For the first time ever, smash hit show Moulin Rouge The Musical is heading to Manchester on its debut world tour.
The multi-award-winning spectacle has announced an eight week run of shows at the Palace Theatre, and has just released the dates for when tickets will go on sale.
Moulin Rouge The Musical is set to bring ‘a world of splendour and romance, eye-popping excess, glitz, grandeur and glory’ to Manchester next autumn.
The musical, based on Baz Lurhmann’s revolutionary film starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, features more than 70 hit songs from across 160 years of music.
Audiences will hear everything from Offenbach to Lady Gaga as the Palace Theatre stage is transformed into 19th century Paris.
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The musical is set amidst the unparalleled extravagance and beauty of the iconic Moulin Rouge nightclub, where the space beneath the red windmill is filled with bohemians and aristocrats, boulevardiers and reprobates.
It follows the tale of lovesick American writer Christian and the subject of his affections, Satine, the star of the Moulin Rouge.
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Their glittering love story is halted by the nightclub’s host and mastermind, Harold Zidler, and the Duke of Monroth, who wishes to buy the Moulin Rouge – and with it, Satine.
The all-singing, all-dancing cast also includes starving artist Toulouse-Lautrec and tango dancer Santiago, along with a full line-up of Can Can dancers, musicians, and more.
This is the first time ever that Moulin Rouge The Musical has performed in Manchester, landing at the Palace theatre on 20 August 2025.
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The show has won a whopping 10 2021 Tony Awards (including Best Musical), an Olivier Award, and masses more.
Carmen Pavlovic for Global Creatures, producer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, said: “It is thrilling that the Manchester Palace will host Moulin Rouge! The Musical next year as part of its world tour.
Moulin Rouge The Musical is heading to Manchester for the first time EVER. Credit: Matt Murphy
“Manchester is such a welcoming, lively and culturally vibrant city, world renowned for its rich artistic and musical heritage.
“A city also known for defending free speech and liberty of opinion, so we know that the bohemians and artisans of the Montmartre will be embraced with open arms. We can’t wait to welcome Manchester to the Moulin Rouge!”
Casting is still to be announced.
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Moulin Rouge! The Musical will come to the Palace Theatre Manchester between Wednesday 20 August and Saturday 4 October 2025.
Pre-sale tickets will go on sale at 12pm on Tuesday 5 November, before the general public sale begins on Thursday 7 November.
Hundreds more FREE tickets released for Big Night of Musicals in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Hundreds more free tickets for Big Night of Musicals will be released this morning ahead of its return to the AO Arena in Manchester.
New shows have also been announced for the dazzling spectacle, which brings some of theatre’s biggest West End and touring shows to our city.
Just announced on the line-up are Cabaret, Chicago, Mary Poppins and Titanique, joining a show-stopping billing that already included Disney’s Hercules, Mean Girls, Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell The Musical, Here & Now – The Official Steps Musical, Calamity Jane and Dear Evan Hansen.
Presented by Jason Manford, The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals saw its first release of tickets sell out within just 24 hours.
So now hundreds more are being released to National Lottery players from 10am today, Friday 10 January, on a first-come, first-served basis.
The show on Monday 27 January, now in its fourth year, serves as a special thank you to National Lottery players who have helped support more than 20,000 theatre-related projects to the tune of £1.3b.
As well as all those dazzling musicals, the evening’s line-up will feature some unique performances, including musical theatre star Michael Ball, as well as a preview of some of the exciting new shows coming to the West End and on tour this year.
Hundreds more FREE tickets released for Big Night of Musicals in Manchester which now includes Chicago. Credit: Tristam Kenton
Jason Manford said: “It’s an honour to be back hosting The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals for the fourth time!
“It’s always a pleasure to host in Manchester to give a northern audience the chance to see some spectacular performances and appearances from the stars of the West End – and this year’s line-up is stronger than ever.
“Once again, one of the best aspects of the show is that tickets are free as a thank you to National Lottery players who help ensure the performing arts industry thrives by playing each week.”
The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will also be broadcast by the BBC later this spring.
The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will be at the AO Arena in Manchester on Monday 27 January – final release free tickets are available from 10am HERE.
Jake Quickenden to star in stage version of cult classic British comedy, Rita, Sue and Bob Too!
Danny Jones
The original stage play version of classic UK comedy, Rita, Sue and Bob Too!, is coming to Greater Manchester this February and it’s set to star Jake Quickenden in a leading role.
Released as a feature-length back in 1987, the cult favourite film set in North Yorkshire is still considered one of the most quintessentially British and incisive ‘dramedies’ ever made, depicting a very unfiltered and poignant look at working-class life during the Thatcher years.
The story has been brought to the theatre many times before, including down the road in Salford Quays, but this latest series of stage shows marks the first time Rita, Sue and Bob Too! the play is heading to this particular borough.
With a healthy slate of tour dates across the country, the Regal Entertainments production and recognisable cast is coming to Stockport for multiple nights next month.
Adapting the original semi-autobiographical play text by Bradford‘s very own Andrea Dunbar – where the tale takes place and whose upbringing the events revolve around – with direction from Chantelle Nolan, this is one of the biggest live productions of Rita, Sue and Bob Too! ever.
Speaking ahead of the nationwide tour, Nolan says: “After over 20 years of producing brilliant entertainment in St Helens and in Liverpool, Regal Entertainments has developed a touring department, and we can’t wait to share our five-star productions with new audiences across the UK.”
“We’re very proud to attract the top stars from the worlds of theatre, film and TV to star in our productions […] Dunbar’s cult classic film was originally a hit play, and we know that it’s a show that you can see time and time again and still be rolling in the aisles with laughter, we are incredibly pleased with the ticket sales so far.”
As well as the former X-Factor, I’m A Celeb, Hollyoaks and Dancing on Ice star in the leading role as Bob, other names on the call sheet include Jessica Ellis (also seen on Hollyoaks), Shameless and Coronation Street‘s Warren Donnelly, as well as ex-Britain’s Got Talent contestant, Siobhan Phillips.
As for the other two leads, Liverpool-born comic Kay Nicholson is starring as Rita and Lancashire actor Jenna Sian O’Hara as Sue. In case you’ve never seen or heard anything about it before, without spoiling anything, the two young schoolgirls get themselves into some rather adult circumstances.
Strictly an 18+ performance, the Stockport show is one of just a small handful of North West runs, set to take place at the iconic art deco theatre that is The Plaza from Tuesday, 18-Saturday, 22 February.
As for Quickenden, the 36-year-old added: “I’m delighted to be joining the brilliant cast of Rita, Sue and Bob Too! Regal Entertainments have a fantastic reputation for producing exciting entertainment in Merseyside and I can’t wait to take the show all over the UK.
“Andrea Dunbar’s play is a classic and I can’t wait to play Bob.” If you’ve not come across it before, maybe ask your mum and dad or perhaps a grandparent – we’re sure they’ll fill you in…
Daisy Jackson -
10th October 2024 
