Yes, you might have heard about different bits of ‘immersive theatre’ here in Manchester before, you may have even tried some of them before, but have you ever been part of an interactive jury experienceinspired by true events?
Didn’t think so.
We’ve come across some pretty unorthodox performance art in our time – the soon-to-arrive Star Wars burlesque show being just one recent example; having said that, this might be one of the coolest concepts around right now.
Calling the next case into court, we have ‘The Jury Experience: Diamonds, Lies, and a Dead Man’, which combines a live crime thriller with the classic jewel heist format, whodunnit tropes and more.
Organised by Fever Events and scripted and staged with help from award-winning creative directors, Les Enfants Terribles, this latest edition of The Jury Experience is one of just many in a long line of intriguing courtroom dramas that YOU get to take part in.
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We don’t want to give too much away and spoil the magic, but let’s just say you get to play a key role in seeing who goes down for the theft or a multi-million dollar family treasure.
Using your phone and/or paddles to cast your votes and sway decisions, there aren’t just key moments – the audience themselves are the final verdict.
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Think you handle the responsibility, or better still, will you relish the sense of power?
As for ‘Diamonds, Lies, and a Dead Man’, here’s your teaser: “You’ve been called for jury duty. Scandal brews as a disgraced ex-driver stands trial for stealing global superstar Lana Tonneti’s $20m necklace.
“But is Lana telling the truth? Throughout the show, analyse witness testimonies, examine the evidence, answer complex questions, and try to uncover what really happened.
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“Every word matters. Every detail counts. And at the end, you must cast the vote that determines the fate of the accused.”
Taking place at the stunning Stoller Hall and lasting just over an hour, this strictly 12+ event (kids under 19 must be accompanied by an adult)
While tickets to the first two productions this month have already sold out, tickets for the March and April nights are still available. You can find out more about dates, timings, and other cases, as well as grab your tickets right HERE.
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.
Danny Jones -
21st January 2026 
