A musical comedy based on Bollywood’s most successful film is set to open in Manchester in 2025.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, also known as DDLJ, follows the love story of lead characters Raj and Simran, who meet in Europe and then again in India where Raj wins her back as she’s already promised to a potential husband.
‘Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical’ as its titled is coming to Manchester Opera House in 2025 and is directed by Aditya Chopra, the film’s original director.
Since its big-screen release in 1995, the show has never left cinemas in Mumbai, becoming the longest-running title in Indian cinema.
This new stage adaptation taking place in Manchester will feature 18 brilliant songs created especially for the theatre production with a huge emphasis on colliding cultures.
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The musical itself has already amassed success at its World premiere in California two years ago at The Old Globe, San Diego.
This musical version sees the introduction of ‘Rog’ who takes the place of the film’s male protagonist, ‘Raj’.
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‘Rog’ is described as a rich, charming British boy, also known as Simran’s father’s worst nightmare, it’s the battle of true love and tradition.
There’s a cabinet full of awards backing this musical as ‘Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical’, has lyrics by Nell Benjamin, known for his involvement with Tina Fey and the smash-hit musical movie ‘Mean Girls’.
The recording duo Vishal & Sheykhar are behind the music for this project and are well-known for some huge songs in India.
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Support from Rob Ashford as the Emmy, Tony and Olivier award winner known for his efforts for the on-stage adaptation of Frozen, takes on the role of associate choreographer.
This musical comedy really is a full fusion of cultures with the tagline of ‘An East-meets-West Musical Comedy’.
Tickets for ‘Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical’ go on sale 4 October at 10am here.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 30 September – 6 October 2024
Emily Sergeant
Goodbye September, hello October.
We’re into a new month and the seasons have well and truly changed now, so as we all start to fully immerse ourselves in everything autumn has to offer, there’s absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to across Greater Manchester – especially as the spookiest time of year is coming up.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide this week.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Scare City 2024
Camelot Theme Park
Monday 30 September – onwards
Scare City 2023 / Credit: Supplied
Scare City has returned to the North West for its fifth year running with its “most immersive” horror experience to date.
Taking over the grounds of the abandoned Camelot Theme Park for “another year of terror”, just as it has done for the past three years following the success of its initial 2020 launch as a drive-in cinema, this year’s event features a selection of terrifying zones to weave your way through – some familiar, some brand new.
Tickets are now available to book at £26.95 for standard entry, or £36.95 for the ‘Gold Entry’ (both plus a £2.45 booking free).
Find out more and grab tickets to this year’s event here.
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Oktoberfest 2024
Albert’s Schloss
Monday 30 September – Sunday 6 October
Oktoberfest 2024 / Credit: Supplied
Manchester’s “Bavarian extravaganza” is now underway.
Albert’s Schloss has a jam-packed programme of Oktoberfest-themed events for this year, and there’s plenty of bier-fuelled fun, foodie classics, and round-the-clock revelry that awaits.
Throughout the last week of this event, revellers are invited to head on down to Schloss and enjoy an array of activities – with everything from ‘Keg Tapping’, and specially-selected beers, to must-see “eclectic” entertainment, a live Oompah brass band, and best dressed competitions on the lineup.
NEW OPENING – Museum of Illusions / Credit: The Manc Group
The world-famous Museum of Illusions filled with optical illusions and interactive exhibits is now open in Manchester.
Inside the new attraction – which opened last week on Market Street, and is the only location in the UK – visitors are able to dangle upside down on a Metrolink tram, have their minds blown in the Vortex Tunnel, and probably learn a thing or two while they’re at it.
Visitors are promised mind-bending illusions and curious games around every corner.
There’s even somee brand-new, Manchester-exclusive installations too, like The Reversed Room, and The Building Illusion, where you can dangle, Spider-man-style, from a classic city brick terraced building.
Stockport is currently hosting its inaugural Paint Jam, and this huge event covers a 1km walking tour from Merseyway to GRIT Studios on Canal Street, with four different locations showcasing their own taste of culture.
Breakdancers, food and drink options, and DJs will keep you company along the trail as you immerse yourself in everything the Greater Manchester borough has to offer.
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Akse P19, Qubek, Hammo, Liam Bonini, Caroline Daly, and Kelzo are some of the artists involved.
Known and loved for being one of the best musicals the 21st Century – and one of the funniest of all time – having scooped up dozens of coveted awards both in the US and here in the UK in its time, The Book of Mormon is currently out on tour, and the Elders have now arrived in our city for an extended stay.
The hilarious production has taken over the iconic Palace Theatre stage, and there’s still chance to grab yourself some tickets to this last week of performances.
Manc visitors will be able to walk through the iconic Jurassic World gates, explore some richly-themed environments, and encounter a life-sized Brachiosaurus, Velociraptors, and the most fearsome dinosaur of all, the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Did you hear that Bada Bing is back with a bada bang?
Yes that’s right, it’s finally happened – this cult sandwich shop has made a triumphant return to Manchester, and planted its carby-heavy goodness in a new site right in the middle of the Northern Quarter.
The Sopranos-inspired deli is slinging out those famous huge subs we all know and love once again, brightening up lunch times all over the city, and we really couldn’t be happier to have that hoagie-shaped hole in our hearts filled once again.
Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine / Credit: Science Museum Group
More than 100 objects and stories collected during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic are now on display as part of a new exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum.
The groundbreaking new exhibition, titled Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine, explores the worldwide effort to develop vaccines at pandemic speed, while uncovering the inspiring stories of scientists and innovators around the globe who collaborated to tackle the worldwide COVID-19 challenge along the way.
Festival season might be winding down, but party season is officially upon us, as The Warehouse Project has finally kicked off for 2024.
Running right until the legendary New Year’s Eve party on 31 December, Depot Mayfield has been transformed into one of the UK’s largest nightclub venues – with acts from all over the world descending upon Manchester to perform innovative sets.
Everything you need to know about WHP24 can be found here.
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Student Discount Event
Cheshire Oaks
Wednesday 2 October
Student Discount Event / Credit: Supplied
Student shoppers can expect an evening filled with giveaways, massive discounts, free drinks, and music at Cheshire Oaks this week.
The Designer Outlet will be hosting its annual student event to celebrate the freshers season this Wednesday from 5pm to 9pm, and the evening has a schedule bursting with plenty of things to do across the 150 outlets and boutiques.
STAB Horror Film Season / Credit: Cultplex | Paramount Pictures
October is here… and so is STAB Horror Film Season.
Now a much-loved staple of Manchester’s spooky season, Cultplex’s annual horror film festival is back for 2024 from this week, and the Red Bank-based ‘mini cini’ will once again be taken over by a whole host of scary movies and more as part of the month-long festival.
This year’s lineup features sci-fi and supernatural classics such as The Exorcist and Alien, as well as full-on movie marathons, special spooky one-offs, and other events.
Student Night 2024 / Credit: Trafford Centre | Vincent Cole (via Supplied)
Students can get themselves up to 50% on food, activities, and loads of big-name brands at the Trafford Centre this week.
With thousands of new and returning students having arrived for the new academic year at Greater Manchester‘s universities, one of the region’s biggest student nights will be making a long-awaited comeback for one night only on Thursday, and there’ll be lots of exclusive offers and free entertainment to make the most of across the evening.
Levi’s, Sephora, D, 20%, River Island, KIKO, and All Saints are just some of the big brands offering big discounts.
Manchester Literature Festival is back for 2024 this Friday.
This year’s festival offers unique experiences for audiences to interact with some of the finest writers and thinkers from across the globe in a welcoming place where people come together to share their passion for language, be entertained, learn, and reflect on their connections with place, politics and people.
MLF is all about nurturing the next generation of readers, writers, and creatives, and there’s a jam-packed programme of events.
Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is currently hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region.
Running on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the summer, East Lancashire Railway’s ‘Red Rose Diners’ are described as being “the ultimate first class foodie experience”, as they start with a glass of fizz and stretch over an almost three-hour steam train journey through the Irwell Valley.
The experience includes a four-course dinner with complimentary sparkling wine, followed by tea or coffee and after-dinner chocolates.
Neighbourhood Festival 2024 / Credit: NBHD Festival
Neighbourhood Festival is officially returning to Manchester this weekend.
The city centre spin-off of Warrington’s popular Neighbourhood Weekender has become one of the most popular music festivals in the North, and was sorely missed when they took a break last year, but luckily is back with a bang this Saturday, and will be rocking up to a number of beloved Manchester music venues including the Ritz, Gorilla, and Albert Hall.
The all-day festival is set to be a stormer this year – with headline and big-name acts including Pale Waves, Antony Szmierek, Red Rum Club, Seb Lowe, and so many more.
Cutting Room Square has now got its first Indian restaurant.
After opening its cherished Chorlton branch two years ago now, street food restaurant Indian Affair has now treated Manchester city centre to its very-own modern Indian kitchen too, and has taken over the former Rigatoni’s site in the heart of Ancoats.
The menu on offer at this new Manchester site fuses roadside food stalls and home-style cooking, and it’s absolutely mouthwatering.
Food here ranges from biryanis to burgers, celebrating North Indian cuisine with a modern twist – with loads of options for meat-eaters, veggies, and vegans alike.
The UK’s leading trance festival is coming back to Manchester for an unforgettable clubbing experience this weekend.
Rong Indoor Festival – which started back in 2009, and hosts events nationally all year long – often brings together some of the music genre’s biggest names, alongside lots of other talented performers on the same lineup, and this year’s edition sees the party take to O2 Victoria Warehouse.
Some highly-anticipated debuts are also set to play the decks when the festival returns for one day only on Saturday 5 October.
Smash-hit Peaky Blinders-inspired theatre show returns to Greater Manchester next month
Emily Sergeant
A Peaky Blinders-inspired theatre show that proved to be an absolute smash hit with Greater Manchester audiences is returning next month.
The pioneering stage production starring the world-renowned Rambert Dance Company first took to The Lowry stage back March 2023, following its world premiere in 2022, and it went on to stun theatre fans in Greater Manchester with a relevant and relatable piece of work that showcases new perspectives, all while still capturing the Peaky plot.
And now it’s all set to return to acclaimed venues across the UK once again this autumn, including here in Salford for its second run.
Written by beloved BBC series’ creator, Steven Knight, with choreography and direction by Rambert’s Artistic Director, Benoit Swan Pouffer, the thrilling stage adaptation sees the stunning Rambert dancers perform to an iconic soundtrack from a live on-stage band.
A smash-hit Peaky Blinders-inspired theatre show is returning to Greater Manchester next month / Credit: Johan Persson (via The Lowry)
As well as referencing popular storylines from the BBC drama series, starring Oscar-winning Cillian Murphy in the lead role of Thomas Shelby, this contemporary dance adaptation also includes some exclusive plot points too, as well as characters who have never been seen on screen before.
There’s also a specially-commissioned score by Roman Gian Arthur too, and it includes iconic Peaky tracks from Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Radiohead, Anna Calvi, The Last Shadow Puppets, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
“I’m absolutely thrilled the Peaky x Rambert collaboration has been such a resounding success,” commented Peaky Blinders writer and creator Steven Knight ahead of the show’s return to The Lowry next month.
“So many people came to see the show and so many of them were new to live dance, which is why we all wanted to do this, so I’m delighted that the show is back on the road after popular demand.”
Rambert Dance in Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby returns to The Lowry from Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 October, and you can still get tickets online here.
Thomas Melia -
23rd September 2024 
