Record-breaking musical The King and I is heading back to Manchester next year on a major UK theatre tour.
The majestic production is set in 1860s Bangkok, and follows the relationship between the King of Siam and a British schoolteacher, Anna Leonowens.
Anna is employed in the Thai capital to teach the King’s many children – as well as his wives.
The romantic musical theatre plays out on stage with more than 50 world-class performers and a full-scale orchestra.
A previous cast on The King & I – the musical is heading to Manchester. Credit: Johan Persson
Songs within The King and I include Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You and Shall We Dance.
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The production is heading back out on tour, following a record-breaking runs on Broadway and at the London Palladium, as well as its previous UK and international tour.
The multi-award winning musical will be back at the Palace Theatre in 2023.
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It will again be directed by Tony Award-winning Bartlett Sher but with a brand new cast.
A previous cast on The King & I – the musical is heading to Manchester. Credit: Johan Persson
Producer Howard Panter says: “We are delighted to take this majestic multi award-winning production of THE KING AND I on a major UK and international tour in 2023.
“The London Palladium season saw critical plaudits, Box Office records and standing ovations at every show – we were overwhelmed with the rapturous response.
“Coupled with the reaction to the Global cinema screenings of the film version – which was the biggest theatre event in cinemas of the year and number one at the Box Office.
“This really is musical theatre at its very best, so we are thrilled that we can now share this wondrous production with theatre lovers up and down the country next year.”
‘Please help’ – plea to save one of Manchester’s oldest theatres as beautiful building falls into disrepair
Daisy Jackson
A fresh appeal and Crowdfunder has been launched to try and save one of Manchester’s oldest and most beautiful theatre buildings.
The Hulme Playhouse Theatre and the Nia Centre are at risk of closing down once again as both the list of repairs and the cost of living rise.
The venue, used now as a community hub and events space operated by NIAMOS, is in ‘desperate need of repair’ and they need to raise £50,000 for the urgent work.
Without it, it’s feared that the ‘cold and leaking’ building could be lost forever and ‘another cultural institution could be turned into flats’.
At present, the historic Grade II-listed building doesn’t have a heating system, and winter has brought new pressures.
NIAMOS, a group of local residents and community volunteers, say they want to ‘honour the important legacy of this renowned venue’.
NIAMOS have launched a Crowdfunder for the Nia Centre and Playhouse Theatre. Credit: NIAMOS
The beautiful building in Hulme was first opened in 1902 and is one of only two remaining W. H. Broadhead theatres.
At one time, Broadhead owned an empire of theatres, and designed the space to resemble a factory from the outside, hoping to help working class audiences in Manchester feel at home.
In 1956, the BBC took over and turned it into BBC Soundstage North, where The Beatles’ first-ever live radio performance was broadcast from.
Then the legendary Nina Simone opened it theas The Nia Centre in 1991, becoming the first African and Caribbean-led theatre in Europe.
The space is used for community events. Credit: NIAMOS
The cultural significance of this building really can’t be overstated, and the NIAMOS team are desperate to save it.
They said in their Crowdfunder: “Our mission is to preserve the heritage of the Nia Centre and Playhouse Theatre, by keeping the building and the Arts it facilitates accessible to all communities, all ages and capabilities.”
NIAMOS’ message continued: “We need help to be able to keep all the incredible projects that happen in the building going and make sure the space stays open as a hub for the Hulme community and beyond! We need to honour the important legacy of this renowned venue, still independent in the heart of Manchester, and not let another cultural institution be turned into flats.
“We want to make sure the building stays open as much as possible over winter and improve the equipment that local and young artists have access to through us, including music production, sound and lighting engineering, arts workshops, film and media production and acting classes.
“The building is in desperate need of repair and a heating system which we currently do not have at all! Alongside all of this, the running costs of the building and the rising cost of living mean we are under pressure this winter.
“We rely on volunteer support to run and host events for our community and our voluntary members have worked extremely hard to keep the building afloat, but our members cannot give as much of their time as we need and with the challenge of a cold and leaking building we are in need of help to save this space from closing down!!
“When the current directorship took over the running of the building they also took on significant debts, this has meant we have been two steps forward and one step back. Despite all the hard work of the people who have been running the space voluntarily we need help over the quieter winter months.
Credit: NIAMOS
“We need to stay open long enough to apply for further funding bids, including long term support from the Heritage Lottery fund, as we are a grade II listed building. We have an amazing programme of events and projects we want to put on this year that will build on sustaining us financially and provide opportunities for community artists and creatives.
“Keeping this building open and functional is of great importance for Hulme and the surrounding areas communities; we need your help! Developing heating solutions and doing necessary repairs in the building will enable us to stay open during the colder months and help us with our aim of making the building more conscious and sustainable.
A theatre show with giant life-like dinosaur puppets is coming to The Lowry
Daisy Jackson
The stage at The Lowry theatre will be taken over by gigantic dinosaurs next month when a new children’s theatre show comes to town.
Dinosaur World Live will see life-like dinosaur puppets patrolling around the theatre in Salford.
The interactive show introduces audiences to creatures including the iconic Tyrannosaurus Rex, along with a Giraffatitan, Microraptor, Segnosaurus and Triceratops.
Audiences will meet Miranda, a daughter of palaeontologists, who grew up on a far-away island where dinosaurs still roam.
Miranda has now gathered up her pre-historic friends and is bringing them to Salford.
And audience members can get up close and personal after the show with an in-person meet-and-greet.
Dinosaur World Live even comes with a warning – ‘Some of these dinosaurs aren’t as docile as they seem!’
The show was written by Manchester Theatre Award-winner Derek Bond, and the creative team includes puppetry experts who have worked on the likes of War Horse and Cirque du Soleil.
Dinosaur World Live will be at The Lowry in Salford from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 February.
Shows will take place at 2pm on the Thursday, 11am and 2pm on Friday, and 11am and 2pm on the Saturday – you can book your tickets here.
Daisy Jackson -
15th July 2022 
