Manchester will host the world premiere of a massive new musical this autumn, when the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical debuts here.
I Should Be So Lucky will be a brand new show that will celebrate the legendary production trio, who were behind some of the biggest hits of the 1980s.
Stock Aitken Waterman worked with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Bananarama and Jason Donovan, and more than 30 songs from pop royalty icons will feature in the new theatre show.
You can expect to be dancing in your seat at the Manchester Opera House to songs including I Should Be So Lucky, Never Gonna Give You Up, and Love In The First Degree.
The original musical will follow young couple Ella and Nathan as they take the biggest step of their lives – marriage – but it doesn’t all go to plan.
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Promotional posters for the new production say ‘the wedding is OFF, but the honeymoon is ON!’.
Rick AstleyKylie Minogue and Jason DonovanI Should Be So Lucky. Credit: Supplied
I Should Be So Lucky has been written and directed by Debbie Isitt and choreographed by Jason Gilkison, and will open at the Manchester Opera House on 1 November.
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It will then head to play the Christmas season at Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House from 12 – 30 December 2023 as part of a UK tour, the dates of which will be announced soon.
Mike Stock said: “We have been approached many times over the years to authorise a musical using the songs from the Stock Aitken Waterman catalogue and have always resisted, until now! What Debbie, Jason and the team behind the show have created is a truly original and shamelessly enjoyable rollercoaster ride through our hits.”
Debbie Isitt said: “The music of Stock Aitken Waterman has been the soundtrack to both my life and the lives of all my friends. Their songs range from wonderful ballads to real pop anthems to dance floor classics, which are all perfect for an original musical.”
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I Should Be So Lucky will be at the Manchester Opera House between 1 and 25 November. You can book tickets now here.
Featured image: Supplied
Theatre
Manchester theatre tickets slashed to just £15 in biggest-ever January sale
Daisy Jackson
A huge sale on theatre tickets has gone live with shows in Manchester slashed to as little as £15.
From hit musicals to family favourites to dazzling dance and opera, the massive January Sale will let you see live entertainment for way less.
Thousands of discounted tickets are up for grabs across the UK, including at the Palace Theatre and the Opera House in Manchester.
ATG’s biggest-ever January sale includes smash hit shows like Bat Out Of Hell, Swan Lake, and Kinky Boots.
It also includes some huge shows coming to Manchester city centre for the first time in 2025, like Here You Come Again, a musical filled with the hits of Dolly Parton.
The huge theatre ticket sale includes incredible performances happening in the coming weeks, with both Swan Lake and The Nutcracker at the Opera House this month.
Or you could save big on a fabulous and flamboyant night out with Kinky Boots when it lands at the Palace Theatre in February.
Be whisked away with your favourite childhood musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, in March, or immerse yourself in the rock n roll world of Meatloaf’s Bat Out Of Hell with a musical inspired by the iconic album in February.
Kinky Boots is included in the January theatre tickets sale. Credit: Ollie RosserA scene from Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Credit: Tristram Kenton
There are also big savings to be had on Come Fall In Love, a musical comedy based on Bollywood’s most successful film, which is set to open in Manchester in 2025.
Other shows included in the theatre ticket sale are Calamity Jane, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cruel Intentions, and Ellen Kent: La Bohème.
And they’ve teased that there are more shows to be added to the sale still too.
The ATG Tickets January sale is now live – have a browse and book tickets HERE.
Manchester theatre shows in the ATG January sale:
Manchester Opera House
Swan Lake – 16-17 January at 7.30pm; 19 January at 3pm
The Nutcracker – 18 January at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Calamity Jane- 21-22 January at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
Here You Come Again – The New Dolly Parton Musical – 4-6 February at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Ellen Kent: La Bohème – 21 February at 7.30pm
Ellen Kent: La Traviata – 23 February at 7.30pm
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – 26-27 February at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of the Dubliners – 17 March at 7.30pm
Come Fall in Love – 29-30 May at 7.30pm; 2-5 June at at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Manchester Palace Theatre
Kinky Boots – 5-6 February at 2.30pm
Bat Out Of Hell – 24-25 February at 7.30pm, 26-27 February at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – 11-12 March at 7pm
Cruel Intentions – 25-28 March at 2.30pm, 5pm, 7.30pm and 8.30pm
ATG Tickets said: “2025 is a HUGE year for live entertainment and we’re celebrating with our biggest ticket sale ever.
“Experience the magic of live entertainment with ticket prices from as little as £20 (+ £3.95 transaction fee per order)!
“Enjoy unbeatable discounts on a diverse selection of shows across Musicals, Plays, Comedy, Family Favourites, and Dance & Opera.
“Don’t miss out – book now and make unforgettable memories this year!”
The ATG Tickets January sale is now live – have a browse and book tickets HERE.
10 of the best theatre shows to see in Greater Manchester in 2025
Thomas Melia
Greater Manchester already has a jam-packed 2025 theatre schedule, and in the words of Hairspray, Manchester really can’t stop the beat.
There’s no denying that Manchester and its surrounding areas are no stranger to a live performance or two, after all, with three cracking theatres to choose from, it would be hard to miss one of these spell-bounding tours.
Without further ado, here’s a brief overview of 10 of the best theatre shows to see in Greater Manchester in 2025.
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Wicked
Palace Theatre Manchester
3 December 2024 – 12 January 2025
Wicked / Credit: Matt Crockett
The smash-hit blockbuster of the year is continuing its reign even into the New Year for two weeks of gravity defying awesomeness.
Currently nearing the end of its remarkable cinema run, thanks to leading ladies Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, continue the magic of the two witches in the form of live theatre.
Expect all the usual hits like ‘Defying Gravity’, ‘Popular’ and ‘What Is This Feeling?’, get lost in the world of Ozian storytelling and recline in your own comfy bright red theatre seat.
It’s all about star power with this musical as Johannes Radebe from Strictly Come Dancing playing Lola and the music and lyrics handled by pop icon Cyndi Lauper.
The musical follows the life of a struggling businessman who’s inherited his family’s shoe factory, all seems dire until he meets Lola a drag queen who might just solve all his problems.
‘Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical’ as its titled is directed by Aditya Chopra, the film’s original director.
Since its big-screen release in 1995, the show has never left cinemas in Mumbai, becoming the longest-running title in Indian cinema.
This stage adaptation has a huge emphasis on colliding cultures, with the Bollywood production following the love story of two lovers from different backgrounds.
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, back in Manchester LIVE.
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The six wives of Henry VIII have a special place in Manchester’s hearts, becoming a returning favourite since its not-so-quiet 2018 debut. For those who haven’t been lucky enough to see it, imagine Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour but a few centuries earlier – it’s a pure pop celebration.
Something’s just go hand in hand – Fish and chips, tea and biscuits, and thespians and The Rocky Horror Show.
This musical carries alongside it one of the biggest fandoms of all time, and with Jason Donovan playing the role of Frank-N-Furter, the love for this production is set to grow much stronger. Manchester is no stranger to doing the ‘Time Warp’ and with the musical returning in summer 2025, they’re most definitely about to do it again.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe / Credit: Matt Crockett
Start filling your Christmas calendar for 2025 early and enrich yourself in a classic novel set in the fantasy land of Narnia.
Watch Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter tackle enemies, face foes and create solutions while venturing through a world of wonders. You’re about to be in awe as you get whisked away to this mystical land and watch the story unfold on stage with a live cast and some mesmerising set designs.
Dates for this show are very flexible too, meaning theatregoers have lots of opportunities to see the miracle worker that is Ms. Poppins fly about the streets of London.
It’s a double Australian bill as both Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers who are reprising their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert, respectively, are both from down under.
‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’, ‘Proud Mary’ and ‘The Best’, you can’t deny the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll has certainly earned her royal musical status.
This monumental singer achieved 12 Grammy awards during her musical career and grew a strong cult fanbase who stuck with her through thick and thin.
Now fans and musical lovers alike can enjoy a show all about the life of the vocal pioneer while also reminiscing on some of the biggest hits of her career.
Pride and Prejudice (Sort Of…) / Credit: Mihaela Bodlovic
There are lots of fantastic productions happening throughout the year and but we had to include this one because it’s Pride And Prejudice… well sort of.
Jane Austen’s groundbreaking novel has seen itself take on numerous adaptations since it’s original hardback debut from the big screen release in 2005 to this new stage musical coming in 2025. The drama will feature some of pop’s greatest records throughout the tale like ‘You’re So Vain’, ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ and ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’.
Daisy Jackson -
22nd March 2023 
