Theatre

A ‘Wagatha Christie’ play based on the Coleen Rooney v Rebekah Vardy trial is coming to Salford

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 13th February 2023

A play based on the Coleen Rooney vs Rebekah Vardy ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial is coming to The Lowry in Salford.

Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial has been written using the High Court transcripts from the incredibly high-profile trial between the two WAGs – and now, after a six-week run down south, the play is heading out on tour, including a visit to Greater Manchester.

The theatre production will bring the ‘real-life courtroom drama that gripped the nation’ to the stage, with three dates penned in at The Lowry this June.

The play of Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial describes itself, saying: “From sting operations to sensational headlines, this verbatim production reveals what went on behind closed doors in the case that turned social media sleuthing into high drama.

“Audiences can see first-hand, and in the words of Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney, how the extraordinary week in court played out.

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“Vardy v Rooney is a story stranger than fiction, with lurid one-liners and revelations blurring the boundaries of tabloid and court case, social media and soap opera.

“This unique moment in British media history captivated the country but while public debate raged, only a handful of people witnessed what happened in the trial. Now audiences can watch the intrigue and intricacies of the case live on stage in the West End and beyond.”

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Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial
The ‘Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial’ play is coming to The Lowry. Credit: Publicity picture

The High Court transcripts have been adapted by Liv Hennessy the play is directed by Lisa Spirling.

Reprising their roles will be Lucy May Barker (Mamma Mia!, West End; Pine Hampstead Theatre) as Rebekah Vardy and Laura Dos Santos (Yes So I Said Yes, Finborough Theatre; My White Best Friend, Liverpool Everyman) as Coleen Rooney.

Jonathan Broadbent (The Comedy of Errors, RSC; My Night with Reg, Donmar and West End) will play Hugh Tomlinson QC, Tom Turner as David Sherborne and Nathan McMullen (Misfits, E4; Hushabye Mountain, Hope Mill) playing multiple roles including Wayne Rooney and Jamie Vardy.

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Further casting is to be announced.

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Find out more and book tickets here.

Featured image – Publicity picture

Theatre

The Karate Kid – The Musical, inspired by the iconic 80s film, is coming to Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Karate Kid - The Musical, inspired by the iconic 80s film, is coming to Manchester

Iconic 80s film The Karate Kid has now been reimagined as a stage musical – and it’s coming to Manchester next spring.

The Karate Kid – The Musical will be heading out on its UK premiere tour in 2026, including a run of dates at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.

The musical follows the same themes as the original, legendary 1984 film, a coming-of-age story that follows the relationship and teachings between Daniel LaRusso and Mr Miyagi.

It’s not just about karate, it’s about resilience, mentorship, and the quiet strength that bridges generations, and on the stage you can expect movement, music, and energetic storytelling too.

The original blockbuster starred Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita and has gone down in history as one of cinema’s greatest films, earning Morita an Academy Award nomination.

It’s become a major global franchise, including three movie sequels, a remake with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and a Netflix series (Cobra Kai).

The Karate Kid – The Musical made its world premiere in 2022, selling out theatres and earning rave reviews.

Those iconic cinematic moments are brought to life on the stage by a Tony Award-winning design team.

The Karate Kid – The Musical is heading on a major UK tour before it hits the West End and Broadway.

It’s written by Robert Mark Kamen, screenwriter of the original 1984 movie, with music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini.

Kamen says: “William Goldman said about Hollywood “No one knows anything.” He was right.

“Who knew that 43 years after I wrote the original script for THE KARATE KID, we would see these very same characters acting and singing on the British stage in a story that is as fresh and universally relevant as it was four decades ago.”

The Karate Kid – The Musical is at the Palace Theatre from Tuesday 12 to Saturday 23 May 2026, with tickets on sale now HERE.

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Featured image: Supplied, ATG Tickets

Theatre

Legendary musical CATS is coming to Manchester on its UK tour next year

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Legendary musical CATS will be taking to the stage here in Manchester next year.

A brand-new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s global sensation, CATS, will embark on a major UK tour from summer 2026 following an open-air residency at Regent Park in London – including dates at Manchester’s prestigious Palace Theatre in November.

Based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS is one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history.

The show originally premiered at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances.

Since its world premiere, the musical has been presented in more than 54 countries, translated into 23 languages, and has been seen by more than 77 million people worldwide – collecting a number of awards along the way.

Legendary musical CATS is coming to Manchester on its UK tour next year / Credit: Feast Creative

This new production of CATS is produced by Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, with Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, as part of Drew McOnie’s second season as Artistic Director, and it marks the third Andrew Lloyd Webber title produced by the venue in the last decade.

Unfamiliar with the show? CATS tells the story of the Jellicle cats.

From Euston station to Victoria Grove, the strays and rebels of London gather under the Jellicle moon in the hope they’ll be the chosen one.

With a legendary score featuring well-known songs like Old Deuteronomy, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, The Jellicle Ball, and, of course, the chart-topping hit Memory, this brand-new production of CATS is gearing up to be one of the best theatrical events of 2026.

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“I am very excited to see a totally new production of CATS back on the stage where it belongs,” creator Andrew Lloyd Webber said on the show’s return. “I can think of no-one better than Drew McOnie to bring a new vision to the world of the Jellicles.”

Casting and the full creative team is set to be announced in due course, as is the on-sale date and link for tickets, so keep your eyes peeled.

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

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