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Theatre

Paddy McGuinness announces first UK tour in EIGHT years, including Salford show

He's heading to The Lowry as one of 40 shows.

Daisy Jackson - 4th December 2023

Paddy McGuinness has just announced a major UK tour for the first time since 2016.

The much-loved Bolton comic and TV presenter has included a gig at The Lowry in Salford on the massive run of dates.

The Paddy McGuinness Nearly There tour will kick off next October and run all the way in to 2025.

He’s said that the stand-up show will touch on topics including cancel culture, clickbait and fake news.

The 50-year-old star is known for his roles in shows including Phoenix Nights, Max and Paddy, and The Keith and Paddy Picture Show, as well as for presenting primetime TV shows such as Take Me Out and BBC’s Top Gear.

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This newly-announced tour is the first he’s undertaken since 2016, and will start in Blackburn.

Paddy McGuinness will then perform 40 dates across the UK, including a Salford gig at The Lowry, as well as shows in cities including Leeds, Sheffield, Halifax and Newcastle.

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Paddy said: “It’s been eight years since my last tour and there’s lots of things to laugh about! I’m looking forward to getting back in front of a live audience, along with running the gauntlet of cancel culture, click bait and fake news!”

Paddy McGuinness will perform at The Lowry, Salford on Friday 28 March 2025.

Tickets go on sale Friday 8 December at 10am via See Tickets.

Paddy McGuinness Nearly There UK tour dates

Thu 24 Oct 2024 Blackburn King Georges
Fri 25 Oct 2024 Sunderland Empire
Sat 26 Oct 2024 Hull Connexin Live
Thu 31 Oct 2024 Llandudno Venue Cymru Theatre
Fri 01 Nov 2024 Leicester De Montfort Hall
Sun 03 Nov 2024 Milton Keynes Theatre
Thu 07 Nov 2024 Middlesbrough Town Hall
Fri 08 Nov 2024 Dunfermline Alhambra
Sat 09 Nov 2024 Dundee Caird Hall
Sun 10 Nov 2024 Aberdeen Music Hall
Thu 14 Nov 2024 Leeds Grand Theatre
Fri 15 Nov 2024 Leeds Grand Theatre
Sat 16 Nov 2024 Glasgow SEC Armadillo
Sun 17 Nov 2024 Edinburgh Usher Hall
Fri 22 Nov 2024 Bradford St Georges Hall
Sat 23 Nov 2024 Stoke-On-Trent Regent Theatre
Sun 24 Nov 2024 Oxford New Theatre
Thu 28 Nov 2024 Halifax Victoria Theatre
Fri 29 Nov 2024 Sheffield City Hall
Sat 30 Nov 2024 Newcastle O2 City Hall
Sun 01 Dec 2024 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Thu 13 Feb 2025 Truro Hall for Cornwall
Fri 14 Feb 2025 Swansea Arena
Sat 15 Feb 2025 Cardiff New Theatre
Thu 20 Feb 2025 Ipswich Regent
Fri 21 Feb 2025 Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Sun 23 Feb 2025 Dartford Orchard Theatre
Fri 28 Feb 2025 Birmingham Alexandra Theatre
Sat 01 Mar 2025 Wolverhampton The Civic at The Halls
Sun 02 Mar 2025 Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Thu 06 Mar 2025 Eastbourne Congress Theatre
Sat 08 Mar 2025 Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
Sun 09 Mar 2025 Torquay Princess Theatre
Thu 13 Mar 2025 Bath Forum
Fri 14 Mar 2025 London Palladium
Thu 20 Mar 2025 York Barbican
Fri 21 Mar 2025 Scunthorpe Baths Hall
Sun 23 Mar 2025 Stockton Globe
Fri 28 Mar 2025 Salford Lowry Lyric Theatre
Sat 29 Mar 2025 Blackpool Opera House

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Featured image: Publicity picture

Theatre

Blood Brothers at Palace Theatre, Manchester – a timeless classic

Greg James Sean Jones and Joe Slight in Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack Merriman

Sean Jones and Joe Slight in Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack Merriman

Bill Kenwright’s production of Blood Brothers surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End making it one of only three musicals ever to achieve that monumental milestone – and now it’s visiting us here in Manchester.

“Oh Bright New Day”, Blood Brothers has just landed back at the Palace Theatre. This musical written by Willy Russell is a British piece of theatre that is a staple in the musical theatre tapestry of our country.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with this iconic story, it is an emotional tale of two twins who are separated at birth and grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with the most fateful of consequences.

The story’s central character, Mrs Johnston is the linchpin in this whole story and carries us through the show.

This role has been played by many superb women over the years including Mel C, Kiki Dee, Barbara Dickson and nearly all of the Nolan Sisters. This time, Mrs Johnston is performed by Vivienne Carlyle who provides a lovely maternal performance.

The other two lead roles are Mickey and Eddie, played by Sean Jones and Joe Sleight respectively.

These are really complex roles to play as the actors have to portray the characters from early school years to grown adults.

The cast of Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack Merriman

Sean Jones, Gemma Brodrick and Joe Slight in Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack Merriman — The cast of Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack Merriman

Sean Jones has been playing the role of Mickey now for nearly 25 years and so he is no stranger to this character. And I must say, he still fantastically plays the part, even when playing young Mickey, and the show really takes off when he enters the stage.

Joe Sleight is someone who I had not seen in the role of Eddie before and he gave just as strong a performance as Jones. He offered a real contrast to his counterpart with a really beautiful, touching performance.

The whole ensemble did a gorgeous job of helping to carry these characters throughout the musical, showing a real flair for multi-roling and beautiful musicality in the group numbers too.

Something which elevates this already gripping story though is the music. There are many recurring musical motifs throughout the show that on the surface may come off as repetitive but they offer perspective on how things can evolve and change over time.

Of course the song though that everybody is perhaps familiar with is the power ballad, ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’. This is the climax of the show and what a climax it is. There’s not a dry eye in the house when we reach this point of the story, I can assure you!

So, whether you are returning to watch this show again, perhaps know the story from studying it in English GCSE or seeing it for the first time, it will always be an absolutely timeless classic.

Blood Brothers is on at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 30 November. Tickets are available HERE.

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Featured image: Jack Merriman

Theatre

Chicago the Musical razzles (and dazzles) at the Palace Theatre in Manchester

Clementine Hall

A story of murder, greed and corruption was performed with style, ease and flair; Chicago is the longest-running American musical in Broadway and West End history, and it’s easy to see why now that it’s arrived in Manchester.

The jazz-fuelled fiasco is filled with catchy songs that you can’t help but click along to, funny one-liners, and likeable characters such as Miss Roxy Hart herself.

Best-known for appearing as Kate Connor in Coronation Street, the opening night in Manchester on Chicago‘s UK tour may have been a daunting prospect, but it’s one Faye Brookes pulled off seamlessly.

Here’s our full review…

Image: Press Images (Supplied)

Brookes is fantastically expressive and brings new energy to a classic, complemented throughout by a sultry cast dressed in buckles and mesh that really bring the ‘Razzle Dazzle’ to the stage.

Her co-star, Strictly Come Dancing‘s Kevin Clifton, struts through the show transformed into Billy Flynn – a flamboyant 1920s American lawyer who has the desperate inmates in the palm of his hand.

The opening number, ‘All That Jazz’, is spearheaded by Djalenga Scott as Velma Kelly and she does it brilliantly.

Image: Supplied

The cast slink their way across the stage with Scott at the forefront, who undoubtedly delivers a faultless performance and complements Brookes as Roxie Hart perfectly.

A highlight of course included the hilarious ‘Cell Block Tango’, the audience were laughing along as the women sang the stories of their murderous deeds whilst performing sharp and sultry choreography.

Not even a toe out of place.

Image: Supplied

The set is minimalist, dark and simple, but is simply brought to life by the wonderful expression and lively musical numbers performed on stage by the live band.

The live band sits on a staircase centre stage and their playful use of instruments throughout is truly impressive.

Neil MacDonald, the show’s musical director, even got involved with a few on-stage conversations which was a fabulous touch that made the show feel bespoke to us.

Images: Supplied

Images: Supplied

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Other notable performances included Brenda Edwards as Mamma Morton, whose powerhouse voice left the audience in absolute awe, and Joshua Lloyd as ‘Mister Cellophane’ caused a couple of pitiful “awws” from the auditorium.

Overall, this was a fantastic production of the Broadway classic – the standing ovation at the end proves I wasn’t the only one who thought that too.

Chicago the Musical is playing at the Palace Theatre Manchester until Saturday, 9 November and you can grab your last-minute tickets HERE.

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Featured Images — Press images (Supplied)