Beautiful: The Carole King Musical returned to Manchester this week and The Manc were kindly invited along to the press night. We of course accepted because we’re cultured like that.
Scores of excitable theatre heads were shuffling in the cold autumn queues for the packed-out show at the historic Palace Theatre on opening night on Tuesday, 12 October.
Charting the life and career of legendary singer-songwriter Carole King, the show takes you through her early days as a four-year-old piano prodigy, selling her first single at the age of 16 and marrying her creative partner Gerry Goffin to headlining Carnegie Hall and becoming a global music sensation.
Credit: The Manc
Known for solo hits like ‘You’ve Got a Friend’, ‘So Far Away’, ‘It’s Too Late’ and dozens more, the production was part musical part history lesson, taking a whirlwind tour through the music industry in the 1960s and 70s.
While we came into the show thinking we knew a fair few tracks in her lengthy discography – ‘Take Good Care of My Baby’, ‘The Loco-Motion’, ‘Natural Woman’ and so on – we were surprised to learn just how much she has written over her illustrious career. This legend even wrote for The Beatles.
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Seeing her personal and professional life play out on her way to eventually writing and singing songs for herself not only felt like an emotional trip back in time but almost fly on the wall documentary at times, only with big dramatic set-pieces fitting of the Palace’s equally beautiful room.
Previous cast pictured above
King herself is passionately portrayed by Molly Grace-Cutler, a 2020 Olivier award-winner who proves to be perfect casting as the Brooklyn-raised songstress.
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Aside from her soaring vocals throughout its 2-hour run-time (excluding interval), her performance felt full of raw pain and joy in equal spades whilst still sprinkling plenty of comic relief, as did the rest of the ensemble.
Beyond the likes of Goffin (Tom Milner) and fellow 60s songstress Cynthia Weil (Seren Sandham-Davies) – who both enjoyed several stunning solos and big story beats as key players in King’s eventful life – we were particularly impressed with Jos Slovick, who starred as songwriting rival Barry Mann.
Molly Grace-Cutler and Tom MilnerSeren Sandham-Davies and Jos SlovickCredit: Supplied
One of several main characters in the Brill Building and Dimension Records-era of her story, Slovick played the rosy-cheeked, allergy-ridden hit-maker and did so to perfection, regularly leaving the audience in stitches as well as taken aback by his soft vocals.
The performance was met with a well-deserved standing ovation and an encore that got the crowd moving for one last song. We couldn’t think of a better way to go out than with a boogie.
Even for theatre newbies, we dare say this smash hit Broadway and West End show could convert you and even if doesn’t end up as a gateway musical, it’s nigh on impossible for any music-lover not to get engrossed in this true story.
You can buy tickets for the remaining dates of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical via ATG HERE. The show finishes its five-day run on Saturday, 15 October, so get them while you can!
Smash-hit musical Kinky Boots starring Strictly’s Johannes Radebe is coming to Manchester next year
Emily Sergeant
Smash-hit musical Kinky Boots is heading out on a tour of the UK next year, and the talented cast will be stopping off here in Manchester.
The Broadway and West End phenomenon, which is based on a true story and is an adaptation of a 2005 film of the same name, has become known and loved by musical theatre fans all across the globe since its stage debut back in 2012, and has scooped up several Tonys, Olivier Awards, and GRAMMYs along the way.
And now, it’s set for a revival starring Strictly Come Dancing‘s Johannes Radebe, and the production will be touring the UK and Ireland from January 2025.
Kinky Boots The Musical features a score by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein, and this new production will be directed by Artistic Director, Nikolai Foster – who has famously helmed productions of The Wizard of Oz and Billy Elliot, to name a few – as well as starring the fan-favourite Strictly pro as Lola, alongside and rising star Dan Partridge as Charlie Price.
Smash-hit musical Kinky Boots starring Strictly’s Johannes Radebe is coming to Manchester / Credit: Ollies Rosser (via Supplied)
In case you’re unfamiliar with the Kinky Boots story, here’s brief rundown.
After inheriting his family’s failing shoe factory and with a relationship on the rocks, life is proving to be very challenging for Charlie Price, but that is until he meets Lola – a drag queen whose “sparkle and unsteady heels” might just hold the answer to saving the struggling business.
The 2025 revival production is already being billed as “guaranteed to raise you up” and “celebrate everybody’s individuality” when it arrives here in Manchester next February.
👢 On sale to ATG+ members 👢
Kinky Boots The Musical, is strutting back to Manchester in a new production starring Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe and rising star Dan Partridge.
“Kinky Boots is one of the things I’m proudest of in my career,” commented Cyndi Lauper, on the musicals return to the road across the UK.
“I’m so excited that audiences will get to see it again, in a new production, as it’s like a happy pill, and we could all use some of that right now, so I can’t think of a better time or place to relaunch this special show in its place of origin.”
Kinky Boots The Musical will be taking to the iconic Manchester Palace Theatre stage from 4-8 February 2025, and tickets are set general
You can grab your tickets when they go on sale here.
Featured Image – Ollie Rosser (via Supplied)
Theatre
Award-winning classic musical Mary Poppins is returning to Manchester next year
Emily Sergeant
One of the best-loved musicals of all time is set to return to the stage in Manchester on its UK tour next year.
Two decades after the world premiere in Bristol, and subsequent record-breaking run of productions around the world ever since, it’s now been announced that Mary Poppins is set to fly back to Manchester next April.
Direct from the West End and stopping off in our city as part of a UK-wide tour, the classic multi award-winning musical will be landing on stage at the iconic Palace Theatre from 9 April – 17 May 2025.
Australian stars, Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers, are both set to reprise their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert in the 2024/25 UK and Ireland tour, after having both received critical acclaim and nightly standing ovations for their performances in the recent Australian production.
Someone magical is RETURNING… ✨
Direct from the West End, #MaryPoppinsMusical will embark on 2024/2025 UK & Ireland Tour. ☂️
— Palace & Opera Mcr (@PalaceAndOpera) March 7, 2024
This award-winning West End musical comes from the legendary theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh, and the Disney Theatrical Group.
In case you’re somehow unfamiliar with Mary Poppins, this production is based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, and tells the beloved story of the world’s favourite nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane.
The show is set to be “more magical than ever before”, and will feature dazzling choreography, incredible effects, and all the unforgettable songs we know and love.
Award-winning classic musical Mary Poppins is returning to Manchester next year / Credit: Daniel Boud (via Supplied)
The production has original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, with new songs and additional music and lyrics also featuring too.
The book comes from Julian Fellowes, dance and vocal arrangements are by George Stiles, co-choreography is by Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear, sound design is by Paul Gatehouse, lighting is by Hugh Vanstone, and the set and costume designs are by Bob Crowley.
Mary Poppins will be live at the Palace Theatre Manchester from 9 April – 17 May 2025, and tickets are set to go on general sale next Monday (18 March) at 10am.
Danny Jones -
12th October 2022 
