Art & Culture

Jack Whitehall announces massive Manc gig as part of brand-new live stand-up tour

'You wait for a bus and two come and once...

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 16th February 2026

British comedy legend Jack Whitehall is making a triumphant return to Manchester yet again with a trip to Co-op Live.

That’s right, in addition to hosting the 2026 BRIT Awards at the massive indoor entertainment arena this month, the seasoned stand-up will be headlining the venue himself too.

Heading back on the road award-winning comic is heading back on the road for a huge national arena tour that promises bigger laughs than ever before, so get ready to laugh your socks off.

Fresh from starring in crime thriller Malice on Amazon Prime Video and stepping into the spotlight as presenter once again to host the BRITs, Jack Whitehall is returning to what he does best: live comedy.

Back-to-back Co-op Live bookings

Audiences can expect classic Whitehall awkward storytelling and quick-witted observations that have made him one of the UK’s most loved stand-up comedians.

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Entitled Bad Influence, his new hour will showcase brand-new material that has been specifically written for 2027.

The newly confirmed show will almost a year on from his debut visit to the Co-op on Saturday, 28 February for the BRITs.

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Jack Whitehall Bad Influence tour dates:

January 2027

  • Thursday 7 January – Utilita Arena, Newcastle
  • Saturday 9 January – Co-op Live, Manchester
  • Sunday 10 January – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
  • Tuesday 12 January – Playhouse, Edinburgh
  • Wednesday 13 January – Playhouse, Edinburgh
  • Thursday 14 January – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
  • Saturday 16 January – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
  • Sunday 17 January – Swansea Building Society Arena
  • Wednesday 20 January – Plymouth Arena
  • Thursday 21 January – Plymouth Arena
  • Friday 22 January – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
  • Saturday 23 January – Utilita Arena, Cardiff
  • Thursday 28 January – Brighton Centre
  • Friday 29 January – Brighton Centre
  • Saturday 30 January – The O2, London

He’ll also be doing a handful of live shows the following month, including a trio over in Yorkshire at the likes of Leeds’ First Direct Arena and more; you can see those dates down below:

February 2027

  • Tuesday 2 February – BIC, Bournemouth
  • Wednesday 3 February – Utilita Arena, Sheffield
  • Thursday 4 February – Connexin Live, Hull
  • Saturday 6 February – First Direct Arena, Leeds
  • Sunday 7 Feburary – Vaillant Live, Derby

Presale to see Jack Whitehall in Manchester goes live from 10am on Wednesday 18 February, and Co-op members can also enjoy early access via the venue.

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As for general admission tickets, they will be available from 10am this Friday (20 Feb).

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)

Art & Culture

A new stage adaptation of a Virginia Woolf classic is coming to Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones New stage play version of Mrs Dalloway in Manchester tickets

With both World Book Day and International Women’s Day having only just passed, it feels like perfect timing for a UK tour of a new theatrical adaptation of one of the most important works of feminist writing ever to have just been announced: Mrs. Dalloway.

And, of course, it’s being brought to Manchester.

The legendary modernist novel by Virginia Woolf has already been adapted for stage and screen multiple times, but this most recent version has been hailed as “cinematic”, “immersive”, and striving to be just as ‘radical’ as the original masterpiece itself.

It’s one of the latest shows coming to Storyhouse in Chester for a world premiere, before heading out across the UK for just a select few special performances.

A co-production between said Storyhouse, as well as Harlow Playhouse and CutToTheChase Productions, it’s been co-created by award-winning director Jen Heyes, with help from Olivier Award-winning writer and performer, Kit Green.

Green takes up the role not only of the titular and long-studied character for this bold reimagining of Clarissa, but will also feature as husband Richard Dalloway, tragic supporting character Septimus Warren Smith, and others.

Bookworms and English literature students will likely have come across the name at least in passing, even if they haven’t read it for themselves, and it still remains just as striking now as it was when first published back in 1925.

Elsewhere referred to as The Hours in her diary entries, the text inspired a 2002 Hollywood movie using that ‘original’ working title starring Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, and Meryl Streep – all of whom play women whose story mirrors that tale and/or troubles of Virginia Woolf in some way.

Most famously, however, it was also turned into an eponymous British film in the late 90s, with Vanessa Redgrave as an older Mrs Dalloway and Natascha McElhone as her younger self.

virginia woolf stage adaptations
Virginia Woolf
mrs dalloway movie
The first major version of Mrs Dalloway on film (1997)
Green embodying one of many roles
Credit: Topfoto/NTB (via NDLA)

Both have little cult followings of their own, as you would expect from anything with the famous writer’s name attached to them, but theatre fans have every reason to be very excited about this next take.

Speaking ahead of the inaugural performance of the play, director Jen Heyes said in a statement, “I wanted audiences to step inside Woolf’s world and see it in a way they won’t expect.

“We’ve mixed theatre, film, and bold reinterpretations to create something alive, surprising, moving, and entertaining. My hope is that people leave the theatre carrying the story with them long after the lights go down.”

Following the Cheshire debut on Friday, 29 May, running until 6 June, the production will head to Harlow in Essex, and Wilton’s Music Hall in London, before landing at beloved local theatre, cinema and arts space, HOME, over on First Street this autumn.

The stage version of Mrs. Dalloway will be in Manchester from 24-26 September (Thurs-Sat); you can grab your tickets HERE. We’ve been spoiled by some VERY good new material of late…

Operation Mincemeat at The Lowry, Manchester – Monty Python meets Six in a masterclass of multi-rolling

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Featured Images — Monika Koeck (supplied via )/NDLA Archive

Art & Culture

Manchester rock and blues veterans Proud Mary announce handful of reunion shows in 2026

Danny Jones Danny Jones Proud Mary Manchester gig tickets 2026

Veteran Manchester rock and blues band Proud Mary recently announced a limited run of UK reunion shows, including a fairly intimate hometown show.

The seasoned Northern outfit may have seen plenty of lineup changes and a long hiatus of sorts, but now they’re returning for just a small handful of comeback gigs across the country.

Ahead of their seminal debut album turning 25 years old this year, 2026 also seems them steadily creeping up on the best part of three decades as a group in some form or another.

What better time to step back into the spotlight?

For anyone uninitiated, the native 90s and early noughties name was the first band signed to Noel Gallagher’s Sour Mash Records in 2001.

Their first-ever LP, The Same Old Blues, still remains their most revered work to this day.

Dubbed by the older Burnage brother and legendary Manc musician as “a lesson in songwriting” in an interview with the NME way back when, they started out as long-time friends and turned into fellow studio peers.

As well as supporting the likes of Oasis, Neil Young, The Stereophonics, Paul Weller, Ocean Colour Scene, Ryan Adams, Noel’s High Flying Birds and more on various tours over the years, they also famously headlined Isle of Wight Festival in 2004.

Having collaborated with the likes of another Britpop legend, Gem Archer, as well as The Smiths’ Andy Rourke, not to mention gaining plaudits from so many other contemporaries, they’re likely one of your favourite bands’ old faithful bands.

It still sits as one of the biggest live highlights.

Moreover, in regional terms, rising local indie rock quintet Rosellas are also joining them on the road for all but one of the shows.

Unfortunately for us, it is their date at Manchester Academy 3 (sigh)…

However, we’re still getting a fairly nearby name, with fellow long-running Crewe icons The Train Set joining them here in 0161 on 16 May. You can grab your tickets HERE.

Both of the Manc bands have also featured in our artists of the month, by the way, in case you wanted to see who else was listed alongside them.

Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to | November 2025
Rosellas featured back in May 2024’s round-up.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Proud Mary (press shots supplied via Sonic PR)

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