& Juliet, a runaway Broadway and West End hit musical, is returning to Manchester next year, with tickets on sale today.
The musical reimagines Shakespeare’s iconic love story from a new angle – what would have become of Juliet if she’d given up on Romeo before their tragic ending?
Audiences are whisked away on a journey that shows Juliet’s life if she’d skipped her famous ending for a second chance at life and love, created by the Emmy-winning writer from Schitt’s Creek.
And with a soundtrack that includes Max Martin-written hits like Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time, Katy Perry’s Roar, and chart toppers Since U Been Gone, It’s My Life, I Want It That Way, and Can’t Stop the Feeling!, it’s clear why the theatre production has been such a success.
& Juliet first premiered here in Manchester back in 2019 before pitching up at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre and the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Broadway.
In that time, it has won Olivier and WhatsOnStage Awards, and earned Tony Award nominations.
And now the musical & Juliet is heading back to the stage where it all began, visiting Manchester’s Opera House Theatre as part of a new UK tour.
It will return to the city from 8 July 2024 before heading to Southampton, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff, Nottingham, Leeds and more.
Ben Jackson Walker, Lorna Courtney, Betsy Wolfe, Melanie La Barrie in & JULIET. Credit: Matthew MurphyLorna Courtney in & JULIET. Credit: Matthew Murphy
& JULIET is directed by Luke Sheppard (In the Heights, Rent, Little Big Things), with a Book by David West Read (Schitt’s Creek), choreography by Jennifer Weber and set design by Soutra Gilmour.
Music is by Max Martin & Friends, costume design by Paloma Young, musical supervision, orchestration and arrangements by Bill Sherman, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Gareth Owen, video & projection design by Andrzej Goulding, hair, wig and makeup design by Suzy Barrett, musical direction, additional arrangements and orchestrations by Dominic Fallacaro, and casting direction by Stuart Burt.
& Juliet will be at the Opera House Manchester theatre between 8 and 20 July.
Tickets go on sale at 10am for ATG Tickets members, and general sale begins from 1pm on Wednesday 1 November.
You can get your & Juliet Manchester tickets here.
Smash-hit musical Mean Girls to open in Manchester at start of its first UK tour
Emily Sergeant
One of the most popular new musicals of the last decade is set to head out on its first-ever UK tour early next year.
And it’ll be kicking things off here in Manchester.
Based on the iconic 2004 movie of the same name, which is known and loved right across the globe, Mean Girls The Musical debuted at to huge success at the National Theatre in Washington D.C in 2017, before transferring to Broadway in April 2018, again to ecstatic responses where it played to sold-out theatres most nights.
The show then went on a hugely-successful US tour in 2019 and recently completed a second US tour.
Continuing on its run, the production then opened in the West End in 2025, where it was seen by more than 330,000 people over its run and recently took home the coveted ‘Best New Musical’ award at the 2025 WhatsOnStage Awards.
Mean Girls The Musical is opening its first-ever UK tour in Manchester next year / Credit: Brinkhoff Mögenburg
Not only that, but in 2024, you may remember that the new musical twist on the fan-favourite from the comedic mind of Tina Fey was released as a new feature film with sensational musical performances.
But for the first time ever, the rest of the UK is about to get a slice of the action.
Mean Girls The Musical will be heading out on tour early next year, and it’s us lucky musical lovers of Manchester that’ll get to see it before anyone else, as it’s landing on the legendary Manchester Opera House stage in February 2026.
Unfamiliar with the plot of Mean Girls The Musical? Just like the film, the musical follows Regina, Gretchen, and Karen, otherwise known as ‘The Plastics’ of North Shore High, as they meet homeschooled new girl, Cady Heron, as finds out that high school is a whole new level of savage.
Tickets go on sale this week / Credit: Brinkhoff Mögenburg
When Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung.
Expect iconic characters, razor-sharp wit, and killer songs.
Mean Girls The Musical has a book by Tina Fey, music and vocal arrangements by Jeff Richmond, lyrics, and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, among many other big names of the theatre world involved.
The tour will open at Manchester Opera House on 23 February 2026, before touring to venues across the UK and Ireland until the end of January 2027.
Tickets will go on general sale tomorrow (Thursday 3 July) at 10am here.
Featured Image – Brinkhoff Mögenburg
Theatre
Cult classic 13 Going On 30 to make its musical debut in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Cult classic rom com 13 Going On 30 is preparing for its musical world premiere – and it’s happening right here in Manchester.
The brand-new musical is based on the hit 2004 film of the same name, starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo.
As in the film, 13 Going On 30 The Musical will follow awkward teen Jenna Rink who makes a birthday wish to skip those difficult high school years.
To her surprise – her wish comes true.
Jenna wakes up to find herself ‘30, flirty and thriving’ in a dream role as a magazine editor, but still trying to work out what, and who really matters in life.
The brand new musical will open at the legendaryOpera House this September, bringing all the magic of the time-travelling film to life.
For the stage version, Lucie Jones (who you might recognise from X Factor) will star as Jenna, alongside David Hunter (Matt), Grace Mouat (Lucy), Caleb Roberts (Richard), Andrew Berlin (Kyle), and Dominic Andersen (Alex).
Cult classic 13 Going On 30 to make its musical debut in Manchester
The musical is also written by the same duo behind the hit flick.
13 Going On 30 The Musical will have songs by Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary, who wrote for High School Musical: The Musical, and will be directed by Andy Fickman of Heathers and She’s The Man.
Film writers Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa, who have also written the book of the musical, said: “When we wrote the movie 13 Going on 30, we never dreamt that on the film’s 20th anniversary, we’d get the chance to see a whole new generation fall in love with Razzles and feel thirty, flirty, and thriving.
“It’s been a joy to work with ROYO, Revolution Studios, Wendy Federman and Phil Kenny, songwriters Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner, and director Andy Fickman to bring this story to life as a stage musical.
“We were thrilled by the audience’s response to our workshop last year, and now we can’t wait to officially open in Manchester at the legendary Opera House – the launchpad of so many iconic musicals.
“So bring your family, your friends, maybe a date, or just come alone – don’t be shy, we’re all nice. Hope you have as much fun seeing the show as we had making it!”
13 Going On 30 The Musical will be at the Opera House in Manchester between 21 September and 12 October 2025.
Daisy Jackson -
1st November 2023 
