All That Jazz has found its way to Salford this week as Chicago the Musical hits The Lowry, and it’s safe to say the show still knows how to pull in a crowd.
Set in 1920s Chicago, the story centres on Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who shoots her lover and winds up behind bars. Inside Cook County Jail she meets Velma Kelly, a nightclub star with her own double-murder conviction.
Both women want the spotlight as much as they want their freedom, and with the slick lawyer Billy Flynn fighting their corner, it quickly turns into a tit-for-tat battle of who can play the media game best.
The big talking point this time round is Janette Manrara, swapping the Strictly ballroom for the theatre stage in her debut as Roxie. She’s playful, cheeky and full of energy, and it’s clear she’s enjoying every second.
By her side, Djalenga Scott is a knockout Velma. From the moment she kicks things off with ‘All That Jazz’ she owns the stage, captivating the audience with every line.
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Together, the pair bounce off each other brilliantly – their love-hate chemistry is one of the show’s strongest pulls.
Chicago The Musical at The Lowry in Salford. Credit: Paul Coltas
Darren Day brings the charm as Billy Flynn, the lawyer who can turn any trial into one big show stopper. His big number ‘Razzle Dazzle’ truly shines.
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Stepping in for Brenda Edwards tonight was Victoria Anderson, in her element as Mama Morton, belting out ‘When You’re Good to Mama’ with just the right amount of soul.
Joshua Lloyd shines as Amos Hart, Roxie’s hopeless husband, heartbreakingly relatable in ‘Mr. Cellophane’, while Jordan Lee Davies brings humour and surprise as the iconic Mary Sunshine.
The staging is simple, with the 12-piece orchestra, sat in full view. It gives the whole show a stripped-back, concert-like feel, letting the band drive the energy – and trust us there’s plenty of it throughout the two hour show.
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Chicago The Musical at The Lowry in Salford. Credit: Paul Coltas
Of course, Bob Fosse’s iconic choreography is front and centre of each performance and instantly recognisable. The famous ‘Cell Block Tango’ is as gripping as ever, the audience filled with applause upon finishing.
Chicago has been running for nearly 30 years, but it feels far from tired. If anything, its satirical take on fame and the media feels even sharper today than ever.
At The Lowry, it’s delivered with style, glitz and a lot of sass. One for fans old and new and well worth a night out.
Beloved comedy stage play The Full Monty to return to Manchester for iconic film’s 30th anniversary
Emily Sergeant
Beloved comedy stage play The Full Monty is heading on a UK tour next year, and will be stopping off here in Manchester.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic British film of the same name, which was released to the world back in 1997, a major national tour of The Full Monty will kick off next year, and will be taking to one of Manchester‘s most famous stages in the spring.
Described as being ‘fast-paced and irresistibly funny’, Simon Beaufoy’s heartfelt play tells the story of an ordinary group of men who are striving to reclaim their dignity and pride.
The film may be turning 30 years old next year, but the play remains as strikingly relevant today as it ever has, especially resonating powerfully in an era that is marked, once again, by an unfortunate cost of living crisis.
Audiences will get to watch as Gaz and his mates find themselves down on their luck, cast aside, and underestimated, but ultimately determined to fight back… even if it means revealing more about themselves than they ever imagined (wink wink).
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the iconic film, The Full Monty is back by popular demand and the boys are returning to The Opera House!
ATG+ Presale 👉 Wed 11 Mar 10am Groups Presale 👉 Wed 11 Mar 12pm General Sale 👉 Thu 12 Mar 10am
“A lot has changed in Britain since The Full Monty appeared thirty years ago,” Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy said.
“What hasn’t changed is our need for laughter, compassion and dignity. I’m so delighted the Monty Men are back on the road with all their flaws, jokes and wobbly bits, bringing a bit of much-needed joy to audiences once again.”
So, what can audiences expect? Well, the production will deliver a ‘rollercoaster of laughter and heartbreak’, as crowds are invited to relive the iconic music of the 90s cheering on this unforgettable group of lads as they prepare to put on the show of their lives.
The Full Monty will take to the iconic Manchester Opera House stage from Monday 5 through to Saturday 10 April 2027, as well as dates in other northern cities like Sheffield, Bradford, Liverpool, York, and Glasgow, alongside many more major UK locations.
Casting is set to be announced soon so keep your eyes peeled.
But in the meantime, tickets are set to go on sale in March – with pre-sales starting on Wednesday 11 March, and general sale starting the day after (Thursday 12 March), both at 10am, and you can get your hands on them here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Theatre
The North West’s most infamous horror attraction Scare City is becoming an immersive theatre show
Emily Sergeant
One of the North West’s most infamous annual horror attractions is being turned into an immersive theatre show.
Scare City is the spine-chilling immersive horror experience that takes over the abandoned Camelot Theme Park even spooky season, becoming one of the region’s most-popular Halloween events along the way – with tens of thousands having visited over the last five years.
But this time, there’ll be no trails and no abandoned theme parks – just pure, live horror.
That’s because, this spring, the creators will drag audiences into a new kind of nightmare with the arrival of the Scare City Experience Live, bringing out of the Camelot grounds and into an ‘inescapable’ stage production.
Built from the twisted world of the original Scare City, the production will resurrect fan-favourite zones, characters, and signature scares, but ‘reimagine’ them for the stage with a relentless descent into fear, soaked in atmosphere and dread.
This time, there is no darkness to hide in, no escape route, no safe distance, and no way to look away as the nightmare unfolds in real-time and audiences watch the action play out inches away from their faces, with ‘disturbing’ imagery and a suffocating tension.
Scare City is returning as an immersive horror theatre show this spring / Credit: Supplied
Designed to push the boundaries of live horror, Scare City Experience Live will combine theatrical storytelling, live performers, sound, lighting, and ‘unsettling’ visuals to create an unforgettable and relentless experience with each performance playing the audience at the heart of the action, where the fear comes to them.
The production will offer both long-time Scare City fans and first-time visitors a new way to experience the brand’s dark universe.
Scare City Experience Live will be taking over the Liverpool Olympia between 22-25 May and 28-30 May 2026, and tickets are officially on sale now from £38 per person.
Aimee Woodcock -
26th August 2025 
