Theatre

An award-winning play about England men’s football team is coming to Greater Manchester

Football's coming... to The Lowry.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 5th June 2024

An award-winning play about England men’s national football team is set to play outside of London for the first time ever.

And Greater Manchester has been chosen as the lucky location.

The National Theatre’s smash-hit production of writer James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning play, Dear England, will have a four-week run at the legendary The Lowry Theatre in Salford next year from 29 May to 29 June 2025.

Directed by the Almeida Theatre’s Artistic Director, Rupert Goold, Dear England tells the story of the England men’s football team under current manager, Gareth Southgate.

An award-winning play about England men’s football team is coming to Greater Manchester / Credit: The Lowry

Originally commissioned by the National Theatre, the play had its world premiere in June 2023, and later transferred to the West End following a sold-out run of shows, where it broke several box office records in the process.

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As the nation watches the drama unfold at this summer’s UEFA EURO 2024, the critically-acclaimed play is set to “evolve” in a way that’ll include this key European championship too, all while continuing to examine the crucial role the England team and manager play in English society.

A synopsis of the play reads: “The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?

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It’ll be taking to the stage in Salford for a four-week run next summer / Credit: The Lowry

“The team has the worst track record for penalties in the world, and manager Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.”

Casting for the The Lowry production of the play is set to be announced in due course, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.

The Lowry’s CEO, Julia Fawcett, said Dear England‘s run will be a “unique and incredibly special event”.

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Speaking ahead of the play’s 2025 run at the MediaCity-based arts venue, Fawcett continued: “With football being so integral to the whole culture of the North West, we know that this production is going to really resonate with our audiences.”

Dear England will be at The Lowry from Thursday 29 May – Sun 29 June 2025, and tickets will go on general sale next Friday (14 June 2024) at 10am to coincide with the start of the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament.

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Find out more and grab tickets when they go on sale here.

Featured Image – The Lowry

Theatre

World premiere of A Knight’s Tale The Musical to open in Manchester next year

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant A Knight's Tale

A brand-new stage adaptation of a beloved early 00s film is set to have its world premiere right here in Manchester.

That’s right – A Knight’s Tale has been turned into a comedy musical.

A Knight’s Tale may be one of Chaucer’s most well-known Canterbury Tales, but for most of us, we tend to be more familiar with Brian Helgeland’s iconic 2001 medieval action comedy film of the same name instead, which of course starred the late great Heath Ledger, alongside Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Mark Addy, and more.

And its the latter that has now been reimagined for modern day and turned into a brand-new comedy stage musical that will charge into Manchester early next year.

From the production team behind recent stage smash-hits including Disney’s Newsies, and 2:22 A Ghost Story, the brand-new A Knight’s Tale The Musical has been adapted for the stage by Irish comedy writer and actor Brona C Titley, directed by the award-winning Rachel Kavanaugh, and choreographed by Olivier Award-winning Matt Cole.

It’s gearing up to be a “rip-roaring tale of chivalry, jousting, heroes, and villains”.

Not only that, but just like the popular film, audiences in Manchester are being told to expect a “truly rockin’ soundtrack” that’s packed with chart-topping hits.

Unfamiliar with the premise of the cult-classic film? Ledger plays William Thatcher – a 14th century peasant squire who breaks all the rules when he passes himself off as a nobleman and takes the jousting world by storm. The only thing that stands between Will and his dream of becoming the World Champion of the most extreme of sports, however, is the bad boy of the sport Count Adhemar.

The two rivals then go lance to lance at the world finals, and it’s a pretty epic finale to say the least.

A Knight's Tale
The world premiere of A Knight’s Tale The Musical is to open in Manchester next year / Credit: Columbia Pictures | Wikimedia Commons

Just like the film, A Knight’s Tale The Musical apparently “has it all”, so you’re invited to join Will Thatcher and his band of merry misfits for “a Knight like no other” when the show takes to the legendary Manchester Opera House stage next April.

“Over 20 years ago, I had the time of my life surrounded by a supreme cast and crew making a film we all fell in love with while we were joyfully making it,” commented Brian Helgeland ahead of the musical’s Manchester debut.

“Sitting at a recent read through of the stage version, I could feel that same joy and love emerging, and I am grateful for the new life they are creating and very eager to see it in all its fully staged glory.”

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A Knight’s Tale The Musical will take to the Manchester Opera House stage on 11 April 2025, and run right through until 10 May 2025, and tickets go on general sale next Thursday 1 August at 10am – with members’ pre-sales running prior.

Grab your tickets when they go live here.

Featured Image – Supplied

Theatre

Huge theatre ticket sale launches with hit shows from just £15

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson 101 Dalmatians The Musical. Credit: Supplied, Oliver Rosser, Feast Creative

Theatre ticket prices have been slashed in a huge sale this week, with big discounts on some of the world’s most famous shows.

The theatre ticket sale includes hit musicals like Heathers, & Juliet, Pretty Woman, Hairspray, Madagascar the Musical, and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Shows such as Blue Man Group, Burlesque the Musical, and Murder On The Orient Express are also included in ATG Tickets’ Summer Saver.

Prices have been slashed as low as £15 a ticket for the special summer sale, which includes more than 100 offers from more than 70 shows.

There are 22 venues taking part in the theatre ticket sale right across the UK, including here in Manchester.

Both the Manchester Opera House and the Palace Theatre will be offering up heavily discounted tickets for hit productions visiting the city this year.

Those include the family favourite stage adaptation of 101 Dalmations, and all-time musical great Grease.

You’ll also be able to nab cheaper tickets for the English National Ballet’s Mary Skeaping’s Giselle.

The Palace Theatre in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
The Palace Theatre in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
The Manchester Opera House. Credit: The Manc Group
The Manchester Opera House. Credit: The Manc Group

Brand-new musical NOW That’s What I Call a Musical is including in the Summer Saver theatre ticket sale too.

The show celebrates 40 years of iconic compilation albums, with an unbeatable 80s soundtrack and show-stopping direction and choreography.

A similar flash sale took place back in January, giving theatre fans a chance to snap up cheaper tickets to their favourite shows.

The Summer Saver sale will be running between 22 July and 31 August – you can find out more and buy tickets here.

Manchester musicals included in the theatre ticket sale

  • 101 Dalmatians – 30 July-10 August – from £25
  • The 13-Storey Treehouse – 15-18 August – from £15
  • Burlesque – 3 October-2 November – from £35
  • Grease – 8-12 October – from £35
  • Fairytale of New York – 26-27 November – from £25
  • English National Ballet, Mary Skeaping’s Giselle – 30-31 October – from £25
  • NOW That’s What I Call a Musical – 28 January-1 February – from £35

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Featured image: Supplied, Oliver Rosser, Feast Creative

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