest room at the Manchester Academy. Fast forward to this coming spring and he’s now set to sell out the city’s and one of Europe’s biggest indoor arenas.
As mentioned, his latest tour – simply entitled, Shane Gillis Live – is not just selling out all over North America but is even breaking attendance records at storied venues, surpassing the likes of U2 for most tickets sold and countless other regional feats.
The 37-year-old from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (yes, that’s actually what it’s called) has become one of the hottest comics on the planet in recent times, returning to SNL to write several popular skits in 2024 – including doing his infamous Donald Trump impression in costume.
Still considered a controversial figure on the circuit for some of his early routines, having initially been fired as a writer on the show for comments made on his podcast back in 2019, his ‘edgy’ brand of stand-up definitely pushes up against the boundaries of what many label ‘offensive’ comedy.
Nevertheless, he remains one of the most highly-rated contemporary performers in the live stand-up genre, appearing as a guest on the Kill Tony live comedy podcast on multiple occasions and seeing his original sitcom, Tires, renewed for a second season.
The first clip from the latest series, teasing a celebrity guest appearance, dropped in December.
Fans won’t have to wait long either as Gillis arrives at Co-op Live on Thursday, 20 March, almost three years on from his last visit to Manchester.
General admission tickets go live this Friday, 10 January at 10am, but official Co-op members can access the exclusive pre-sale window from 12 noon on Wednesday (8 Jan).
If you fancy going along to the show, you can grab tours HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
8th October 2024 
