One of the most beloved musicals of all time is stopping off here in Manchester as part of a major UK tour next year.
Fresh off-the-back of successful run down at The London Palladium, and just a couple of years since it played to packed-out crowds here in 2022, it’s just been announced this week that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat will be making its way back to Manchester next year, and will be taking over one of our city’s most iconic stages.
The sensational musical production was first staged all the way back in 1968, and is known for being the first major collaboration between theatre legends, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice.
On its way to becoming one of the world’s best-loved family musicals, the multi award-winning show has been performed hundreds of thousands of times – including multiple runs in the West End and on Broadway, as well as international tours in more than 80 countries worldwide.
THE SMASH-HIT SPECTACLE RETURNS 🌈 We’re delighted to announce that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is coming to the Opera House from 26 Feb – 9 Mar 2025🤩.
Whether you can believe it or not, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat actually started out as a concept album based off a small-scale school show, before it grew into what we know today.
Told entirely through song with the help of the narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat follows the story of Jacob’s favourite son, Joseph, who after being sold into hardship by his 11 brothers, tries to ingratiate himself with Egyptian noble, Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the advances of Potiphar’s wife.
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Beloved musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is coming to Manchester / Credit: Tristram Kenton (via Supplied)
While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams, and soon finds himself in front of the mighty but troubled showman, the Pharaoh. As Joseph strives to resolve Egypt’s famine, he becomes Pharaoh’s right-hand man and eventually reunites with his family.
The show features songs that have gone on to become musical theatre stapes, including ‘Any Dream Will Do’, ‘Close Every Door To Me’, ‘Jacob and Sons’, and ‘Go, Go, Go Joseph’.
This particular production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat that’s coming to Manchester in 2025 is produced and directed by acclaimed musical theatre duo, Michael Harrison and Laurence Connor.
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It’ll be taking over one of our city’s most iconic stages early next year / Credit: Tristram Kenton (via Supplied)
Speaking ahead of the show’s return to our Manchester Opera House next year, producer Michael Harrison explained: “After two sensational runs at The London Palladium and a celebrated tour, which saw audiences up on their feet when we played in Manchester in 2022, I am delighted to bring Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat back to the Opera House next year.
“Few shows bring the generations together the way Joseph does, and we can’t wait to welcome audiences new and old to make memories that will last a lifetime.”
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat will be on the Manchester Opera House stage from Wednesday 26 February – Sunday 9 March 2025, and tickets are set to go on general sale from as little as £15 each tomorrow (Friday 14 June) at 10am.
Find out more and grab your tickets when they go on sale here.
Featured Image – Tristram Kenton (via Supplied)
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Much-loved children’s show Gabby’s Dollhouse is bringing its live show to Manchester
Danny Jones
Much-loved children’s TV sensation Gabby’s Dollhouse is bringing its now world-famous live stage show to Manchester city centre for the first time ever.
Set for its debut UK tour, the smash-hit Netflix series created by the brains behind the 90s and noughties kids classic, Blue’s Clues, has become a global favourite since it first began back in 2021.
After proving highly successful over in the States, ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!’ is now going transatlantic to delight little ones across the pond.
The super family-friendly show lands at Manchester’s AO Arena in early 2026, and we can practically hear the toddlers screaming with joy already.
As the Arena posted on social media, “This a-MEOW-zing new show, inspired by the beloved DreamWorks Animation preschool series, features songs that will have audiences singing and dancing along, from beginning to end.”
For anyone unaware of the name or simply looking to introduce their youngsters to something new, Gabby’s Dollhouse is an interactive pre-school programme that blends both interactive live-action with educational and undeniably cute animation.
It follows a girl named Gabby and her cat friends as they go on adventures inside a magical dollhouse.
The American show has taken off not only domestically but has now become the most-watched kids’ show on Netflix, so yes, it’s rather popular.
As for this still relatively new stage production, it brings to life an exciting original Dollhouse story featuring unique puppets and dynamic staging, with hit new songs that will have audiences singing and dancing along from beginning to end.
You can see the trailer for the US tour down below.
Presented not only by DreamWorks but Universal’s Destinations and Experiences team, the 15-date tour will get underway next spring; you can see the full list of shows here:
‘Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!’ 2026 UK tour dates
We’ve even highlighted all of the Northern shows for you, just in case you can’t make the Manc date.
Fri 27/03/26 SEC Armadillo Theatre, Glasgow
Sun 29/03/26 P&J Live, Aberdeen
Tue 31/03/26 Eventim Apollo, London
Wed 1/04/26 Eventim Apollo, London
Sun 5/04/26 AO Arena Manchester
Tue 7/04/26 Utilita Arena Birmingham
Wed 8/04/26 Edinburgh Playhouse
Sat 11/04/26 Brighton Centre
Tue 14/04/26 First Direct Bank Arena Leeds
Thu 16/04/26 Bournemouth International Centre
Sun 19/04/26 Plymouth Pavilions
Tue 21/04/26 Swansea Building Society Arena
Sun 26/04/26 M&S Bank Arena Liverpool
Tue 28/04/26 Utilita Arena Sheffield
Fri 1/05/26 Utilita Arena Newcastle
Sun 3/05/26 Utilita Arena Cardiff
General admission seats go live on Wednesday, 10 December, and if you’re looking to guarantee your family a spot at the AO Arena or any of the other venues, you can join the pre-sale waiting list.
Peter Hook announces special career-spanning city centre show, with a veteran Manc band supporting
Danny Jones
Local music legend Peter Hook and his live touring partners, ‘The Light’, have announced a special career-spanning anniversary gig right here in Manchester, chronicling his incredible music career.
The former Joy Division member and subsequent New Order co-founder is celebrating 50 years in the business next year, and is marking the occasion with a comprehensive and retrospective live show come the summer.
Arguably one of the most influential musicians to have ever come out of the region, the Salford-born bassist and now lead singer of his own solo outfit (still playing countless hits from his extremely lengthy discography, of course) is now 69 years old and still going strong.
In fact, that’s exactly what they’ll be doing for the landmark live show: playing some of the biggest and best tunes from his various projects over the decades he’s spent in the studio and on the stage.
Suitably shared in Haçienda/Sex Pistol-coloured announcement poster, not only will Hook be revisiting Joy Division’s seminal debut album, Unknown Pleasures, but he’ll be going back through everything from Power Corruption & Lies by New Order to his lesser-known works.
Be it his 1995 side project, Monaco, or the recently unearthed Freebass collab with the likes of Andy Rourke, Tim Burgess, and the late, great ‘Mani’ from the Stone Roses, fans of the avid audiophile and prolific live performer are in for a real treat.
Having toured this storied material extensively, Peter Hook and the Light have now amassed over 800 concerts as a band. For the Greater Manchester native himself, it’s an incredible feat to make in the music industry, full stop, let alone reach half a century in it.
As for the Pistols connection, ‘Hooky‘ just happened to be one of several future Manc icons like half of The Smiths and The Fall, Factory Records’ own Tony Wilson, John Cooper Clarke, and even his then-soon-to-be Joy Division bandmate turned New Order lead singer, Bernard Sumner.
It’s a fairly safe bet you’ll find the post-punk veteran and plenty more of his peers in the crowd for another major music milestone in 2026.
It’s this particular date the group are toasting that motivated Hook to go out and buy a guitar.
Even more fittingly, this 50th anniversary gig will also see the group joined by another veteran rock band from the region, as fellow local punk sons, The Buzzocks from Bolton, who also formed after THAT very same gig at Lesser Free Trade Hall in ’76.
Early access tickets for the exclusive show at Manchester Academy next June go on pre-sale this Wednesday, 3 December; general admission will be available from Friday, 5 December.
We had the honour of chatting with the man, the myth, the legend, once again back in February 2024, when our Audio North arm was still known as ‘The Manc Audio’.
Emily Sergeant -
13th June 2024 
