Award-winning West End musical School of Rock is heading out on a UK tour in 2021/22, and will be stopping off at Palace Theatre Manchester on its travels.
This is the first time the smash-hit production is set to tour the country, after it originally opened on Broadway in December 2015 and quickly transferred to the West End in November 2016, being met with widespread critical acclaim.
It went on to win the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.
Based on the 2003 cult-favourite film of the same name that notably starred Jack Black in one of his best-loved roles, this new School of Rock musical follows Dewey Finn – a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school.
There, he turns a class of straight-A students into a “guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing” rock band.
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He teaches the pint-sized prodigies what it means to truly rock.
ATG Tickets
Featuring 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and all the original songs that fans of the movie will know and love, this high-octane show is said to deliver “face-melting guitar riffs and touching romance”, both in equal measure.
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Casting for the UK touring production is to be revealed in due course this summer, with auditions currently taking place, so keep your eyes peeled for announcements.
School Of Rock will be arriving at Palace Theatre Manchester on Tuesday 4th – Saturday 15th January 2022.
Matilda The Musical at Palace Theatre Manchester – a lesson in letting your imagination run wild | Review
Emily Sergeant
I think growing up is overrated. I’m just going to start off by saying that, okay? Right… now onto the actual review.
Matilda The Musical has finally arrived in Manchester, and it’s every bit as imaginative as the title character herself.
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s smash-hit musical production – which is, of course, based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book of the same name – has been seen by more than 12 million people in over 100 cities around the world since it first debuted back in 2010, and it continues to play to packed houses in London’s West End and on Broadway each week… but now, it’s Manchester’s turn.
The critically-acclaimed musical is currently out on a tour of the UK and Ireland, and has just arrived for a special four-week run here at Manchester’s iconic Palace Theatre.
Touring to celebrate its 15-year anniversary, the multi-award winning musical about a determined young heroine with a vivid imagination is written by Dennis Kelly, and developed and directed by Matthew Warchus, with music and lyrics by comedian Tim Minchin.
Matilda The Musical is now on stage at Manchester Palace Theatre / Credit: Publicity Picture (Supplied)
Despite being a fan of musical theatre, and even of the production’s popular soundtrack prior, Matilda The Musical was one I was yet to experience live on stage before last night.
Understandably because of this, it was one I was therefore really anticipating watching – and 15 years on, it’s truly not hard to see why it’s so beloved by so many.
Manchester audiences who gathered inside the storied walls of the Palace Theatre on opening night last night (26 March) were enchanted from the moment the colourful, eclectic stage lit up and the sets came to life, immersing you in the world right from the get-go.
It’s a production every bit as imaginative as the main character herself / Credit: Publicity Picture (Supplied)
Now, it would be fair to say that so much could go wrong in this production, given how many moving parts are involved in the stage design and choreography, but it’s a complete credit to every single member of the company that not once, as an audience member, did you ever feel anything would go wrong – that’s how technically impressive the staging was.
Those technical elements barely scratch the surface of just how much this show grabs you by the heart and makes you cling onto the magic of childlike imagination, though. This is where it really shines.
Through well-known songs like ‘Naughty’, ‘Revolting Children’, ‘When I Grow Up’, and ‘Quiet’, you are left feeling in awe of the incredibly (almost unbelievably, to be honest) talented ensemble cast of young performers on stage before you.
Led last night by Mollie Hutton as Matilda, who brought her own charm and cheekiness to the iconic role, each youngster really is living proof that ‘even if you’re little, you can do a lot’.
It’s now on stage in Manchester up until Saturday 25 April / Credit: The Manc Group
Tessa Kalder as Miss Honey, Richard Hurst as Miss Trunchbull, and Esther Niles as Mrs Phelps were all stand-out performances too, as were Adam Stafford and Rebecca Thornhill as Matilda’s parents, Mr and Mrs Wormwood.
It’s a show full of humour, eccentric characters, and captivating sets… and it’s well worth your time, whether a theatre-lover or not.
The beaming smiles from the cast at the end during the curtain call say it all.
Matilda The Musical is now playing at Manchester Palace Theatre until Saturday 25 April 2026, and you can get last-minute tickets online here.
Featured Image – Publicity Picture (Supplied)
Theatre
Oasis are back…in surreal new Britpop comedy ‘The Battle’ at the Opera House Manchester
Clementine Hall
The greatest pop rivalry of all time has been turned into a quick-witted, razor-sharp comedy.
And do you know what? It’s a proper laugh.
Oasis vs Blur, north vs south… it really is a tale as old as time, and one that symbolised a divided nation back in 1995.
This new play, written by past record industry bod John Niven, explores the testosterone-fuelled tantrums that came after the decision to release Blur’s Country House singlealongside Oasis’ Roll With It.
Image: Supplied (Helen Murray)
We’re plunged into backstage Britpop bickering right at the very start at none other than the Brit Awards, which is quite apt for a Manchester audience who have just witnessed the city hosting the awards for the first time.
From the offset, Paddy Stafford and George Usher who played Noel and Liam Gallagher, proved themselves as standout performances.
The physical mannerisms, the vocal nuances, they both had it down to an absolute T and looked exceptional in parkas, might I add.
Images: Supplied (Helen Murray)
By portraying such icons, in Manchester no less, you’re opening yourself up to a lot of criticism but their performances, which could’ve been perceived as awkward impressions, were the highlight of the evening.
The first act explores the rivalry between the two bands in depth, featuring countless slinging matches that are peppered with quick-witted remarks and plenty of swearing.
The between-scenes animations by John O’Connor portray radio DJs stoking the hysteria with the latest gossip, which is a nice way to keep the audience in check with whats going on amidst the chaos.
Image: Supplied (Helen Murray)
But it’s in the second act when things start to get really, really weird – and equally as fun.
I’m not going to spoil it for you, because that’s the whole point.
But what I will say is if you’re going for an Oasis singalong then you’re not going to get it, but you may want to brush up on your Take That lyrics.
The Battle is on at the Opera House Manchester until Saturday 21 March and you can get your tickets here.
Emily Sergeant -
11th May 2021 
