Manchester’s Palace Theatre is currently hosting Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a magical production that blends nostalgia with theatrical brilliance.
Directed by Thom Southerland, this UK tour reimagines the beloved 1968 film and stage musical with charm, energy, and a touch of theatrical wizardry, captivating audiences of all ages.
Ore Oduba leads the cast as Caractacus Potts, bringing a perfect mix of warmth, humour, and sincerity to the role of the eccentric inventor. His performance is particularly striking in the tender Hushabye Mountain, where his vocals offer an emotional depth to the character’s love for his late wife.
Oduba shares great chemistry with Charlie Banks and Lara Simons, who play his children, Jeremy and Jemima. Their natural on-stage dynamic creates an authentic portrayal of a loving family, drawing the audience into their heartwarming journey.
Ellie Nunn shines as Truly Scrumptious, exuding elegance while also showcasing a feisty, independent spirit. From her determined motorcycle repair scene to her stunning rendition of Doll on a Music Box, Nunn delivers a standout performance that is both captivating and graceful.
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Her chemistry with Oduba is truly heartwarming, especially in Lovely Lonely Man, where she sings while soaring through the sky in Chitty, adding a magical touch to the production.
The supporting cast brings further joy to the performance. Martin Callaghan and Jenny Gayner are a riot as the Baron and Baroness Bomburst, delivering impeccable comic timing and embracing a delightfully over-the-top, camp portrayal of the royal couple.
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Ore Oduba in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Credit: Paul ColtasEllie Nunn as Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Credit: Paul Coltas
Adam Stafford and Michael Joseph, as the bumbling spies Boris and Goran, add slapstick humour in the Palace Theatre, though some of their repetitive jokes wear thin after a while.
Charlie Brooks, however, stands out as the chilling Child Catcher, leaving a sinister impression on the audience. Though her presence is limited, Brooks’ commanding performance proves she could have taken up more space in the production.
A unique feature of this production is the inclusion of local young performers in each city. In Manchester, children from Elm Arts Company join the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ensemble for a special musical number in Act Two. Their high-energy performance adds an extra layer of magic, demonstrating their talent and enthusiasm, leaving the audience wanting more.
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The show’s timeless score, composed by the Sherman Brothers, is a major highlight. Iconic numbers like Me Ol’ Bamboo and Toot Sweets energise the crowd, with the dance routine for Me Ol’ Bamboo being a particularly thrilling moment. The live orchestra enhances the grandeur of the production, giving it the feel of a West End show.
Charlie Brooks makes a chilling Childcatcher. Credit: Paul ColtasAdam Stafford and Michael Joseph, as the bumbling spies Boris and Goran. Credit: Becky Lee Brun
The ensemble’s physicality in the dance numbers and their ability to bring the infectious energy of the music to life is impressive.
Morgan Large’s set design is inventive, using movable crates and backdrops to transition smoothly between scenes. The clever use of puppetry, especially with the English sheepdog Edison, adds a whimsical touch that delights the audience, particularly younger viewers.
However, while the sets are practical and effective for a touring production, some of the locations – such as the sweet factory and Bulgarian palace – lack the grandeur expected in a show like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, especially when compared to the central spectacle of the magical flying car.
Chitty herself is the undeniable star of the show. The car’s flying sequence is a breathtaking moment, earning a spontaneous round of applause as it soars through the air, capturing the audience’s imagination.
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Ore Oduba in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which is in Manchester. Credit: Paul Coltas
Though the show is filled with charm, there are moments where it embraces pantomime-style comedy, especially in the Vulgarian scenes. While this approach is fun for younger audiences, some adults may find it a bit overplayed. The use of innuendos adds another layer of humour, one that goes unnoticed by children but provides a good laugh for the grown-ups, continuing the tradition of classic British wit.
At the end of the show, the company paid a heartfelt tribute to James Lee Williams, also known as The Vivienne, who portrayed the Child Catcher in previous performances. This tribute added an emotional layer to the production, and their portrayal left a lasting impression on the audience.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Palace Theatre is a truly scrumptious production, combining outstanding performances, memorable songs, and magical stage effects to create an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re revisiting this childhood classic or discovering it for the first time, this high-flying adventure is sure to leave you with a smile – and perhaps a catchy tune in your head long after the final curtain.
The production runs until Saturday 16 March so make sure you don’t miss the chance to experience this timeless masterpiece, brought to life here at The Palace Theatre, Manchester – grab tickets HERE.
Blue Planet III live in concert is coming to Manchester next year
Daisy Jackson
The spectacular Blue Planet III will come to Manchester live in concert next year, bringing the hit BBC nature documentary to life with a live orchestra.
The new arena tour will pull together the most breathtaking footage beneath the waves from across the series, curated for a giant Ultra HD LED screen.
Blue Planet III will hit screens later this year, narrated once again by the legendary Sir David Attenborough.
Filmed across four years, it will take audiences everywhere from tropical coral reefs to the darkest depths of the ocean.
When the Blue Planet III Live In Concert show arrives in Manchester, it will be hosted by series executive producer Elizabeth White, who’ll share incredible stories and behind-the-scenes insights from the making of the series.
The score once again comes from Academy Award-winner Hans Zimmer, with Thom Lukas and Laurentia Editha for Bleeding Fingers Music, performed live by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
The companion live concert is preparing to take audiences even deeper into the underwater world on an epic audio-visual scale.
Specially curated footage from Blue Planet III will be shown on a state-of-the-art 200 sq metre Ultra HD LED screen – one of the largest of its kind used for an orchestral touring screen show and approximately the size of a tennis court.
Blue Planet III live in concert is coming to Manchester next year. Credit: BBC Studios
The brand-new Blue Planet III Live in Concert will kick off here in Manchester before heading to Birmingham, Glasgow, and London.
Executive Producer Elizabeth White says: “Making Blue Planet III has taken us to places we never imagined we’d film. But there’s something about bringing that footage into a concert arena full of people, with the score performed live all around you, that will be truly special.
“This tour is our chance to share the series on a completely different scale, and I can’t wait to be there live, revealing the extraordinary stories behind what audiences are seeing on screen.”
Hans Zimmer says: “There’s nothing like experiencing this score live with an orchestra, especially when it’s paired with the extraordinary visuals of the life underwater. Thom, Laurentia and I are ecstatic that audiences will be able to enjoy our score in this way.”
Blue Planet III Live in Concert will be at the AO Arena in Manchester on Friday 21 May 2027 – general release tickets start from £40 and go on sale from 11am on Friday 16 October HERE.
Dirty Dancing at Palace Theatre, Manchester – at least one audience member had the time of her life…
Daisy Jackson
For anyone who has watched Dirty Dancing so many times they can practically recite the dialogue, taking on the Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey roles is no small feat – and turning that lakeside romance into a live musical comes with even bigger expectations.
The stage production at the Palace Theatre in Manchester has all the familiar ingredients: the dancing, the music, the forbidden romance and, of course, that lift. But while there are moments when the theatre version captures the exuberance of the original, it doesn’t always manage to recreate its magic.
Charlie Varlet as Baby does a great job of embracing the knock-kneed awkwardness of the teenage star, slowly blossoming into a beautiful dancer who is almost eerily similar to the film’s Jennifer Grey.
And Joel Benjamin plays a striking Johnny, moving lightly for such an enormously muscular actor.
But there are moments where their chemistry fizzles out, too much of the script that focuses on their bickerings and misunderstandings to make you buy into their love story.
At points, it feels almost slapstick, and the result is a restless audience that keeps hooting and hollering at a topless Benjamin when he’s trying to deliver a serious monologue about Johnny’s upbringing. One woman shouts ‘LUCKY YOU’ and cackles as Baby sits in bed with him. It’s not a Magic Mike show, guys.
Where Dirty Dancing the musical shines is when it really makes the most of its full ensemble, with huge dance numbers that see limbs and skirts flying right across the stage.
Ellie Ferguson as Penny in Dirty Dancing. Credit: Danny Kaan
And it’s hard to take your eyes off Penny (Ellie Fergusson), even when she’s lurking in the crowd, so impressive is her stage presence and the execution of her dance routines.
Having a lot of the musicians on the stage is a fantastic touch too – you spot people playing saxophones and clarinets and guitars in a lot of the scenes and it adds a real party atmosphere.
The set design does its best to replicate the iconic moments of the film, but the cast shaking themselves dry under a blue light can’t come close to the magic of the lake scene.
If you’ve watched the film so often you can recite it word for word (guilty), you won’t find a lot of surprises up on the stage – the theatre adaptation sticks pretty tightly to the original plot and script.
Baby (Charlie Varlet) and Johnny (Joel Benjamin)Dirty Dancing is at the Palace Theatre in ManchesterCredit: Danny Kaan
It means that a lot of the moments that would translate best to stage – the underground dance party in the staff quarters, the montage of Baby learning to dance, the Hungry Eyes scene – are condensed into the first half of the musical.
The second half feels a little flat in comparison, just a lot of bickering and storming around the stage… up until that grand finale, when Johnny bursts from the back of the theatre and storms the stage to complete that iconic lift.
It’s worth all the trundle just for that final euphoric moment.
Dirty Dancing is at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 3 October, then will return next summer. You can grab tickets HERE.
Dec Kelly -
12th March 2025 
